John Lee Love was an African American inventormost known for his invention of the hand-cranked pencil sharpener, the “Love Sharpener,” and an improved plasterer’s hawk. Little is known about the early life of Love. His date and place of birth are unknown, but it is conjectured … Read MoreLove, John Lee (?-1931)
Harold Hairston served as the first African American Fire Commissioner for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hairston was born in North Carolina. Not much is known about his early life. He joined the Army in 1960, and served for three years with the 82nd Airborne … Read MoreHarold B. Hairston (1940-2016)
Brehanna Daniels has broken down a barrier in a sport that is not usually associated with African Americans or women. She is a pit crew member, a tire changer, affiliated with NASCAR Racing. Daniels was born on January 26, 1994, along with her twin brother … Read MoreBrehanna Daniels (1994- )
Carolyn Kilpatrick was the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 13th congressional district from 1997 to 2011. Cheeks was born on June 25, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan to Willa Mae Henry and Marvel Cheeks Jr. Her father worked for the Ford plant and her mother was a … Read MoreCongresswoman Carolyn Jean Cheeks Kilpatrick (1945- )
Yamoussoukro is currently the de jure capital of the nation of Cote d’Ivoire. The city had a population of 242,744 people in 2010. Yamoussoukro is located 274 km, or 170 miles, from the country’s de facto capital, Abidjan, where most of the government offices and … Read MoreYamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire (1909- )
Laura Richardson was the Democratic representative for California’s 37th congressional district. She served from 2007 to 2012. Richardson was born in Los Angeles on April 14, 1962, to a black father and white mother. Her mother Maryann Richardson, who was a member of the Teamsters … Read MoreLaura Richardson (1962- )
Chaka Fattah is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2016. Fattah resigned from office on June 23, 2016, following a racketeering conviction. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced … Read MoreChaka Fattah (1956 – )
Letitia Woods Brown, historian, academician, public scholar and community activist was born on October 24, 1915 in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was the middle child of Tuskegee Institute instructors Matthew and Evadne Woods. In 1935, Letitia Woods completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Tuskegee. After … Read MoreLetitia Woods Brown (1915-1976)
Garry C. Dean is a retired Air Force Major General. Little is known about his place or date of birth or his early life. In December 2008, Major General Dean became Oregon’s first African American two-star. He also was the first African American National Guardsmen … Read MoreGarry C. Dean (?- )
Henry W. Furniss built a distinguished career as a doctor and diplomat. Furniss served in the diplomatic corps, first in Brazil and then as the American ambassador to Haiti. He stayed in that post through two administrations after which he returned to the United States … Read MoreHenry W. Furniss (1868-1955)