The following are short descriptions of the women and men who have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These encyclopedia entries serve as a starting point for much more inclusive descriptions and discussions that appear in other sources. For additional information please consult the print or website sources cited in the entry.
Karine Jean-Pierre is best known as the second Black woman (after Judy Smith in the George W. Bush White House), and the first openly gay woman, to ever hold the position of White House Principal Deputy Secretary. She began in that post in January 2021 … Read MoreKarine Jean-Pierre (1977- )
Mark Damone Johnson is a professor of neurological surgery and Senior Consulting Vice Provost for Mentorship, Leadership and Transformation at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the UMass Memorial Medical Center. Previously, he was an associate … Read MoreMark D. Johnson (?- )
Professor Hammonds is the Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and Professor of African and African American Studies and current Chair of the History of Science Department at Harvard College. She earned her Ph.D. in the History of Science Department, an S.M. … Read MoreEvelynn M. Hammonds (1953- )
Craig E. Cameron is the Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Society for Microbiology. He studied chemistry at Howard … Read MoreCraig E. Cameron (1965- )
Toni Michele Braxton is an R&B singer, songwriter, and actress. Braxton was born on October 7, 1967, to Michael Conrad Braxton Sr, a Methodist clergyman, and Evelyn Jackson Braxton, opera singer, and cosmetologist, in Severn, Maryland. Braxton is the eldest of six siblings. Growing up, … Read MoreToni Michele Braxton (1967- )
Dr. Francois M. Abboud has a number of titles. He is Professor of Internal Medicine and of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Edith King Pearson Chair in Cardiovascular Research, Chair Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Founder and Director of the Abboud Cardiovascular Research Centre at the … Read MoreFrancois M. Abboud (1931- )
Shawntae “Da Brat” Harris is a rapper and actress. Harris was born on April 14, 1974, to David Ray McCoy, a businessman, and Beverly Calloway, a city bus driver, in Chicago, Illinois. She is the half-sister of actress LisaRaye McCoy. Growing up, Harris lived with … Read MoreDa Brat/Shawntae Harris (1974- )
Educational administrator Lyman Beecher Brooks, the first president of Norfolk State University, was born on May 27, 1910, in Blakes, Virginia, to a farmer and pianist, John Robert Brooks, and Mary Anna Burrell Brooks, a schoolteacher, and graduate of Virginia Union University. He began reading … Read MoreLyman Beecher Brooks (1910-1984)
Vaudeville performer Esther Jones was known on stage by many names, including “Baby Esther,” “Little Esther,” “Farina’s Kid Sister,” and “Miniature Florence Mills,” is widely, although not universally, credited with being the inspiration for the Betty Boop cartoon character. Jones was born Esther Lee Jones … Read MoreEsther Jones (1918-1984)
Media critic Eric Deggans was born on November 6, 1965, in Washington, D.C. to Chuck Deggans and Carolyn Jean McClellan Deggans Williams, a life member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Deggans was reared, however, in Gary, Indiana, and graduated from Andrean High School, a … Read MoreEric Deggans (1965- )
