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.
Reece “Goose” Tatum was a professional baseball and basketball player. Tatum was born on May 31, 1921 in El Dorado, Arkansas to Ben Tatum, a farmer and part-time preacher, and Alice Tatum, a domestic cook. Tatum was the fifth of seven children in the family. … Read MoreReece “Goose” Tatum (1921-1967)
Lamar Dematrice Jackson Jr. is a professional football quarterback for the Baltimore (Maryland) Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Louisville until his junior year, skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Jackson was selected … Read MoreLamar Jackson Jr. (1997- )
Mathematician Annie J. Easley was born on April 23, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama to Samuel and Mary Easley. Easley grew up in Birmingham and initially sought to be a nurse, but she soon switched to pharmacy once she started high school. Easley entered Xavier University … Read MoreAnnie J. Easley (1933-2011)
Political activist Alexander Rahming was born on February 24, 1884 in Nassau, Bahamas. He emigrated to Key West, Florida in 1884 where he met his future bride, Alice Dean. They married in 1905 and migrated to New York City. Rahming was an advocate and organizer, … Read MoreAlexander Rahming (1884-1922)
Derrick Deshaun Watson is a professional football quarterback for the Houston (Texas) Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson University for the Clemson Tigers until his junior year where he entered the 2017 NFL Draft where he was selected … Read MoreDerrick Watson (1995- )
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II is a professional football quarterback for the Kansas City (Missouri) Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech until his junior year when he entered the 2017 NFL Draft where he was selected in the … Read MorePatrick Mahomes II (1995- )
Terresa M. Graves was an American actress who performed in many television shows and movies in the early and mid-1970s. Graves was born on January, 10, 1948 in Houston, Texas. Her mother was Willie Graves and her father was Marshall Graves. Terresa Graves grew up … Read MoreTerresa M. Graves (1948-2002)
The shooting death of 31-year-old Corey Lamar Jones in 2015 by Pakistani-American police officer Nouman K. Raja when Jones was waiting by his disabled car contributed to the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement. The incident sparked national protests similar to those in the … Read MoreCorey Lamar Jones (1984-2015)
Carl Maxie Brashear was a US Navy sailor and master diver. Brashear was born on January 19, 1931 to McDonald Brashear and Gonzella Brashear in Tonieville, Kentucky. Brashear’s family later relocated to a farm in Sonara, Kentucky where he attended the local grade school but … Read MoreCarl Maxie Brashear (1931-2006)
George Costello Wolfe is one of the most celebrated American playwrights and directors of theater and film. Known for his five Tony Awards, Wolfe was born in Frankfort, Kentucky on September 23, 1954. His mother Anna Lindsey-Wolfe was a librarian and principal at the all-black … Read MoreGeorge C. Wolfe (1954- )
