Independent Historian

Peter Besel was born and raised in Woodinville Washington just thirty minutes outside of Seattle. He is currently working at Parcion Private Wealth after graduating with a degree in Finance from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. His inspiration for writing for BlackPast comes from his former professor, Quintard Taylor, who displayed a passion for honoring the excellence of the people featured on this site. He hopes that his writings will inform the people reading them of the importance of black history and its effect on our culture.

Errol R. Schwartz (1952- )

Major General Errol R. Schwartz, the first black adjutant general for the District of Columbia, was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1952. In 1972 Schwartz arrived in the United States, following his brother and sister who emigrated from Guyana to enroll at Howard University.  Their own quest for higher education … Read MoreErrol R. Schwartz (1952- )

Hosea Williams (1926-2000)

Born on January 5th, 1926 in Attapulgus, Georgia, Hosea Williams became a prominent civil rights activist and war hero. Unfortunately, his mother died in childbirth and his father was never in the picture, so Williams was raised by his grandfather, Turner Williams. Williams encountered racism early in his life. At … Read MoreHosea Williams (1926-2000)