Erika Bryan

Student Historian

Erika Bryan is a student at the University of Washington, Seattle, working on her B.A. in Communications with a minor in History. New to the field of professional academic writing, the as yet unpublished Jacksonville, Florida native has a particular interest in crisis history and late 19th-century Black history. After finishing her first degree in 2017, Erika would like to make the move to the Washington, D.C. area to work for and research with the Smithsonian Institute.

Brian O’Harold Hemphill (1969– )

“Image Ownership: Ashley Schumaker” Dr. Brian O’Harold Hemphill is the tenth and current president of West Virginia State University, having been inaugurated in July 2012. Since his arrival at the university, Hemphill has been committed to creating a culture of excellence and accountability, and to … Read MoreBrian O’Harold Hemphill (1969– )

Melissa Harris-Perry (1973- )

Melissa Harris-Perry is an American author, professor, television host, and political commentator who focuses on African American political issues. Harris-Perry has written for The Nation, in addition to penning her two award-winning books, Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America (2013), and Barbershops, … Read MoreMelissa Harris-Perry (1973- )

Georgia Davis Powers (1923-2016)

Georgia Montgomery Davis Powers was an American politician and activist, and in 1967 she became the first black to be elected to the senate of the state of Kentucky. Powers, a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson … Read MoreGeorgia Davis Powers (1923-2016)

Georgia Ann Hill Robinson (1879–1961)

Georgia Ann Hill Robinson became the first black female police officer to work for the Los Angeles (California) Police Department (LAPD)—and possibly the first in the country—in 1916. Months before 15 percent of the police force of the United States would begin enlisting to enter … Read MoreGeorgia Ann Hill Robinson (1879–1961)

Ta-Nehisi Coates (1975– )

“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Ta-Nehisi Coates is a writer, journalist, educator, and a national correspondent for The Atlantic. His articles, regarding such topics as social, political, and cultural issues, have been featured in national publications, including the Washington Post, Time, and The New Yorker. Coates’s … Read MoreTa-Nehisi Coates (1975– )

Frances Cress Welsing (1935–2016)

Frances Cress Welsing, a psychiatrist best known for writing The Isis Papers, was born Frances Luella Cress in Chicago, Illinois, on March 18, 1935. Welsing, who was the child of physician Henry Cress and teacher Ida Mae Griffen, grew up the middle of three daughters. … Read MoreFrances Cress Welsing (1935–2016)

Eatonville, Florida (1887– )

The first all-black city to be incorporated in Florida, Eatonville was established in 1887 after being settled two decades after the Civil War ended by former slaves. Located six miles north of Orlando, the town was first named Maitland and got its start when former … Read MoreEatonville, Florida (1887– )