Student Historian

Nicholas Iaroslavtsev was born and raised in rural Poulsbo, WA. Son of a direct immigrant from the USSR, his dad taught him to appreciate the history of humanity, especially during the Cold War era. This, coupled with the aid of his high school AP US history teacher Stephen Pagaard, has gifted him with a deep interest in the study of history. Nicholas is currently an undergraduate at the University of Washington, Seattle, and is an intended engineering major. While not his primary field of study, history has always been something that has fascinated him.

Camden, New Jersey Riots (1969 and 1971)

The city of Camden, New Jersey was the setting for two deadly race-related riots on September 2nd, 1969, and August 20th, 1971. Both riots were in response to alleged police brutality or murder, the victims being an unidentified young black girl, who was beaten by a white police officer in … Read MoreCamden, New Jersey Riots (1969 and 1971)

Interahamwe (1992- )

Interahamwe, translated from Kinyarwanda to English as “those who work/ fight together,” is an African paramilitary and terrorist group currently based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Composed mainly of young Hutu men, Interahamwe was one of the major belligerents against the Tutsi in Rwanda, leading … Read MoreInterahamwe (1992- )

Julius Henry Taylor (1914-2011)

Julius Henry Taylor was an American physicist, scholarly publisher, physics professor, and one of the first African Americans to receive a Ph.D. in physics in the nation. Taylor was born on February 15th, 1914, in Cape May, New Jersey, to his parents Julia Taylor and Coleman Taylor. Taylor grew … Read MoreJulius Henry Taylor (1914-2011)

Robert Morton Duncan (1927-2012)

Robert Morton Duncan was an American prosecutor, judge, and the first African-American to serve on the Ohio state Supreme Court. Born on August 24th, 1927, in Urbana, Ohio, Duncan is the son of parents Benjamin Austin and Wanda Brown Duncan. Duncan attended a desegregated school in Urbana at a time … Read MoreRobert Morton Duncan (1927-2012)

Langston Hughes’ Visit to the Soviet Union (1932-1933)

In June of 1932, poet Langston Hughes, political activist Louise Thompson, and 22 other African American artists, filmmakers, and actors, traveled to the Soviet Union (USSR) to create a film about African American life in the American south. The film, aptly titled Black and White, was to focus on the many examples of racial discrimination … Read MoreLangston Hughes’ Visit to the Soviet Union (1932-1933)

John Preston Davis (1905-1973)

John Preston Davis was a prominent African American author, journalist, lawyer, civil rights leader, and co-founder of the National Negro Congress (1935-1946), an organization that was dedicated to the advancement of African Americans all over the country during the Great Depression. Davis was born on January 19th, 1905, in Washington D.C. He graduated … Read MoreJohn Preston Davis (1905-1973)

La David Terrence Johnson (1992-2017)

La David Terrence Johnson was an African American Army Sergeant, vehicle mechanic, and father who was killed in the Tongo Tongo Ambush on October 4, 2017 in the West African nation of Niger, alongside three other American soldiers, Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dustin … Read MoreLa David Terrence Johnson (1992-2017)