Semhar Negassa, Author at

Student Historian

A senior at the University of Washington, Semhar Negassa is double majoring in Sociology and History. She was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and has had the opportunity to live in a handful of countries across Eastern and Southern Africa. Her family immigrated to the United States in 2000. Since she is a first generation scholar, she hopes to join Teach for America upon graduating and later pursue a Masters in Social Work. She is, however, forever a student and enjoys expanding her academic and cultural experiences.

George Long (?-2010)

Civil rights activist George Long entered the University of New Mexico with the goal of becoming a teacher, but his involvement in the boycott of a local restaurant and nightclub led to a career in law. He became the first black graduate of the University … Read MoreGeorge Long (?-2010)

Nicolás Guillén (1902-1989)

Afro-Cuban writer Nicolás Guillén used his poetry as a form of social protest in pre-Castro Cuba. Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba on July 10, 1902 and by the mid 1920s had emerged as a leader of the Afro-Cuban movement. He was committed to social … Read MoreNicolás Guillén (1902-1989)

Chief Alfred Charles Sam (ca. 1880 -1930s)

Chief Alfred Charles Sam, a shadowy figure in Oklahoma history, inspired the emigration of hundreds of African American Oklahomans back to Africa in the second decade of the 20th century. Those who completed the first journey to Africa endured physical and financial hardships, with some … Read MoreChief Alfred Charles Sam (ca. 1880 -1930s)

Freetown, Sierra Leone (1792- )

Freetown is the capital, principal port, commercial center, and largest city of Sierra Leone. The city was founded by British Naval Lieutenant John Clarkson and freed American slaves from Nova Scotia. Freetown was part of the larger colony of the Sierra Leone which was founded … Read MoreFreetown, Sierra Leone (1792- )

Mogadishu, Somalia (ca. 950- )

Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, is located in the horn of Africa and bordering the Red Sea. The major religion is Sunni Muslim and the official language is Somali although Arabic, Italian, and English are all spoken there. Mogadishu’s 2009 population estimate was 1.3 … Read MoreMogadishu, Somalia (ca. 950- )

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (1881- )

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the third largest city in Africa after Cairo and Lagos and the second largest French-speaking city in the world other than Paris, France. Formerly known as Leopoldville, it was founded … Read MoreKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (1881- )

Luanda, Angola (1576- )

Luanda was founded by Portuguese explorer Paolo Dias de Novaes as St. Paul of Luanda in 1576. It became the capital of a Portuguese colony in 1586 and became the capital of independent Angola when the former Portuguese colony gained its independence in 1975. Luanda … Read MoreLuanda, Angola (1576- )

First Kansas Colored Infantry (1862-1865)

The First Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment was established through the efforts of James H. Lane, the U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1861 to 1866. As Kansas joined the Union on the eve of the Civil War in 1861, Lane recruited African-Americans to fight against the … Read MoreFirst Kansas Colored Infantry (1862-1865)

Ibadan, Nigeria (1829- )

Ibadan, located in Western Nigeria, is the country’s second largest city and capital of the Oyo state. A 2006 Nigerian Census shows the population of Ibadan at 1,138,639 citizens. Home to the University of Ibadan, it is a leader in the nation’s institutions of education, … Read MoreIbadan, Nigeria (1829- )