Maria Quintero, Author at

Student Historian

Maria has a degree in History from the University of Washington. She works with low-income and marginalized communities as a paralegal. Coming from a low-income community herself, Maria is dedicated to providing services to help folks overcome generational and systemic poverty.

Ruth Brown (1928-2006)

Known as the Queen of R&B, Ruth Brown was a rhythm and blues singer and actress who crusaded for musicians’ rights. Brown was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on January 12, 1928. After a string of unfortunate events, Brown ended up in Washington, D.C. There, important … Read MoreRuth Brown (1928-2006)

Maritza Correia (1981- )

Maritza Correia is a former Olympic swimmer for the USA team who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Correia is the first Puerto Rican of African descent to compete on the USA Olympic Swimming Team. Correia was born on December 23, 1981, in San Juan, … Read MoreMaritza Correia (1981- )

Effie Waller (1879-1960)

Effie Waller was an early twentieth-century poet known for her books of poetry, Songs of the Months (1904), Rhymes from the Cumberland (1909), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909). Waller was born in Pike County, Kentucky, on January 6, 1879, to parents Sibbie and Frank Waller. … Read MoreEffie Waller (1879-1960)

Chica da Silva (1731/1735-1796)

Francisca da Silva de Oliveira, better known as Chica da Silva (or spelled Xica da Silva), was a Brazilian woman born into slavery, who went on to gain her freedom and become a powerful and well-known member of Brazilian society. Silva was born between the … Read MoreChica da Silva (1731/1735-1796)

Carla Diane Hayden (1952- )

Dr. Carla Diane Hayden is the fourteenth librarian of the U.S. Library of Congress. Hayden’s swearing-in as librarian was the first time a woman and an African American was appointed to the position. This is also the first time in more than sixty years that … Read MoreCarla Diane Hayden (1952- )

Arsenio Hall (1956- )

Born February 12, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, Arsenio Hall is a comedian, talk show host, writer, producer, and actor. He hosted the late-night show Arsenio Hall Show from 1989 to 1994. A Baptist preacher’s son, Hall grew up in a poor East Cleveland neighborhood. Hall … Read MoreArsenio Hall (1956- )

Luis Quintero (1726-1810)

Luis Quintero was a one of the original founders of the City of Los Angeles, then known as El Pueblo de Los Angeles, on September 4, 1781. Quintero, described in Spanish records as a free negro, was a tailor from Los Álamos, Sonora. He was … Read MoreLuis Quintero (1726-1810)