Maria Quintero

Student Historian

Maria Quintero is currently an undergraduate student in the History department at the University of Washington, Seattle. She plans to pursue a career in law upon graduation. She is native of the Yakima Valley located in eastern Washington.

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 Portsmouth, Virginia, on January 12, 1928. After a string of unfortunate events, Brown ended up in Washington, D.C. There, important people … Read MoreRuth Brown (1928-2006)

Maritza Correia (1981- )

Maritza Correia is 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, Puerto … Read MoreMaritza Correia (1981- )

Effie Waller (1879-1960)

Image Ownership: Public domain 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 … 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- )

Image Ownership: Library of Congress Life 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 … 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 he grew up in a poor East Cleveland … 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)