Independent Historian

Sabrianna Sgambelluri is currently a junior at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She is pursuing an English and History double major, with a minor in Political Science. Sabrianna is a native Chamorro of Yigo, Guam. After attending law school, she intends to return to Guam as an advocate for indigenous peoples’ and environmental rights. Aside from these goals, she has a personal interest in promoting creators of color, particularly those in the LGBT+ community.

Leonard C. Bailey (1825-1918)

Leonard Bailey was an African American inventor and businessman in Washington, D.C., in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1825 to an impoverished free black family, Bailey rose in status by becoming a journeyman barber. Through this success, he eventually came to operate and own many of the … Read MoreLeonard C. Bailey (1825-1918)

Paul Beatty (1962- )

Paul Beatty is an African American author, poet, essayist, and professor who is credited with the creation of the “hip-hop” novel. Beatty was born on June 9, 1962 in Los Angeles, California. His father left the family early in Beatty’s childhood, leaving his mother to raise their two daughters and … Read MorePaul Beatty (1962- )

African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church (1821- )

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is an historically African American Protestant denomination based in New York City, New York. Also known as the Freedom Church, the AMEZ was officially recognized in 1821, but the foundations for Zion’s founding began in the late 1700s. In 1796, due to … Read MoreAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church (1821- )