Tiana Smith, Author at

Independent Historian

Tiana Smith was born and raised near Seattle, Washington. She currently attends the University of Washington, Seattle and is majoring in history with a minor in French. Tiana comes from a very diverse ethnic background with roots stemming back to Africa, Cuba, and France. This drives her passion for studying other languages and cultures. Tiana has also worked with her local government on a variety of summer projects to benefit kids in need. She has a love for working with kids and plans to get her master’s in education so she can teach history to middle school and high school students.

India Arie/India Arie Simpson (1975- )

India Arie is a four-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She has sold over 10 million records worldwide. Arie was born in Denver, Colorado on October 3, 1975 to parents Joyce and Ralph Simpson. When she was 13, her parents divorced and Arie moved with her … Read MoreIndia Arie/India Arie Simpson (1975- )

Nikkita Oliver (1986- )

Nikkita Oliver is an attorney, teacher, poet, and social activist. She is well-known for her 2017 run for mayor of Seattle, Washington where she came in a surprising third in a field of twenty-one candidates which included many established politicians. Oliver was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in a biracial household there. … Read MoreNikkita Oliver (1986- )

The Prison Abolition Movement (1985- )

The Prison Abolition Movement is a social campaign to eliminate prisons. The movement began in the 1980s following the War on Drugs whose consequence was to increase the U.S. prison population from 500,000 in 1980 to 1.3 million in 1990 and 2 million in 2000. The leaders of this movement felt … Read MoreThe Prison Abolition Movement (1985- )

Charleena Lyles (1987-2017)

Charleena Lyles was 30 years old and a mother of four who was shot and killed by Seattle Police on June 18, 2017. Lyles was raised in Seattle, Washington. She had a rather difficult childhood as she grew up around drugs and her mother passed away when she was … Read MoreCharleena Lyles (1987-2017)

Tarana Burke (1973- )

Tarana Burke is an activist who is best known for creating the Me Too movement which raises awareness about sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. Burke was born on September 12, 1973, in The Bronx, New York. She had many troubling experiences growing up in a low-income, working-class family. She was … Read MoreTarana Burke (1973- )

Patrisse Cullors (1984- )

Writer, activist, and artist Patrisse Cullors, is most well-known as one of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Cullors was born in 1984 in Los Angeles, California and grew up in the Pacoima neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley. Her mother, Cherisse Foley, raised Cullors and her … Read MorePatrisse Cullors (1984- )

Opal Tometi (1984- )

Writer, activist, and immigration rights advocate Opal Tometi is best known as one of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tometi, born in 1984 to Nigerian parents who had illegally immigrated to the United States, grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and is the oldest of three children. Tometi … Read MoreOpal Tometi (1984- )

Alicia Garza (1981- )

Alicia Garza is an activist and writer who now lives in Oakland, California. Although she has organized around issues related to health, student services, and rights for domestic workers as well as violence against trans and gender nonconforming people of color, she is best known one of three founders of … Read MoreAlicia Garza (1981- )

Johnnie E. Wilson (1944- )

Johnnie Wilson is a retired Four-Star United States Army General. His generous service to the Ordnance Corps led to him being inducted into the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame. Wilson was born on February 4, 1944 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His father worked in a steel mill … Read MoreJohnnie E. Wilson (1944- )