Elizabeth Key Grinstead was one of the first women of African American ancestry in the North American colonies to sue for her freedom and win. Key won freedom for herself and her infant son, John Grinstead II, in the colony of Virginia on July 21, … Read MoreElizabeth Key Grinstead (1630–1665)
Murillo Discovering Sebastián Gómez Painting in Murillo’s Studio "Image Ownership: Public Domain" Spanish Baroque painter Sebastián Gómez was born around 1646 in Seville, Spain, a product of that city’s sizeable African-descended community. Ordinary benchmarks pertaining to most of his life—ancestry, circumstances of birth, parentage, identity … Read MoreSebastián Gómez (1646?–1690?)
Diego Velazquez’s Portrait of Juan de Pareja "Image Ownership: Public Domain" Depending on the source consulted, Spanish Baroque painter Juan de Pareja was born in the region of Andalusia, Spain, either in Seville or the much smaller city of Antequera 82 miles southeast, reputedly to … Read MoreJuan de Pareja (1606?-1670)
“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Bridgetown is the capital and commercial center of Barbados. It is also the island’s only city. In 2014 more than 110,000 people called Bridgetown home. It is the cultural, political, and economic heart of this Caribbean island nation of 284,664 (2013). … Read MoreBridgetown, Barbados (1628- )
St. George’s is the capital of Grenada, an island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The city has an estimated population of 4,300 people in a nation of 105,897 people (2012). St. George’s is positioned on the island’s southern coast on a small peninsula … Read MoreSt. George’s, Grenada (1649- )
“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Belize City is the largest city in the Central American country of Belize. This city of 57,179 people is located on a small peninsula protruding into the Caribbean Sea. As home to local courts and most government officials it was the de facto capital city … Read MoreBelize City, Belize (1638- )
“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Nouakchott, meaning “place of the winds” in the Hassaniya language, became the capital of Mauritania in 1960. In 2006 it had an estimated population of 708,000 people. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean but is on the edge of the … Read MoreNouakchott, Mauritania (1659- )
The brief entry for “Dorcas the blackmore” that appears in the Records of the First Church at Dorchester in New England, 1636-1734 suggests that Dorcas may have been one of the first enslaved persons to be freed in British North America. On April 13, 1641, … Read MoreDorcas the blackmore (ca. 1620- ?)
Collage Including Mathieu Da Costa Image Ownership: Public Domain Mathieu Da Costa, a free black seaman, is believed to be the first person of African ancestry to reach Canada and he is the first recorded black man to visit the region of Port Royal in … Read MoreMathieu Da Costa (17th Century?)
Image Ownership: Public Domain Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and one of the nation’s cultural and economic centers. Before the arrival of Europeans, the area was inhabited by San and Khoikhoi peoples. In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck established a … Read MoreCape Town, South Africa (1652- )