Dawda (David) Jawara was the first Head of State of independent Gambia. He was born on May 16, 1924, at Barajally, MacCarthy Island, The Gambia (then a colony of Great Britain). His parents were Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara, a prominent trader in the colony. … Read MoreDawda Kairaba Jawara (1924-2019)
Marcus Jacques Garvey, Jr., was the oldest son of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sr., founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) and Amy Euphemia Jacques. The UNIA-ACL, a leading black nationalist organization, was founded in 1914 in Jamaica and later headquartered … Read MoreMarcus Jacques Garvey, Jr. (1930-2020)
Milton Augustus Margai was the first prime minister of independent Sierra Leone. Margai was born on December 7, 1895, in Gbangbatoka, Sierra Leone, the eldest of 18 children. His father, M.E.S. Margai was a prominent businessman. Young Milton was the grandson of a famous Mende … Read MoreMilton Augustus Margai (1895-1964)
R&B singer, lyricist Ciara was born Ciara Princess Harris on October 25, 1985, in Austin, Texas, to Carlton Clay Harris of the US Army and Jackie Smith-Harris, a member of the US Air Force. Because of the demands of the military, however, the Harris family … Read MoreCiara/Ciara Princess Wilson (1985- )
After American independence most states wrote constitutions that mirrored the national constitution with minor differences. The state of Rhode Island was an exception. It retained the Royal Charter of 1663 granted by the British crown. Under that charter only adult male citizens who owned at … Read MoreRhode Island Constitution of 1842
Postmodern Composer, pianist, and conductor Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork III, who has penned more than 250 works, was born on April 17, 1941, in Rochester, New York, to Lora Hailstork and Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork Jr. However, he was reared in Albany, New York. He has one … Read MoreAdolphus Cunningham Hailstork III (1941- )
Graca Simbine Machel is a former freedom fighter, prominent educator, philanthropist, and the only woman in modern times to be first lady of two nations, Mozambique and South Africa. Graca Simbine was born on Oct. 17, 1945 at Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique. Her father died … Read MoreGraca Machel (1945- )
Anti-Apartheid activist Oliver Reginald Tambo was born on October 27, 1917, in Bizana, a Transkei village in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Like most in his family and community, Tambo began herding cattle at age three. He was introduced to Christianity by his parents, Julia and … Read MoreOliver R. Tambo (1917-1993)
William Robinson Clarke was a famous World War I airman. He was the first Black pilot to fly for the United Kingdom. Clarke was born in Kingston, Jamaica on October 4, 1895 to Eugenia Clarke. Jamaica was a which British colony at the time. World … Read MoreWilliam Robinson Clarke (1895-1981)
Founded in Philadelphia in 1869, the Knights of Labor (KOL) was the largest, most important labor union in the 19th century United States. Unlike most unions (and predominantly white institutions) then, the KOL opened its membership to African Americans and women workers. Prior to the … Read MoreAfrican Americans and the Knights of Labor (1869-1949)
