Few people realize that the percentage of people of African ancestry in the South American nation of Colombia (7%) is slightly more than half the percentage of people of African ancestry in the United States (13%). Yet we know even less about the origins of … Read MoreLadinos and Bozales: A Brief Early History of Africans in Colombia: 1500-1800
Clara Ledesma was one of the leading Dominican artists during the post-World War II era. Born in Santiago De Los Caballeros, DR, on March 5th, 1924, to Bienvenido Ledesma Piera and Beatriz Christian, Ledesma began her artistic journey in the 1930s, under the tutelage of … Read MoreClara Ledesma (1924-1999)
Olympic and world heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam was born in Namur, Belgium, 43 mile southeast of Brussels, on August 19, 1994, one of the four children of Bamba Thiam, a native of Senegal who worked as a sculptor and painter, and Belgian citizen Danièle Denisty … Read MoreNafissatou Thiam (1994- )
Isaac Wright Jr. is an African-American criminal and civil attorney, consultant, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Wright became the only person in U.S. history to be condemned to mandatory life sentence plus 70 years in prison, to secure his own release and exoneration, and then be granted … Read MoreIssac Wright Jr. (1962- )
Patrick Aloysius Ewing is a professional basketball player and coach who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 17 seasons for the New York Knicks, Seattle Supersonics (Now Oklahoma City Thunder), and Orlando Magic. Ewing was born on August 5, 1962 to Dorothy Ewing … Read MorePatrick Aloysius Ewing (1962- )
During the Spanish American War, several battles were fought that included Buffalo Soldiers. The Battle of Kettle Hill (generally known as San Juan Hill) fought on July 1, 1898, was the most significant since it was the only battle that involved all four buffalo soldier … Read MoreBattle of San Juan and Kettle Hill (1898)
In the early 16th century, around 1511, Spain colonized Cuba. Cuba produced almost a third of the world’s sugar supply by 1860 through the work of enslaved Africans and other island natives stolen from their land. By the year 1895, Cubans revolted against the Spanish … Read MoreBattle of El Caney, Cuba (1898)
Carl Maxie Brashear was a United States Navy sailor and master diver. Brashear was born on January 19, 1931, to McDonald Brashear and Gonzella Brashear in Tonieville, Kentucky. Brashear’s family later relocated to a farm in Sonara, Kentucky, where he attended the local grade school … Read MoreCarl Maxie Brashear (1931-2006)
Carrie Mae Weems is an internationally renowned artist, best known for her work in photography. Weems has also used fabric, text, audio and digital images as mediums in her work. For over thirty-five years, Weems has developed a complex contemporary ongoing dialogue addressing issues of … Read MoreCarrie Mae Weems (1953- )
