Harrison Laverne Caldwell, the first African American principal in the Seattle Public Schools District, was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1909. Very little is known about his personal life. By the time of his death, he had become one of the most important educational leaders … Read MoreHarrison L. Caldwell (1909-1964)
Powhatan Beaty was an American soldier and actor. He served in the Union Army’s 5th United States Colored Infantry Regiment throughout the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration given by the United States, when … Read MorePowhatan Beaty (1837-1916)
Thurl Lee Bailey is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. Bailey has also been a broadcast analyst for the Utah Jazz and the University of Utah … Read MoreThurl Lee Bailey (1961– )
Amzie Moore was a prominent figure in the Mississippi civil rights movement and voter registration campaign. He was born on September 23, 1911, on the Wilkins plantation near Greenwood, Mississippi, to black sharecropper parents. When Moore was fourteen, his mother died leaving him to care … Read MoreAmzie Moore (1911-1982)
“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Multi-talented Noah Griffin Jr. has had a many-faceted career: historian, writer, newspaper columnist, radio and television talk show host, law editor, press secretary, campaign manager, lyricist, and vocalist. Griffin was born in San Francisco, California, on January 31, 1946, to Noah … Read MoreNoah Webster Griffin Jr. (1946– )
“Image Ownership: Dudley M. Brooks/Washington Post” C. Payne Lucas, who co-founded Africare in 1970, established the largest and oldest predominately African American non-governmental organization (NGO). Since its founding, Africare has invested over $1 billion development-related projects in thirty-five African nations. Lucas has spent half a … Read MoreC. Payne Lucas (1933– )
Tristan Walker “Image Ownership: Rog Walker” The Silicon Valley (California) entrepreneur Tristan Walker is best known as the founder and CEO of Walker & Company Brands Incorporated. Walker was born in the Queens area of New York City, New York, on July 5, 1984. When … Read MoreTristan Walker (1984– )
“Image Ownership: Fair Use” Marcus Foster was an educator who gained national prominence for educational excellence while serving as a principal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and as the first black superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District in California. Known as a titan in the areas … Read MoreMarcus A. Foster (1923–1973)
Bernard J. Tyson was a leading figure within the field of healthcare and a notable African American businessman. Tyson was the chairman of the board and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. With 175,000 employees, including 18,000 physicians, and over ten million members in eight states and … Read MoreBernard J. Tyson (1959-2019)
William H. Grier was a psychiatrist who published the groundbreaking book, Black Rage, along with fellow psychiatrist Price M. Cobbs in 1968. Published in the aftermath of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and subsequent outburst of race riots, the book sought … Read MoreWilliam H. Grier (1926-2015)
