Inarguably, one of the leading figures in African and African American history is Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey, known as “Aggrey of Africa.” Not only can Africa claim him, but also the African Diaspora. Aggrey was born on October 18, 1875, at Anomabo in the … Read MoreJames Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey (1875-1927)
Emma Reed (Wright) was born on May 30, 1925 on the family farm in rural Redwood, Mississippi to parents Sallie and Smith Reed. She grew up on the farm but attended Coleman High School in Greenville, Mississippi, graduating in 1943. She then enrolled in Tennessee … Read MoreEmma Reed (1925-2014)
Wilson Roosevelt Jerman was one of the longest-serving White House employees, serving in various positions under eleven U.S. Presidents. Jerman was born on January 21, 1929, in Seaboard, North Carolina, to Theodore Roosevelt Jerman and Alice Plum. The family was poor and although he had … Read MoreWilson Roosevelt Jerman (1929-2020)
Walter Fenner “Buck” Leonard was a professional baseball player who played the first baseman position in the Negro League Baseball and the Mexican League. Leonard was born on September 8, 1907 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to John Leonard and Emma Leonard. He had three … Read MoreWalter Fenner “Buck” Leonard (1907-1997)
Mildred Louise Hemmons Carter became one of the first women to earn a pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. She was also the first black female pilot in Alabama. Despite her initially being denied admission into the Tuskegee Airmen program, Hemmons would later … Read MoreMildred Louise Hemmons Carter (1921-2011)
Mississippi became the mecca of the Freedom Movement in the early 1960s due to local and out-of-state activists who formed or supported grassroots efforts to gain civil rights for its black citizens. One of those local activists was Benjamin Ellery Murph. Murph was born on … Read MoreBenjamin Ellery Murph (1908-1972)
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is an American viral immunologist currently involved in first-stage clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. Corbett was born on January 26, 1986, in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina to Rhonda Brooks. She attended A.L. Stanback Middle School and Hillsborough High School. During high … Read MoreKizzmekia Shanta Corbett (1986- )
Stayce D. Harris is the first African American woman to hold a three-star General rank, first Air Force Reservist to be promoted to the three-star rank other than the chief of the Air Force Reserve Command, and the first African American woman to serve as … Read MoreStayce D. Harris (1959- )
Wade Kornegay is largely regarded as a scientific expert in missile defense during the Cold War. Through his knowledge of physics, he aided in developing a system that could track ballistic missiles that simultaneously differentiated them based on their level of threat to the United … Read MoreWade Kornegay (1934- )
The Carnegie Negro Library of Greensboro, North Carolina, a free public library for African Americans, opened in 1924. It stood at 900 East Washington Street on the Bennett College campus and was the last of twelve public libraries for African Americans opened in the South … Read MoreCarnegie Negro Library, Greensboro, North Carolina (1924-1963)
