Thomas Fountain Blue, the first African American to head a public library in the United States, was also a civic, educational, and religious leader. Blue was born in Farmville, Virginia, on March 6, 1866, to Noah Blue, a carpenter, and Henry Ann Crawley Blue. They … Read MoreThomas Fountain Blue (1866-1935)
The Golden 14 were the first Black women to muster into the United States Navy. First recognized by scholar Kelly Miller in his 1919 book “Kelly Miller’s History of the World War for Human Rights,” but subsequently nearly lost to history after the war, the … Read MoreThe Golden 14 (1918-1919)
Freddie Stowers, recognized posthumously for his heroism and bravery during the decisive Hundred Days Offensive in France in 1918, was the first Black soldier awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S military decoration, for serving during World War I. Born on January 12, 1896, … Read MoreFreddie Stowers (1896-1918)
Sylvanus Olympio was the first president of Togo and also served as prime minister. He was born on September 6, 1902, in Lome, Togoland, then a German colony. Olympio’s grandfather had emigrated from Brazil in the mid-19th century. Young Sylvanus was one of 30 children. … Read MoreSylvanus Olympio (1902-1963)
Grégoire Kayibanda was the first president of Rwanda. He was born on May 1, 1924, in Musambira, Rwanda. He attended primary school in his home village and then in 1947 he completed his studies at the Major Seminary in Nyakibanda, Rwanda. Kayibanda then worked as … Read MoreGrégoire Kayibanda (1924-1976)
The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is a paleoanthropological site in the eastern Serengeti Plain, near northern Tanzania, in East Africa. The gorge is nicknamed the “Cradle of Mankind” because it is believed to be the site of found remains of the first human beings … Read MoreOlduvai Gorge
Afro-Polish soldier and professional athlete Sam Mandi was born in what was formerly known as the German colony of Kamerun (today the Republic of Cameroon), circa 1895. During World War I Britain and France occupied the colony and Mandi joined the French army where he … Read MoreSam Mandi (a.k.a. Sam Sandi, 1895?-1937)
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)
The Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School was a military base and training facility located on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. During World War I it was the training facility for the first large group of African Americans officers to serve … Read MoreThe Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School (1901- )
Pioneer pharmacist Anna Louise James was born Louise Clegget James on January 19, 1886, in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the eighth of eleven children born to Willis Samuel James, who was born enslaved and escaped at age sixteen through the Underground Railroad, and Anna Houston. … Read MoreAnna Louise James (1886 – 1977)
