Occupation-Poet
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni (1943- )
“There’s no life in safety,” said three-time National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award winner Yolande...
James Farley Ragland, Sr. (1904-1983)
James Farley Ragland, Sr., pharmacist and poet, was born on August 24, 1904, in South Boston, Halifax, Virginia, in the...
Francia Márquez (1981- )
On August 7, 2022, Francia Márquez became the first Black woman to be elected Vice President of Colombia. The following...
Robert Charles O’Hara Benjamin (1855-1900)
Robert Charles O’Hara Benjamin, also known as R.C.O. Benjamin, was a Caribbean-born political activist, newspaper editor, minister, poet, teacher, author,...
Agostinho Neto (1922-1979)
Antonio Agostinho Neto, fondly honored by Angolans as the “Father of Modern Angola” served as the first president of independent...
Jill Scott (1972- )
Often called the Queen of Neo-Soul, R&B lyricist, vocalist, poet, actor, and social activist Jill Heather Scott was born on...
Severiano de Heredia (1836-1901)
The first mayor of African descent of a major European city, Severiano de Heredia, was born in Havana, Cuba, on November 8, 1836. He was the son...
Léon-Gontran Damas (1912-1978)
Poet, editor, diplomat, and cultural theorist Léon Damas was born on March 28, 1912, in Cayenne, French Guiana. He was...
Ramona [“Sapphire”] Lofton (1950- )
Ramona Lofton, better known as Sapphire, is a self-admitted bisexual, novelist, poet, and performance artist. She gained prominence for her...
