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Not many will know of Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche who is notable for being the only black man to have died on the Titanic. Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti on 26 May 1886. Laroche descended directly from Haitian royalty. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, one of the major leaders of the Haitian Revolution …
Rodney Glen King, born on 2 April 1965 in Sacramento, California, became an unintentional symbol of racial tension and police brutality in the United States after his violent arrest in 1991. The brutal incident set off a chain of events culminating in the 1992 Los Angeles riots. On 3 March 1991, King was driving while …
When 20-year-old Sarah (also spelt Sara) Baartman got on a boat that was to take her from Cape Town to London in 1810, she could not have known that she would never see her home again. Nor, as she stood on the deck and saw her homeland disappear behind her, could she have known that …
The Destruction of Black Civilization took Chancellor Williams sixteen years of research and field study to compile. The book, which was to serve as a reinterpretation of the history of the African race, was intended to be “a general rebellion against the subtle message from even the most ‘liberal’ white authors (and their Negro disciples): …
Throughout history, African American women have played a significant role in the fight for universal suffrage. Despite facing numerous obstacles due to their race and gender, these trailblazers made significant contributions to the advancement of civil rights and women’s suffrage in the United States. This article delves into the lives and achievements of these courageous …
W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent African American intellectual, writer, and activist, played a significant role in shaping the discourse around race and civil rights in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His extensive body of work, including his groundbreaking book “The Souls of Black Folk,” provided a foundation for the …
The assassination of Medgar Evers, a prominent African American civil rights leader, marked a significant turning point in the fight against racism and sparked renewed efforts towards achieving racial equality in the United States. Early life and the path to civil rights activism Medgar Evers was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on 2 July 1925. He …
Arthur Wharton was the world’s first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man. Arthur was born on 28 October 1865 in Accra, formerly the Gold Coast, now the capital of Ghana, West Africa. His father, Henry Wharton a famous Methodist Minister and Missionary from Grenada …
1806-1894 – Nobert Rillieux is famous for revolutionising the sugar industry. Norbert Rillieux was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 17 March 1806. His parents were Vincent Rillieux, a white plantation owner, and Constance Vivant, a freed black slave. Rillieux’s father was also a successful engineer and inventor. His father allowed him access to private …
Thomas Jennings (1791-1859) Thomas Jennings was born free in New York City in 1791. In his early 20s, he became a tailor but then opened a dry cleaning business in New York. Thomas went on to patent a process for cleaning clothing. He was the first black man to receive a patent. The patent was awarded on …
The potato chip (aka crisps) was invented in 1853 by George Crum. The son of an African-American father and a Native American mother, Crum was a chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were …
Many professionals in the electrical industry knew Granville T Woods as the “Black Edison”. Woods was considered by many to be the greatest electrician in the world. The most well-known of Woods’s inventions is a railway telegraph system. He made it in 1887 at his machine shop in Cincinnati, Ohio. This telegraph system allowed train …
Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, on 2 May 1844. His parents were George and Emillia McCoy, former slaves from Kentucky who escaped through the Underground Railroad. George joined the Canadian Army, fighting in the Rebel War and then raised his family as free Canadian citizens on a 160 acre homestead. At an …
Henry Boyd was a skilled carpenter, born into slavery in Kentucky on 12 April 1802. At a young age, his master apprenticed Henry out to a cabinetmaker. Henry proved to have an impressive talent for carpentry. He learned early that many Black carpenters used their skills to buy their freedom. At 18, Boyd was allowed …
Alice Marie Coachman (born 9 November 1923 in Albany, Georgia) is an American former athlete. She specialised in the high jump and became the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal with her win in the high jump in London in 1948. The fifth of Fred and Evelyn Coachman’s ten children, Alice …
Amy Jacques Garvey, born on 31 December 1895 in Kingston, Jamaica, was a pioneering journalist, editor, feminist, and race activist. She was the second wife of Marcus Garvey, a prominent Jamaican political activist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Amy Jacques Garvey played a significant role in the UNIA movement and was …
Amy Ashwood Garvey (1897-1969) was a Jamaican-born political activist, Pan-Africanist, and the first wife of Marcus Garvey. Her tireless work in championing African liberation and advocating for women’s rights made her a prominent figure in the Pan-African movement. Early life and education Amy Ashwood was born on 10 January 1897 in Port Antonio, Jamaica, to Michael …
One of Jamaica’s National Heroes, George William Gordon was born to a slave mother and a planter father who was an attorney to several sugar estates in Jamaica. Seeing that his son George had special characteristics, Joseph Gordon decided to take an interest in his education from an early age. George went to live with …
Robert Nesta Marley, better known as Bob Marley, was an influential Jamaican singer-songwriter widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He helped bring reggae music to the forefront of the global stage. Born on 6 February 1945 in Nine Mile, Jamaica, Marley grew up surrounded by music, and his …
Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights leader, Black nationalist, and minister who served as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam during the 1950s and 1960s. As an influential figure in both the Nation of Islam and the civil rights movement, he played a significant role in shaping the political and social landscape of …
Often referred to as Queen Nanny, Nanny of the Maroons stands out in history as the only woman among Jamaica’s National Heroes. She possessed that fierce fighting spirit generally associated with the courage of men. In fact, Nanny is described as a fearless Ashanti warrior who used militarist techniques to foul and beguile the English. …
Jamaica’s National Heroes dared to challenge the institution of colonialism and in so doing changed the course of Jamaica’s history giving social and political freedom to its people. Today, the statues of Jamaica’s seven National Heroes stand in proud acknowledgement, in the National Heroes Park in Kingston where they are viewed with inspiring pride, unforgettable …
Samuel Sharpe is one of Jamaica’s National Heroes. He was the main instigator of the 1831 Slave Rebellion, which began on the Kensington Estate in St James, Jamaica and which was largely instrumental in bringing about the abolition of slavery. Because of his intelligence and leadership qualities, Sam Sharpe became a “daddy”, or leader of …
Norman Washington Manley is one of Jamaica’s National heroes. Born in Roxborough, Manchester, on 4 July 1893, he was the son of Margaret and Thomas Albert Manley who were both mixed race. He was well educated, attending high school, before going to Jamaica College. He made headlines as an outstanding athlete, as well as excelling …
