Meet James West, The Black Man Who Invented The Electret Microphone
We’re celebrating his 91st birthday! James West was born February 10, 1931 in Prince Edward County, Virginia, Biography.comreports. Even as a child, West says he can remember having an interest in engineering, specifically if there was some electrical component involved. “If I had a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, anything that could be opened […]
Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Singer Roberta Flack
She turns 86 years young today! Roberta Flack is a pioneering soul icon whose work paved the way for women musicians and transformed popular music. Flack had a series of hits during the ‘70s and worked with a number of popular artists, including Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, and Peabo Bryson. Flack’s music is timeless, and her […]
Meet Haitian Model Mama Cax, the Disability Rights Activist Who We’ll Always Remember
Yesterday, Google celebrated Mama Cax with a doodle illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist Lyne Lucien. Past Doodle illustrations include historical figures and moments such as Bessie Coleman, Juneteenth, the NAACP’s silent protest parade, Esther Afua, and more. Wednesday’s Doodle celebrated Cacsmy “Mama Cax” Brutus, the Brooklyn-born but Haiti-raised model who was diagnosed with cancer at 14, resulting in the amputation of her […]
6 Must-See Interviews With Alice Walker That Will Change Your Life
We’re celebrating her 79th birthday! Alice Walker is a beloved poet, writer, and activist who rose to international fame in the early 1980s, Alice Walker’s Garden reports. The Eatonton, Georgia native has numerous bestselling novels, but she is most recognized for her 1982 novel The Color Purple. The work earned her a Pulitzer Prize, making her the first […]
Here’s What You Never Learned About Paul Laurence Dunbar, One Of The First Black Nationally Recognized Poets
It’s the 117th anniversary of his passing. Today, there are many poets whose work has made them household names. Writers like Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and James Baldwin are prolific, and we have become very familiar with their countless contributions that gave voice to our stories, struggles, and triumphs. However, there were other poets who came before them. Poets who […]
Ben Crump Is The First Black Practicing Attorney To Have A Law School Renamed In His Honor
The College of Law at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida will be renamed Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, Black Enterprise reports. Ben Crump, also known as Black America’s attorney general, is a noble attorney with an extensive legal career. He’s represented several families in major civil rights cases, including Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George […]
6 Amazing Things Oprah Winfrey Has Done Since Her Talk Show
She hasn’t slowed up a bit! Oprah Winfrey is an accomplished media mogul, author, philanthropist, and wellness advocate whose career has catapulted her to international stardom. A cultural icon, not many haven’t heard of Winfrey, and while she is best known for her work as a talk show host, there is so much more that […]
Lebron James Now Has the Most Points In NBA History, Surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
He shoots, he scores! 20 seasons in, Lebron James has officially scored the most points in NBA history. Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers had a rocking game at Crypto.com Arena against the Oklahoma City Thunder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jamie Foxx (@iamjamiefoxx) The pressure was through the […]
This High School Squash Team in NYC Is the First Black Team to Compete In the Nationals
The Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA) boys squash team is heading to the high school nationals and making history in the process! This predominately Black public high school in Harlem actively works to reflect the “spirit and life of Justice Thurgood Marshall and his commitment to positive social change.” After a group of students started playing […]
Meet Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Godmother Of Rock ‘N’ Roll
She started it all! Before Chuck Berry or Little Richard, two men considered pioneers of Rock and Roll, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of the musical genre. She was born Rosetta Nubin in Arkansas to parents Willis Atkins and Katie Bell, NPR reports. Growing up with a religious background, Tharpe began playing the guitar when she was just […]