Famous Firsts
Yes we can! This former Senator from Illinois was elected as the first African American President of the United States in 2008.
Who is Barack Obama?
"If you hear dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there's shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going."
Who is Harriet Tubman?
In this 1954 case, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
What is Brown v. Board of Education? (Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka)
This Grammy award winning artist and Academy Award nominated actor is from West Philadelphia, born and raised.
Who is Will Smith?
Believed be the first female millionaire, this woman is responsible for creating a line of hair care products for African American women.
Who is Madam C.J. Walker?
This military General went on to serve as the First African American Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the First African American Secretary of State under President George W. Bush.
Who is Colin Powell?
"I'm young. I'm handsome. I'm fast. I can't possibly be beat."
Who is Muhammad Ali?
The Supreme Court ruled they could not hear this case because the plaintiff, who sued for his freedom, was not considered a citizen at the time because he was African American.
What is Scott v. Sanford? (Dred Scott v. Sanford)
This former slave, educator, and minister was responsible for starting the Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia.
Who is Richard Allen?
This writer and civil rights activist is best known for her work to end lynching of innocent African Americans.
Who is Ida B. Wells?
This founder of the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) was the first African American man to be featured on a postage stamp
Who is Booker T. Washington?
"If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and charges our children's birthright."
Who is Amanda Gorman?
In this landmark Supreme Court case, the Court ruled that public places could be separated by race as long as those public places and facilities were equal in quality. Only one judge, John Marshall Harlan, dissented.
What is Plessy v. Ferguson?
This Hall of Fame basketball coach and teacher spent time at Sayre Junior High School, Simon Gratz High School, and Cheyney State (now Cheyney University) before settling in as the lead Owl at Temple University and collecting 741 career NCAA wins as a head coach.
Who is John Chaney?
This member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame was the first African American woman to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open singles titles.
Who is Althea Gibson?
This author of "The Bluest Eye" was the first African American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in literature.
Who is Toni Morrison?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Who is Maya Angelou?
In this 1967 case, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down state laws in Virginia as unconstitutional, finally allowing interracial marriage to be legal throughout the United States.
What is Loving v. Virginia?
This prominent Philadelphia defense and civil rights attorney was known for his militant style of activism. A neighborhood and a portion of Columbia Avenue in North Philadelphia was renamed in his honor.
Who is Cecil B. Moore?
The first African American woman to serve in the United States Congress, spent her seven terms in the House of Representatives fighting for the rights of women and minority groups.
Who is Shirley Chisholm?
In Super Bowl XXII, Washington defeated the Denver Broncos, 42-10, with this man at quarterback, the first African American to quarterback a winning team to a Super Bowl victory.
Who is Doug Williams?
“You get freedom by letting your enemy know that you'll do anything to get your freedom; then you'll get it. It's the only way you'll get it.”
Who is Malcolm X?
In this 1948 case, the Supreme Court ruled that restrictive covenants prohibiting the sale of properties to African Americans in certain neighborhoods in Missouri was unconstitutional.
What is Shelley v. Kraemer?
This famous Philadelphian and first African American graduate of Penn's architectural school went on to design over 400 buildings including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Who is Julian Francis Abele?
This life long educator spent her entire career fighting for equal rights and gender equality. Famously, she served as advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, including as a member of the President's Black Cabinet.
Who is Mary McLeod Bethune?