Black Excellence STEM Edition!
This woman worked for NASA as a “human computer” where she would solve difficult math problems. She asked lots of questions and became more involved in other programs. Johnson then joined another task force in NASA where she “calculated the path for the Freedom 7, the spacecraft that put the first U.S astronaut in space.” She also was a huge part of the mission that successfully planned the first moon landing.
Katherine Johnson
The first black woman to headline Coachella!
Beyoncé
This woman was the face of the underground railroad and should be the new face of our 20 dollar bill.
Harriet Tubman
This basketball player was the youngest All-Star in NBA history at 19.
Kobe Bryant
Martin Luther King Jr!
This was the first black woman who went to space!
Mae Jemison
LVMH’s First Black Female Designer
Rihanna!
First Black President!
Barack Obama
This athlete is called the "greatest basketball player of all time".
Micheal Jordan
“Who ever heard of angry revolutionists all harmonizing ‘We Shall Overcome’ … while tripping and swaying along arm-in-arm with the very people they were supposed to be angrily revolting against?”
Malcolm X
This man was an Electronics Officer in the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force he “helped develop high performance computers for the National Security Agency.” After the Air Force, Greene developed a high speed computer memory system. He received a patent for the fastest memory chip (at the time). He then continued to share his expertise by teaching electrical engineering and computer science classes at multiple universities.
Frank Greene
Richest Rapper in the World
Kanye West!
This man was a former slave who wrote about his experiences and influence the abolition of slavery.
Fredrick Douglas
This gymnist is such a powerhouse that she's won seven all-around national titles in a row, five Olympic medals, 25 world medals, and has four signature gymnastics moves named after her.
Simone Biles.
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”
Langston Hughes
This man was one of the first developers on groundbreaking atmospheric computer models. He received his Ph.D. in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University and is currently a senior scientist at NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research). Washington is known for being an expert in climate research and has developed multiple computer climate models that show the impact of human activities on our future climate. He won the National Medal of Science in 2009.
Dr. Warren Washington
First black self created billionaire!
Pat Mcgrath
This woman was on one of the faces of the civil rights movement as she refused to give up her bus seat to a white person, to challenge the undignified bus laws
Rosa Parks
Who is considered to be the best tennis player ever?
Serena Williams
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Frederick Douglass
This woman was one of very few Black physical therapists in the late 1940’s. She used interpretive dance to help with her clients advance in therapy. After WWII, many veterans needed physical therapy and many were amputees. Blount used more innovative ways to help these patients by teaching them to use their feet. Another major accomplishment of hers was getting a patent for her invention the “Portable Receptacle Support.” This apparatus was a “tube was inserted into the patient’s mouth, and upon biting down on it, a small portion of food was pushed into his mouth.” In 1953, she was the first black woman to appear on the television program The Big Idea, which exposed her inventions to a popular audience.
Bessie Blount Griffin
First black artist to ever win a Grammy!
Ella Fitzgerald
Famous Author who wrote 'The Three Musketeers' and Count of Monte Cristo. He is famous and well beloved but his blackness was often erased from history
Alexandre Dumas
First black player in major league baseball!
Jackie Robinson
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
Muhammad Ali