Movers & Shakers
Their most famous invention was the three-position traffic signal, which patented in 1923.
a) Lorraine Hansberry b) Garrett Morgan c) Andrew Johnson-Brown d) Barbara Jordan
Garrett Morgan! Morgan's traffic signal was designed to stand at street corners and let drivers and pedestrians know when to stop or go. It included a third, cautionary signal between "stop" and "go".
Other inventions: gas mask, hair cream, revamped sewing machine
A track-and-field athlete who set a world record in the long jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin—and went unrivaled for 25 years.
a) Mack Robinson b) Cornelius Johnson c) Ralph Metcalfe d) Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens! In that same day, he won four gold medals in the 100 m dash, 200 m dash, long jump, and 4x100 m relay.
The other African-American options: Robinson won silver in the 200m, Johnson won gold in the high jump, Ralph won 4x100m relay and silver in 100m.
This figure was the first Black general in the U.S. Army. He served for 50 years, beginning as a temporary first lieutenant during the Spanish American War.
a) Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. b) David B. Walker, Jr.
b) Fredrick McKinley-Jones d) Arthur Gregg
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.
Throughout his service, Davis was a professor of professor of military science at Tuskegee and Wilberforce University! He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Considered one of the greatest contralto singers in the world, this singer was often denied the opportunity to show off her unique vocal range because of her race. However, in 1955, she became the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.
a) Marian Anderson b) Toni DeLay c) Anita Bath d) Ella Baker
Marian Anderson
In 1963, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her last major accomplishment before her death was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 1991.
Thanks to the early accomplishments of this figure, who has been called the first woman of color producer, we have female directors and producers like Oprah, Ava DuVernay, and Shonda Rhimes. Her 1923 silent crime film The Flames of Wrath had a team of all people of color!
a) Marianne Walker b) Hattie McDaniel c) Angela DuPre d) Maria P Williams!
Maria P. Williams! (1866–1932) She created her own newspaper called 'The Woman's Voice"
The first African American woman to travel into space.
a) Mary Jennings b) Mae Jemison c) Mavis Johnson d) May Jenninson
Mae Jemison! She orbited into space aboard the shuttle Endeavour. She's also a physician, teacher, and Peace Corps volunteer! She is 68 years old. She also Jemison started The Jemison Group, Inc. (JG) a technology consulting firm integrating critical sociocultural issues into the design of engineering and science projects, such as satellite technology for health care delivery! She also has an annual international science camp for 12-16 years old called the Earth We Share!
After being diagnosed with cervical cancer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951, a sample of this figure's cancer cells were taken without her consent by a researcher. Despite passing at age 31 that same year, her cells would go on to advance medical research for years to come as her cells had the ability to multiply every 20-24 hours! wow
Henrietta Lacks! Her cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research. Contributed to: Polio, Covid-19, HPV, HIV, Gene mapping, Chromosome counting, space travel, blood disorders, AIDS treatments and cell culture practices.
This singer perfected the singing in a whistle register was best known for their five-octave vocal range. The whistling can be heard on their biggest hit to date, “Lovin’ You.” Their iconic whistle register and range have influenced modern music!
Minnie Riperton!
The infectious ballad was originally created as an ode to her daughter, Maya Rudolph! She was one of the first celebrities to go public with a breast cancer diagnosis. She became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society in 1977. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter presented Riperton with the American Cancer Society's Courage Award at the White House. She passed from the disease in 1979, aged 31.
Born into slavery in 1864, this prominent figure taught at Tuskegee Institute and developed over 300 industrial, commercial and food products over their lifetime. Their most well-known invention was peanut butter.
George Washington Carver!
In all, he developed more than 300 food, industrial and commercial products from peanuts, including milk, Worcestershire sauce, punches, cooking oils, salad oil, paper, cosmetics, soaps and wood stains. He also experimented with peanut-based medicines, such as antiseptics, laxatives and goiter medications.
Before Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, there was a brave 15-year-old who also refused to give up a seat and chose not to sit at the back of the bus. Touting their constitutional rights to remain seated near the middle of the vehicle, the child challenged the driver and was subsequently arrested.
Claudette Colvin!
She was the first woman to be detained for her resistance. She still alive today and is 85!