Sports
With three national Golden Gloves, a bronze Olympic medal, and countless other accomplishments, this boxer from Grand Rapids retired with a 50-0 record and 15 major world championships.
Floyd Mayweather
FINISH THE LYRIC: Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Diana Ross, once sang in The Wiz “Can’t You Feel A…”
"...Brand new day"
Shelton Jackson Lee, better known as “Spike” Lee, is a revolutionary director who has produced more than 35 films since 1983, including “Jungle Fever,” “He Got Game,” “Do the Right Thing,” and this 2018 film starring John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace.
Blackkklansman
Benjamin Banneker owned a farm on the outskirts of this city, where his skill in compiling almanacs contributed to his successive scientific achievements, one of which being his accurate prediction of a solar eclipse.
Baltimore
Jesse Jackson was a strong proponent of the Civil Rights Movement who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from this city in Alabama to Montgomery Alabama. The demonstration was only one of many that Jackson participated in, as he was also involved in Greensboro demonstrations and eventually ran for president twice.
Selma
Erin Jackson was raised as a roller skater and, at University, studied (and is studying) engineering, computer science, and kinesiology, later transitioning into this sport that won her an Olympic gold medal
Speed Skating
Known as one of the greatest vocalists of our generation and the only person to chart seven consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 Hits, singer Whitney Houston added to her claim to fame by starring in this drama film as Rachel Marron.
The Bodyguard
Wordsmith Amanda Gorman recited “The Hill We Climb,” an original poem that described her ability to overcome the limitations of racial inequality as a black woman in America. Gorman's reading made her the youngest poet to speak at this event in January of 2021.
Inauguration, Biden’s inauguration, inaugural address
This profitable black neighborhood in Tulsa, comprised of thriving barbershops, doctors’ offices, schools, grocery stores, real estate agencies, etc., received a catchy name for reaching similar success to its upstate counterpart.
Black Wall Street
We best know Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, but many of us do not know that, after being raised in Hawaii, graduating from Columbia in New York, and graduating from Harvard in Massachusetts, Obama received his start in politics by representing this state’s senate.
Illinios
Allyson Felix refused to let this condition put her life on hold by indulging in its nature, advocating for others who experience complications from IT, resultantly excelling in track and field, and eventually winning a total of 6 Olympic gold medals, more than any female runner in history.
Pregnancy
After co-starring in this 1988 film and making the groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first black late-night talk show host, comedian Arsenio Hall stepped away from the limelight to focus on his family.
Coming To America
L.A. native Kehinde Wiley prefers to paint black people in the traditional genre of Old Master, as his most famous painting depicts this prominent African-American figure according to this genre, surrounded by flowers.
Barack Obama
At age 33, this African American became the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery in the United States. He participated in the first recorded separation of conjoined twins and performed the first successful neurosurgical procedure on a fetus inside the womb.
Ben Carson
This black woman was the first gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States. Prior to this achievement, as the former Georgia State representative, she also became the first Georgian to deliver a response to the state of the Union.
Stacey Abrams
Despite receiving lower marks in her competitions due to racial discrimination, this Olympic figure skater persevered to become the first African American to win a medal in any Winter Olympics event.
Debi Thomas
This Competitive Swimmer never dreamed of becoming a model until the age of 19, when she took her first shot in the modeling industry. Numerous agencies turned her down, but she was hired on the spot to take the cover of Glamour Magazine and later became the first black woman on the cover of Vogue.
Beverly Johnson
Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Dizzie Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and many other household names were featured entertainers at this New York City nightclub in the height of the 1920s to 1930s.
The Cotton Club
This engineer from NASA’s “human computer” was the first black female engineer to work at NASA; her contributions were recognized by Hollywood in 2016 when Janelle Monae played her in Hidden Figures.
Mary Jackson
This woman's campaign slogan reflected her approach to politics: “Unbought and Unbossed,” advocating for gender and racial equality, calling for the Vietnam war’s end, and emphasizing the importance of pursuing education.
Shirley Chisholm
DOUBLE JEOPARDY: Arthur Ashe, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1992, is the first and only Black man to hold this tennis title in the U.S. Open, Australia Open, and Wimbledon.
Singles Title
Cicely Tyson, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, was an American actress with a highly successful career that spanned over 7 decades, but (at present) she is best known for her portrayal of this character in 1974, which earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for actress of the year.
Miss Jane Pittman
With an older sister in fame, a career in dance and theatre, and a degree from Howard University, this versatile woman made a Tony Award-winning performance in West Side Story, opened her own dance academy, starred in the 80s TV show “Fame,” and made appearances on “A Different World” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Debbie Allen
DOUBLE JEOPARDY: Raised by the first black motorman for the New York City Subway, this female ophthalmologist grew up to invent the Laserphaco Probe, a non-invasive cataract treatment, making her the first black woman to receive a patent for a medical purpose.
Patricia Bath
DOUBLE JEOPARDY: recently passed in October of 2021, leaving behind a legacy as the first African American to hold the positions of Secretary of State and chairman of Joint Chiefs of staff. Additionally, He left a lasting impact with his establishment of a doctrine that limited military interference unless it fit the criteria for American National Security Interests.
Colin Powell