Civil Rights & Activism
A "conductor" of the Underground Railroad who led over 70 enslaved people to freedom.
Who was Harriet Tubman?
The first black female self-made millionaire entrepreneur, who amassed her wealth through her successful haircare line.
(Invented the hot comb)
Who was Madam C.J. Walker?
Howard Alumna writer, anthropologist, folklorist, and documentary filmmaker, most known as pioneer of the Harlem Renaissance and author of "Their Eyes Were Watching God"
Who was Zora Neale Hurston?
This African-American woman holds multiple patents, including one for the adjustable sanitary belt, a precursor to modern menstrual pads
Who was Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner?
African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and former slave who attended the Seneca Falls Convention.
Who was Fredrick Douglass?
Known as the "Mother of the Freedom Movement," her refusal to give up her seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott
.
Who was Rosa Parks?
A NASA mathematician played by Taraji P. Henson in "Hidden Figures", whose calculations were critical to 1960s U.S. manned space missions.
Who was Katherine Johnson?
A renowned poet, author, and activist, most famously known for her autobiography "I know Why the Cage Bird Sings".
Who was Maya Angelou?
African-American mathematician who was instrumental in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Who was Dr. Gladys West?
Founder of the NAACP and supporter of women’s suffrage by publishing articles by Black female activists in The Crisis magazine.
Who was W.E.B. Dubois?
A powerful voting rights activist who co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) to challenge all-white political representation.
Who was Fannie Lou Hamer?
An African-American woman who's cancer cells are the source of HeLa cells that have contributed to the development of the polio virus, mapping the human genome, advancing the HIV/AIDS research, and much more
Who was Henrietta Lacks?
African-American novelist, essayist, editor, and college professor who broke barriers in literature, especially know for her novel, "Beloved".
Who was Toni Morrison?
African-American inventor who was known for her patent on a heating furnace using natural gas.
Who was Alice H. Parker?
A civil rights attorney and politician who introduced the state's first legislation to legalize abortion years before Roe v. Wade.
Who was Percy Sutton?
The 49th Vice President of the United States and Howard alumna who worked in public service addressing civil rights.
Who is Kamala Harris?
The first African-America woman to travel in space
Who is Mae Jemison?
First African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel, "The Color Purple".
The first Black female physician to receive a medical patent with her groundbreaking invention, the Laserphaco Probe, revolutionizing cataract surgery.
Who was Dr. Patricia Bath?
First criticized for his lack of female inclusion, this writer later wrote many pieces including his most notable gender equality essay "Here Be Dragons".
Who was James Baldwin?
Howard's first Black female law student and a pioneer in anti-slavery, women's voting rights, and education.
Who was Mary Ann Shadd?
The first Black female physician in the United States.
Who was Rebecca Lee Crumpler?
The first Black woman to publish a book (1773), entitled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
Who was Phillis Wheatley
Invented the first home security system in 1966, featuring closed-circuit television and an emergency panic button, laying the foundation for modern surveillance.
Who was Marie Van Brittan Brown?
Former NFL cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who lost his mother to domestic violence who now uses his platform to constantly speak up about this prevalent women's issues.
Who is William Gay?