Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Barbara Clementine Harris
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Barbara Clementine Harris, an African American clergywoman and social activist who was the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Flip Wilson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Flip Wilson, an American comedian whose comedy variety show, The Flip Wilson Show, was one of the first television shows hosted by an African American to be a ratings success. The show ran...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Buck Leonard
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Buck Leonard, an American baseball player who was considered one of the best first basemen in the Negro leagues. He was among the first Negro leaguers to receive election into the Baseball...
Alabama Humanities Foundation
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Mahala Ashley Dickerson
Mahala Ashley Dickerson is featured in this brief biography as the first black woman attorney permitted to join the Alabama and Alaska bar associations.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Bernard Shaw
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bernard Shaw, an American television journalist and the first chief anchor for the Cable News Network (CNN). Shaw's childhood heroes included newsman Edward R. Murrow, whose television...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: George Dixon
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features George Dixon, a Canadian-born American boxer, the first black to win a world boxing championship. He is considered one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight and...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Charlotte E. Ray
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Charlotte E. Ray, an American teacher and the first black female lawyer in the United States.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Alan Page
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alan Page, an American gridiron football player who in 1971 became the first defensive player to win the Most Valuable Player award of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Charles Spurgeon Johnson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Charles Spurgeon Johnson, a U.S. sociologist, authority on race relations, and the first black president (1946-56) of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. (established in 1867 and long...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Cynthia Cooper
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Cynthia Cooper, an American basketball player who was the first Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In the WNBA's inaugural season (1997),...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Don King
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Don King, an American boxing promoter known for his flamboyant manner and outrageous hair styled to stand straight up. He first came to prominence with his promotion of the 1974 "Rumble in...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Robinson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Robinson, an American collegiate gridiron football coach, who set a record (later surpassed) for most career wins (408). He spent his entire head-coach career at Grambling State...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Tolan
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Tolan, an American sprinter and the first black athlete to win two Olympic gold medals. In his track career, Tolan won 300 races, losing only 7.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Naomi Ruth Sims
Brief biographical details on American model and business executive, Naomi Ruth Sims, who was the first black supermodel to adorn the cover of Ladies' Home Journal.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Ella Fitzgerald
Brief biography of famous singer and Grammy winner Ella Fitzgerald.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Marian Anderson
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 2005 to commemorate classical singer Marian Anderson. With a short passage on her awards and international singing career.
Read Works
Read Works: Fourth Grade: Three Lesson Unit: Cause and Effect
[Free Registration/Login Required] A three-lesson unit on cause and effect where students learn signal words to identify cause and effect relationships and then examine those relationships in historical fiction with Pink and Say by...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Frederick Douglass
(1818-1895) African American abolitionist who was the first African American leader of national stature in the United States
Curated OER
United States Congress: Hiram Revels
The United States Congress offers a biography of Hiram Revels, the first African-American Senator.
Curated OER
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Blanche K. Bruce
A biography on Blanche K. Bruce, the first African-American to serve a full term in the United States Senate.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in New York: Lemuel Haynes House
Last home of Lemuel Haynes, first African-American preacher ordained in America.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in Washington Dc: St. Luke's Episcopal Church
The first African-American Episcopal church in Washington, DC.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in Washington Dc: Mary Church Terrell House
A home of Mary Church Terrell, abolitionist and first African-American woman to serve on a school board.
Curated OER
George W Bush (Left) and Condoleezza Rice
A short biography of the first African-American to serve as Secretary of State.