Jupiter Hammon was the first published black American poet. He was writing before the United States even existed.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— P.B.S. Pinchback
There have only been four black governors of U.S. states. Pinckney Pinchback was the first.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Joseph Cinque
The revolt aboard The Amistad and the subsequent Supreme Court trial indicated a shift in U.S. views towards slavery. In a sense, Joseph Cinque heralded the beginning of the end of slavery in the United States.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Hiram Rhodes Revels
There have only been nine black U.S. Senators in American history. Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Madison Washington
Madison Washington led the most successful slave revolt in U.S. history.
28 Black People You Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Diane Nash
“Who the hell is Diane Nash?”
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Canada’s first black doctor was also a surgeon during the U.S. Civil War. He was present at Abraham Lincoln’s death bed.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Jourdon Anderson
After the U.S. Civil War, Jourdon Anderson’s former master wrote a letter requesting that Anderson return to the plantation. Jourdon Anderson was having none of it.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Robert Robinson
Robert Robinson sought to escape American racism by moving to the USSR. He found more of the same. Then, the USSR refused to let him leave.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Hans Massaquoi
The former editor of Ebony magazine was born in Nazi Germany. He lived through Naziism in Germany and racism in the United States.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Abram Petrovich Gannibal
The great grand-father of Alexander Pushkin was born in Africa. He became a prominent member of Russian nobility.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Keith Ellison
America’s first Muslim congressman is a man you should know about.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Johnny Bright
During a football game, Johnny Bright’s jaw was broken by a racist. His resolve was not.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Jack Trice
Jack Trice, the first black athlete at Iowa State University, only wanted to honor his race and his family. His story ended in tragedy.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— Robert Charles
In 1900, three white police officers approached Robert Charles, a “suspicious negro”. Afterwards, nothing was the same.
28 Black People You Probably Don’t Know About (But You Should)— William Wells Brown
William Wells Brown escaped slavery and wrote the first novel by a black American.