Mary Church Terrell (1863 – 1954) was one of the first African-American women to earn…

Bessie Smith (1894 –  1937) was an American blues singer. Sometimes referred to as The…

Robert Smalls (1839–1915) was an enslaved African American who, during and after the American Civil…

Fred Shuttlesworth (1922 – 2011) civil rights activist, minister As pastor of Birmingham, Alabama’s First…

Henry Y Sampson (1934), Jackson, Mississippi Sampson graduated from Lanier High School in his hometown,…

Paul Robeson (1898-1976) Athlete, Entertainer, Activist Robeson was one of the most gifted men in…

Philip Randolph Raised in abolitionist traditions by his minister father,  mirrored those beliefs for more…

Joseph Hayne Rainey (1870 – 1879) He born into slavery, and was the first African…

Jesse Owens World record-holder Jesse Owens had one qualifying jump left at the 1936 Olympic…

Jan Ernest Matzeliger (1852-1889) Inventor In at least one branch of industry, America owes its…