Ruth Beckford, 1925 – 2019, toured with Katharine Dunham, founder of Oakland Dance Association.

Read more "Ruth Beckford"

Richard Wright was the author of Native Son,  which was selected by the Book of the Month Club as its first book by a Black author in 1940.

Read more "Richard Wright"

Daurene Lewis, 1943 – 2013, in 1984 was the first Black woman mayor in North America, in Canada.

Read more "Daurene Lewis"

Arsenio Hall became the first black late-night talk show host with ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’ 1989 to 1994.

Read more "Arsenio Hall"

Rose Fortune, 1774 – 1864, first woman police officer of any race, in Canada.

Read more "Rose Fortune"

Stephen Burrows was the first black designer to win the Coty Award for best women’s wear designer in 1977.

Read more "Stephen Burrows"

Anne Cools born in 1943 was the first Black member of any gender of the Senate in Canada. She also ran one of the first domestic violence shelters in Canada.

Read more "Anne Cools"

Robert Smalls, 1839 – 1915, was a businessman, publisher, and politician. He was born into slavery and freed himself, a crew and their families by commandeering a Confederate transport ship in 1862. After learning of Smalls’ escape President Abraham Lincoln accepted Black soldiers in the Union army.

Read more "Robert Smalls"

Bernadine Anderson was the first Black woman celebrity makeup artist. She did makeup for TV series “Roots” and for the films “Coming To America” and many more.

Read more "Bernadine Anderson"

Chiwetel Ejiofor became the first black British actor to be nominated for Best Actor in 2013 for his role in 12 Years A Slave.

Read more "Chiwetel Ejiofor"