People
James Robert Ford (1925-2017)
James Robert Ford was a politician, businessman, and the first African American mayor of Tallahassee, Florida. That election also made...
Lulu Vere Childers (1870-1946)
Contralto, pianist, pedagogist, administrator, and advocate Lulu Vere Childers had a profound impact on African American Spirituals and European classical...
Savannah Valentine Churchill (1920-1974)
Rhythm and Blues singer Savannah Valentine Churchill surged to national prominence in 1945 with her hit song, “Daddy, Daddy.” Churchill...
James Perkins Jr. (1953- )
James Perkins Jr. became the first African American mayor of Selma, Alabama on September 13, 2000. Perkins was born on...
Jane Serepta Dean (1848-1913)
Jane Serepta “Jennie” Dean, a former slave, missionary, and pioneering educator, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in...
Elizabeth Mason Harden Gilmore (1910-1986)
Elizabeth Mason Harden Gilmore was a trailblazing figure, a distinguished entrepreneur, and a significant civil rights leader. She was the...
Basil Dorsey (1808-1872)
Basil Dorsey, born enslaved in Maryland, became famous for his role in successfully freeing himself. Dorsey was born in 1808...
Frances Thompson (1840-1876)
Frances Thompson, a transgender woman and anti-rape activist became one of five Black women to testify before a congressional committee...
Hobart Sidney Jarrett (1915-2005)
Dr. Hobart Sidney Jarrett (1915-2005) was a respected scholar, educator, and leader in Black community organizations. His contributions to African...
