Blog
Blog · June 17, 2023
A 3 day celebration of Juneteenth. Historical presentations, guided tours, and more.
Blog · March 31, 2023
Katherine G. Johnson, Mary W. Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan were three Black women who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and science at NASA during a time when segregation and discrimination were still widespread. Johnson's calculations were crucial in enabling the first manned spaceflight, and she played a key role in the Apollo 11 moon landing. Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer and made important contributions to supersonic flight research. Vaughan was...
Blog · March 30, 2023
Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transgender woman who played a significant role in the gay rights movement in the United States. Born in New Jersey in 1945, Johnson moved to New York City in the 1960s and became a prominent figure in the city's LGBTQ+ community. She was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), organizations that aimed to provide support and advocacy for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Johnson was also one of the key...
Blog · March 29, 2023
Shirley Chisholm was an American politician and civil rights activist who was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1924. She became the first Black American woman elected to the United States Congress, serving seven terms as the representative for New York's 12th Congressional District from 1969 to 1983. Chisholm was a vocal advocate for women's rights and social justice, and she was known for her pioneering efforts to break down barriers for marginalized communities. She was also the first woman to...
Blog · March 28, 2023
Fannie Lou Hamer was a Black civil rights activist who was born in Mississippi in 1917. Despite facing poverty, racism, and discrimination throughout her life, Hamer became an influential leader in the fight for civil rights, particularly in voter registration and desegregation efforts. She was a founding member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and played a significant role in challenging the state's all-white delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Hamer also helped...
Blog · March 27, 2023
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was an all-Black, all-female battalion of the Women's Army Corps that served during World War II. The unit was created to address the backlog of mail to and from American soldiers stationed in Europe, particularly Black American soldiers, who had been waiting months, and sometimes years, to receive letters from their loved ones. The 6888th was tasked with sorting and delivering this mail, a task that required tremendous skill, organization, and...
Blog · March 26, 2023
Maya Angelou was an American poet, author, and civil rights activist whose work had a profound impact on American culture and society. Born in Missouri, she experienced racial discrimination and trauma throughout her childhood and adolescence. Despite these challenges, she became a prolific writer, publishing several autobiographical works, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", as well as poetry, plays, and essays. Angelou was a close friend and mentor to civil rights leaders like...
Blog · March 25, 2023
Henrietta Lacks was a Black woman whose cells, known as HeLa cells, became the basis of numerous scientific breakthroughs and medical discoveries. Born in Virginia, she moved to Baltimore where she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. During her treatment, her cancer cells were collected without her knowledge or consent and were found to have an unusual ability to multiply and survive outside the body. These cells were used extensively in scientific research and were instrumental in developing...
Blog · March 24, 2023
Ella Baker was a Black American civil rights activist who dedicated her life to fighting for equality and justice for all people. Born in Virginia, she was raised in North Carolina and attended Shaw University, where she became involved in student activism. Baker worked with the NAACP, SCLC, and other civil rights organizations throughout her career, organizing grassroots efforts and advocating for the empowerment of local communities. She was a mentor to many young activists, including Martin...
Blog · March 23, 2023
Mary McLeod Bethune was an American educator, civil rights leader, and government official who devoted her life to advancing the cause of racial and gender equality. Born in South Carolina in 1875, Bethune was the 15th of 17 children and grew up in poverty. She attended college in Chicago and went on to found the National Council of Negro Women, an organization that fought for the rights of Black women. Bethune served as an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was instrumental in...