BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Welcome to Great Black Heroes

Welcome to Great Black Heroes. 

This site looks as many of the Black heroes in the course of history, pioneers and ground breakers in different fields. 

Many have gone unrecognized for their contributions, but their significance is now being rediscovered. 

Join us in recognizing these Great Black Heroes.

By greatblackheroes.com

 

Matt Baker

Matt Baker is often considered the first known successful African-American artist in the comic-book industry. Clarence Matthew Baker was born…
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Charlie Sifford

Charlie Sifford was a pioneer in the world of golf, helping to dismantle the “Caucasian-only clause” and opened the game…
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Willie O’Ree

Willie O’Ree is honored by many as the “Jackie Robinson” of hockey, as he was the first Black player in…
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Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin spent years in the background of the shadows of the great civil rights leader of the 1960′s, despite…
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Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was the most well-known Black person in America as he bravely fought for the cause of the abolishment…
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Matthew Henson

Though ignored at the time, history has discovered the true contributions of Mathew Henson, the co-discoverer of the North Pole…
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Jesse Owens

More than just a celebrated athlete, Jesse Owens took his country on his shoulders and shocked the world winning four…
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Johnny Bright

Johnny Bright was one of the greatest offensive players in college football and Canadian Football League history but he is…
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Wendell Scott

Wendell Scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing as the first Black full-time driver on the NASCAR…
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Maya Angelou

One of the foremost figures of the Civil Right Movement, Maya Angelou was a true visionary writer and performer who…
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Nina Simone

Nina Simone was one of the foremost singer/songwriters and Civil Right activists of her generation, revolutionizing the music genre as…
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Percy Julian

Percy Julian should be a name known to all of society for the contributions he made to the field of…
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Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. loomed as a giant in the Black community of Harlem, not only as the pastor of…
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Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron is acknowledged as one of the greatest hitters to every play in Major League Baseball and owner many…
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Sam Lacy

Sam Lacy was a pioneer in the field of sports reporting, giving a voice to the hopes, thoughts and dreams…
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Wendell Smith

Wendell Smith was a pioneer in the field of sports, acting as the voice of Black America in fighting against…
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Rosa Parks

Many remember Rosa Parks simply as a woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus but her…
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Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey has lived the American Dream, overcoming hardship and diversity to become one of the largest media figures in…
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Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige is remembered with fondness as one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. His life was…
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Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson was one of the greatest singers of the 20th Century, but it was her dignity in the face…
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Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman was a pioneer and innovator in the field of aviation, both as an African-American and as a woman….
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Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves is a legend of the west, one of the first Black lawmen in the region and one of…
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Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker is a name that is synonymous with the 1920s cultural high life. She lived in a time of…
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Doris Miller

The story of Doris Miller has been glamorized in motion pictures, but few know the real story of the Black cook who became a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. is remembered for many things: Being the first Black Air Force General, leading the Tuskegee Airmen flight squadron and standing up to the military establishment in advancing the cause of Black soldiers. More than that, he is a symbol of the ability of a Black man to preserver through obstacles on the path towards excellence.

Joe Louis

Joe Louis, as much as anyone from his era, carried the hopes and dreams of the Black race on his…
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Larry Doby

Larry Doby is forever viewed as number two, the second Black player and the second Black manager in modern Major League Baseball but this should not obscure his Hall of Fame career nor the struggles he endured.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was one of the most celebrated and respected writers/poets of the Harlem Renaissance and was a fore bearer of great authors of the Black Experience.

Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall is known as the first Black Justice of the United States Supreme Court but he is really defined by his work as a civil rights lawyer which redefined life in the United States.

William Hastie

William Hastie had one of the most distinguished careers as an earlier Black political pioneer but today remains unknown to most Americans. As a politician, an educator and a jurist, Hastie made inroads and left a legacy that is hard to match in history.

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is universally recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in history, but he may well be the most under-rated players in history.

Harriet Tubman

Perhaps one of the most amazing and inspirational figures to spring up not only in African American culture but in…
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Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson is known as the man who broke the color line in baseball but his accomplishment on and off…
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Elijah McCoy

Although the name Elijah McCoy may be a mystery to most people, the scale of his ingenuity and the quality of his creations have created a level of distinction which bears his name.

Jan Matzeliger

Often the greatest inventions are those which simplify necessary tasks. Such is the case with Jan Matzeliger, the man who…
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Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer is considered one of the ten most important Black inventors of all time, not only for the sheer…
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Fred Jones

Fred McKinley Jones is certainly one of the most significant Black inventors ever based on the sheer number of inventions…
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Lloyd Hall

Lloyd Hall made  significant contributions to society by developing new methods of food preservation and sterilization which eliminated spoilage and health…
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Charles Drew

Charles Drew was one of those exceptional individuals who seemed to excel at everything he did and  would go on…
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George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born in 1860 in Diamond Grove, Missouri and in spite of earlier issues would advance to…
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: AFRICAN WOMEN LEADERS

AFRICAN WOMEN LEADERS

Leaders Through The Ages Women have played important roles in community since the beginning of time. The innate tendency that women have for nurturing and taking care of their own render them loyal citizens of their various communities. As a result, women readily contribute towards the development of their communities, and in some instances are willing to go the extra mile in order to sustain the societies they belong to. From the various Queens of Ethiopia to the traditional Queen Mothers like Yaa Asantewa of Ghana, to political leaders like former Senegalese Prime Minister, Mame Madior Boye women leaders in Africa have gone to great lengths to defend the rights of their people and to facilitate development. The Controversy Surrounding African Women Leaders One cannot ascertain when or where the stigma against women leaders stemmed from. However there seems to be widespread reasons for why people think women should not take active part in leadership and governance. The argument about the “biological clock” seems to be the most popular case against women leaders. In many African societies, it is believed that as a result of a woman’s metabolism and her duty of bearing and bringing up children, she has little time for any thing other than the upkeep of her household. Although it is valid that the maintenance of a household and upbringing of children is time consuming, it seems that the proponents of this argument forget that the leaders in their societies were also brought up by women or maternal figures. In effect, African women do have the capacity to create a positive influence in the lives of people. Perhaps women leaders are even more adept at being leaders than their male counterparts as they spend a great part of their lives being unofficial leaders. Another excuse used against the participation of women in leadership is the fact that they are usually sensitive and emotional and as such would not be able to perform to the best of their ability in stressful situations. True, women are usually very emotional. But does this necessarily have to be a bad thing? The empathy that women feel for people and situations make them better able to understand the people they are leading and this motivates them to work even harder to achieve the goals of the community. A typical example is the case of Yaa Asantewa, the Ghanaian Queen mother of Ejisu who’s empathy for her people the Akans motivated her to fight for the protection of her people and land against the British colonists. Although she eventually exiled to Seychelles, she was able to inspire the Asante army to fight for the protection of their land and in effect, the Asante kingdom prevailed. Even today, it is one of the most diverse and rich ethnic groups in West Africa. Demographics And Women Women account for about 50% of the world’s total population. Unfortunately, two-third’s of the women population is illiterate. In addition, the world percentage of women in parliament is currently 16.6%. In Africa, a greater percentage of the total African population consists of women and female children. From all indications, women form a dominant part of the global society yet their involvement in societal and global affairs is quite limited as compared to the participation of their male counterparts. In order for a more progressive development of the world, it is necessary that more women are educated and supported in their career pursuits and particularly in leadership situations. The Way Forward In order to encourage more women to participate in leadership and government, it is necessary that the community and world as a whole give them the support needed. Instead of downplaying the efforts of African women, people could encourage them either by listening to their views in an objective manner, participating in women initiated activities, and helping eradicate the social stigma and discrimination against women in leadership and African women in general. It is undoubted that financial constraints could prove as a problem for African women leaders but with the relative acceptance of women leaders in countries like the U.S., U.K, Canada and Germany, and the support of organizations like the United Nations Development Fund for Women, these constraints could be overcome.

Queen of Kano (Nigeria) 1580-1582 Source: Guide to Women Leaders Politically Active Empress Uelete Rufael ( Ethiopia) 1724 Source: Guide to Women Leaders Queen Mother Ndlorukazi Nandi of the Zulu Kingdom (South Africa) 1815-1827 Source: Guide to Women Leaders Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa of Edweso (Ghana) 1887-1900 Source: Guide to Women Leaders President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Liberia) 2006 - Present Source: The Liberian Dialogue

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Africa’s 10 iconic women leaders

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Africa’s 10 iconic women leaders

By This Is Africa on February 20, 2015 — Black History Month is a time to reflect on the contributions various people have made, for the freedom of black people globally. Take a look at TIA's 10 iconic women in African history (not in order of importance)

Women warriors of Dahomey Kingdom were feared and respected as soldiers. Photo: Edmond Fortier.

1. Taytu Betul- Queen and Empress (Ethiopia)
Betul is praised for her role as a shrewd political leader who was instrumental in ousting Italian imperialists. She and her husband (Emperor Menelik II) were key figures in the Battle of Adwa (1896), between Ethiopian and Italian forces, which her nation won. Taytu Betul was an influential political leader.

Ethiopia’s Queen and Empress Taytu Betul was a key figure in fighting off Italian imperialists. Photo: Heber Ethiopia

2. Huda Shaarawi – Feminist leader and nationalist (Egypt)
Shaarawi spoke up for women issues and participated in Egypt’s nationalist struggle. She established the Egyptian Feminist Union (1923), and was the founding president of the Arab Feminist Union – to name a few of her achievements.

Feminist and nationalist Huda Shaarawi founded the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923. Photo: Kalamu

3. Women soldiers of Dahomey – Military leaders (Benin)
The admired but feared warriors of Dahomey Kingdom were also known as the “Dahomey Amazons” in the 18th century. They contributed to the kingdom’s military power, and were respected for being brave and never running away from danger.

Women soldiers of Dahomey Kingdom (Benin) were feared and respected for their bravery. Photo: Edmond Fortier

4. Gisèle Rabesahala -Malagasy politician (Madagascar)
Rabesahala was the first Malagasy woman to be elected as a municipal councillor (1956), political party leader (1958), and to be appointed minister (1977). The lauded leader also founded Imongo Vaovao newspaper, and is best known for dedicating her life to Madagascar’s independence, and advocating for human rights.

Pioneer Malagasy politician who was the first woman in Madagascar to be appointed minister. Photo: RFI

5. Wangari Maathai -Environmental activist (Kenya)
The Nobel Peace Prize winner (2004) founded the well respected Green Belt Movement in 1977, which advocates for people to plant trees to fight environmental degradation. She is also known for championing human rights.

Kenya’s Nobel Peace Prize winner was a passionate environmental activist. Photo: Green Belt Movement

6. Miriam Makeba – Musician and apartheid activist (South Africa)
The Grammy award winner openly opposed South Africa’s apartheid regime, and lost her citizenship because of she was an activist. “Mama Africa” introduced the world to South African music, and political struggles. Listen to Pata Pata here.

The South African Grammy award winner was an activist and important voice during the fight to end apartheid. Photo: Xhosa Culture

7. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Africa’s first woman president (Liberia)
The Harvard educated leader made history by becoming Africa’s first female president in 2006. The leader shared her 2011 Nobel Peace Prize with Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, and Yemeni journalist Tawakkol Karman for “their non violent struggle for the safety of women, and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” (Nobel Peace Prize)

Liberian president Ellen Sirleaf Johnson was the first female president in Africa, and is Nobel Peace Prize winner. Photo: Reuters

8. Yaa Asantewaa – Queen mother of the Edweso tribe (Ghana)
The Queen mother ‘Edwesohemaa’ led an army of thousands during the Yaa Asantewaa War for Independence, against the British colonial forces in 1900. The following year the British drove her into exile, and she spent two decades in Seychelles until her death in 1921.

Ghana’s Yaa Asantewaa was a key player in resisting the British colonial forces in 1900. Photo: Atlanta Blackstars

9. Nzinga Mbandi- Queen of Ndongo and Matamba (Angola)
Mbandi is described as a “deft diplomat, skilful negotiator and formidable tactician,” according to UNESCO. Nzinga encouraged her people to resist Portugal’s colonial influences, and even worked with the Dutch to drive the colonisers out. The queen resisted colonisation right until her death in 1663.

Angola’s Queen Nzinga Mbande was a deft diplomat fighting Portugese colonial forces. Photo: MRFPress

10. Cesária Évora – Musician (Cape Verde)
The Grammy award winning singer is known for appearing on stage with her bare feet in support of Cape Verde’s homeless, poor women and children. She sang in a style of music called “morna“,  which combines West African percussion with Portuguese “fado“, Brazilian modinha and British sea shanties. Listen to “Sodade” here.

Cape Verde’s Grammy award winning artist Cesária Évora is a singer and human rights activist. Photo: Concert live

Source: UNESCO