black history

I was regarded as fair-looking for one of my race, and for four years a white man – I spare the world his name – had base designs upon me. I do not care to dwell upon this subject, for it is one that is fraught with pain. Suffice it to say, that he persecuted Read more

Harriet Jacobs was the first woman to write a slave narrative, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, in 1861.  Read more

The Fortens were one of the most prominent black families in Philadelphia. They founded and financed abolitionist organizations, wrote against slavery, operated a school for African-American children, entertained the leading abolitionists of the day and harbored fugitive slaves. Read more

First African-American woman to obtain a patent Sarah Goode was born a slave in 1850. She moved to Chicago after the Civil War and owned a furniture store. Her invention, a cabinet bed (known to us as a hideaway bed), was granted patent #322,177  on July 14, 1885. Opthamologist/Inventor/Laser Scientist Dr. Patricia Era Bath was Read more