Black History: Joseph Cinqué to Barack Obama (Part 1: 1700-1900)

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)—a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer. Banneker was a figure bigger than life with legends made about his photographic memory. He was a grandson of Europeans & slaves, carved one of the first clocks in America from wood and is reported to have had a significant role in the surveying & planning of Washington, D.C.

Sojourner Truth (1737-1883)—Originally named Isabella Baumfree by her Dutch masters and spoke Dutch fluently. In her adult life, she worked with abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and David Ruggles. Truth travelled and spoke widely after publishing her memoirs, "The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave". One of her famous speeches was "Ain't I A Woman?"

Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable (1745(?) -August 28, 1818)—"The Father of Chicago", was a Haitian colonist in North America of mixed French and African ancestry. Du Sable was the first settler and the first African-American in the area which is now Chicago, Illinois, He was declared the Founder of Chicago by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago on October 26, 1968.

Phyllis Wheatley (1753-1784)—born in Gambia, was America's first Black female poet during American Revolutionary War and started African American literature. Her first book of poems, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" was read widely & loved by George Washington. She was freed due to her scholarship, but died in poverty. Her first name was derived from the slave ship which transported her & her last name from the family that purchased her.

James Lafayette Armistead (1760-1830)—American Revolution hero, became a spy for General Lafayette by pretending to be a slave in a British army camp. His intelligence on British troops helped the Americans defeat the British at Yorktown, acts for which he later gained his freedom.

Nat Turner (1800-1831)—leader of slave rebellion which killed more Southerners than any other while freeing numerous slaves. Turner was also deeply religious & a preacher who believed God spoke to him through signs. After his capture & execution, his attorney published his book, "The Confessions of Nat Turner".

Joseph Cinqué also known as Sengbe Pieh (1813-1879)—born in Sierra Leone, Joseph was illegally captured by slave traders, shipped aboard the Amistad, and sold to Cubans who transported the 53 captives to the US. The captives led by Joseph mutinied but the traders navigated to the US. Upon arrival in the US, the captives were tried in US Court, but those sympathetic to their cause including former US President John Q. Adams who represented them before the US Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the 53 had been illegally sold into slavery and ordered all to be sent back to Africa as they had requested.

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)—American abolitionist, women's suffragist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. First African American nominated as a Vice Presidential candidate in the U.S., running on the Equal Rights Party ticket with Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States.

Hariett Tubman (1820–1913)—Born Araminta Ross; founder of "Underground Railroad" which helped slaves in South escape to freedom in the North, Union cook, nurse, armed scout & spy during Civil War, abolitionist & humanitarian. The Underground Railroad wasn't a railroad of course, just her method of transporting slaves called "passengers" to freedom in the North & Canada.

Elijah McCoy (1843-1929)—A prolific African Canadian inventor and engineer with many US patents including: lubricators for seam engines of trains & boats, folding ironing board, lawn sprinkler. The term "The Real McCoy" describes any product of excellent workmanship that is the real thing.,

Jan Matzeliger (1853-1889)—Born in Surinmae to Dutch father & slave, Jan became a sailor & emigrated to the US. He learned English & became inventor of shoe lasting machine which increased the productivity of a shoe maker from 50 shoes by hand daily to 150-700 shoes daily.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)—Born Sarah Breedlove; first Black female millionaire (Guinness Book of Records), inventor of curling iron, straightening comb & numerous beauty & hair products for females, founder of Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

Scott Joplin (November 24, 1868 – April 1, 1917)—was an African American composer and pianist born near Texarkana, TX, into the first post-slavery generation - his father an ex-slave and his mother a freeborn woman. He would be best-known for his ragtime music, dubbed as "The King of Ragtime."

Rev. William J. Seymour (1870-1922)—Pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission at 312 Azuza Street in Los Angeles, CA. Founder of modern Christian Pentecostal movement in with Assembly of God, Church of God, 4-Square Church & Full Gospel Church founders under his influence.

Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950)—was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He first proposed the second week of February be celebrated as Black History Week in 1926 to coincide with the birthday celebrations for Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. He used his research as a historian in order to formally record and recognize the numerous achievements of Blacks to world history and history of the United States. In 1976, Black History Week was expanded to cover the entire month of February. Dr. Woodson is honored with his own Christmas ornament which is hung on the White House Christmas tree annually.

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (July 10, 1875-May 18, 1955)—Founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls (now Bethune-Cookman College) in 1904, and served as president from 1904-1942 and from 1946-47. Was a leader in the black women's club movement and served as president of the National Association of Colored Women. Was a delegate and advisor to national conferences on education, child welfare, and home ownership.Was Director of Negro Affairs in the the National Youth Adminstration from 1936 to 1944. Served as consultant to the U.S. Secretary of War for selection of the first female officer candidates. Appointed consultant on interracial affairs and understanding at the charter conference of the U.N. Founder of the National Council of Negro Women. Vice-president of the NAACP. Was awarded the Haitian Medal of Honor and Merit, that country's highest award. In Liberia she received the honor of Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa.

Garrett A. Morgan (1877-1963)—inventor of gas mask, traffic signal, hair straightener, and also the first Clevelander to own an automobile.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. (1887-1940)—Born in Jamaica; Pioneer of Back to Africa or "Colonist" Movement, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)—American folklorist and Harlem Renaissance author of four novels and over than 50 published short stories, plays, and essays. Hurston is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937).

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)—first African-American woman to earn an international aviation license and US aviation license. Known as "Queen Bess".

Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961)—only finished 6th grade, but self-taught engineer who invented mobile refrigerated systems for transporting perishable materials in trucks, railroad cars & boats. His work led to formation of US Thermo Control Co. Also invented A/C unit, starter generatory, rotary compressor, temperature control, portable X-ray machines, sound equipment, gas engines, and many other things we take for granted today.

David Nelson Crosthwait, Jr. (1898-1976)—pioneer in the field of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), held over 30 U.S. patents; first Black elected Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in 1971.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974)—was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. Duke Ellington was known in his life as one of the most influential figures in Jazz music and American music in general.

Most research on Black History figures courtesy of Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.