Milestones in African American History: Recent Episodes
Milestones in African American History
Celebrate the contributions African Americans have made throughout history and learn how Black and Brown people across America have helped shape, impact, and enrich the world in which we live in, because Black history is history.
Anika Nonie Rose made her mark as she is the voice of Princess Tiana in the movie Princess and the Frog. Princess Tiana is the first ever Black Disney princess in history. Voiced by Kadie Digiuseppe.
Henry Ossawa Tanner is the first ever International African American artist. Getting his start in France during World War I, Tanner created works of art that would end up painting him into the history books. Voiced by Steve Bassin.
Naomi Ruth Sims is the first African American Supermodel. After being teased from a young age about her height to constant discrimination, Sims battled past adversity and made history. Voiced by Jordan Hirsh.
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander helped pioneer education in the Black community as well as empower the Civil rights movement. Voiced by Matt Brown.
Charles Albert Tindley is credited for creating the basis of the Civil Rights movement's anthem "We Shall Overcome" as well as writing many popular hymnals. Voiced by Jay Johnson.
Louis Armstrong was an African American Jazz musician who helped put Black artists on the map. Armstrong won a Grammy for his song "Hello Dolly" and is best known for his song "What a Wonderful World". Voiced by Joe Garino.
Black Swan is the first Black owned radio station. Founded by Harry Pace, Black Swan became a catalyst for Black performers and empowered the Black community. Voiced by Owen Nelson.
Out of all George Washington Carver’s groundbreaking achievements , he is known for being the first African American scientist. Listen now to learn more about how Craver made history and how he blazed a path for future African Americans.
Rashida Jones is the first African American executive to lead a major television news network, MSNBC. Tune now to learn more about how she climb up the ranks and became a trailblazers for many African Americans.
Thurgood Marshall became the first African American to become a part of Supreme Court Justice. Listen on demand to learn more about many African American leaders who paved a way for success for the future.
Ethel Waters made her mark as the first African American to star in her TV show. Tune in to learn more about her journey on how she got her tv show and how she became a role model for many African Americans.
Flip Wilson is known as the first African American Comedian. Listen now to learn more about how Flip got his name and how he help break barriers in the film industry.
Guion Bluford became the first African American to be launched into space. Tune in now to learn more about Bluford and his journey becoming the first African American in space.
B.E.T is known as the first black-owned cable network. This brought representation for the African American community in the film and television world. Learn more on how this B.E.T become about of African American culture.
Sheila Oliver made history as the first governor of New Jersey. Listen in to learn more about she how she fought against racial inequalities and became a role model for many African Americans .
Gwendolyn Brooks made her mark as the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize. Listen in and do a deep dive on who Brooks is and how she has been a huge role model in the African American community.
Fritz Pollard is known as the first African American football player. Listen in now to learn more about Pollard's journey and how he inspired many African Americans to purse their dreams.
Sydney Barber made her mark in history by becoming the first African American woman to be the Brigade Commander of the US Navy Academy. Tune in now to learn more about Barber's upbringing and how she is a trailblazer for the African American community.
At 28, Allen passed the Maine Bar in Portland and became the first African-American attorney. Listen in to learn more about Allen and how he impacted the African American community .
Richard Potter was the first professional African American magician and is also credited with being the first successful ventriloquist in America. Tune in to learn more about his upbringing and how he impacted the African American community.
Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in American History. Listen to learn more about her journey and achievements.
Serena Williams is arguably one of the best tennis athletes to ever grace the court. Her play helped bring attention to black female athletes and empower the African American community as a whole.
Lincoln Perry was known as the first African American actor. Best known as Stepin Fetchit, he became a vaudeville actor at the age of 20 and won an NAACP Image award in 1976. Voiced by Rosalyn Tiangco.
Noah Harris is the first African American to become student body president as Harvard University. Harris was elected in 2020 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 2022. Voiced by Emily O'Connor.
Wendell Scott drove his way into the history books as the first African American race car driver! He is the first Black driver and team owner to win at NASCAR's premiere level and was inducted into the NASCAR hall of fame in 2015.
Bayard Rustin was one of the leading voices in the fight for Black rights as well as gay rights. Rustin helped organize freedom rights with Dr. Martin Luther King and served on many humanitarian missions. Voiced by Nick Witkowski.
Charles L. Reason is the first Black professor. Being denied work in ministry due to his race, Reason wrote powerful poems which led him to pursue education in the Black community. Voiced by Julia Train.
Phillis Wheatley is the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Sold into slavery, she learned how read and write and became one of the most notable voices speaking against slavery. Voiced by Jay Johnson.
Chris Dickerson is known as the first African American body builder. With singing as his intentions, he lifted his voice into the history books winning Mr. America in 1970! Voiced by Jay Johnson.
Marsai Martin became the youngest producer ever at just the age of 13! The 3 time BET award winner got her start with the film "Little" and jump started her into stardom. Voiced by Jaden Foreman.
Jackie Robinson is known as the first African American to play in the MLB. While Robinson was great on the field, he brought inspiration to African Americans across the country and helped empower the Civil rights movement.
Cynthia Marshall is the first person to become the CEO of an NBA team. In 2018, Marshall became the chief executive officer of the Dallas Mavericks and encourages more diversity in positions of power. Voiced by Heather Batezel
James Wormley Jones was the first African American FBI agent. Jones was assigned work to infiltrate Black organizations which helped arrest Marcus Garvey. Voiced by Ellis Foreman.
Jesse Owens is famously knows for his performance in the 1936 Olympics. Owens secured 4 Olympic gold medals in Berlin, leading him to be one of the biggest names during the Civil rights movement.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential African American media moguls in history. From talk shows to the big screen, this billionaire became the richest African American of the 20th century! Voiced by Jordan Hirsh.
Alex Haley is best known for his book Roots. The story evolved into a television series and inspired many African Americans to look into their family history and genealogy. Voiced by Jordan Hirsh.
Ruby Bridges was the first African American to integrate into a white elementary school. Despite harsh words and derogatory terms hurled at her, Bridges never missed a day of school. Voiced by Julia Train.
Madam C.J. Walker is known as one of the first African American entrepreneurs as well as a political and social activist. Walker is recorded as the first female self made millionaire in America for her development and marketing of cosmetics and hair care products for Black women. Her business was so successful that it allowed her to found the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. Walker was very active when it came to social issues as she joined the executive committee of the New York Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which organized 8,000 African Americans for the Silent Protest Parade on New York City’s fifth avenue.
In May 2020, Nicholas Johnson gained recognition as the first valedictorian at Princeton University. While attending Princeton, Johnson was a part of MIT's optimization and machine learning search, where he gained inspiration from his professor, William Massey. This success opened doors for Johnson, where he was featured in the New York Times, ABC, BET, and more. Currently, Johnson is a Ph.D. student in Operation research. Johnson said “The fact that today we have a Black valedictorian shows how much work has been done, but also how much work still needs to be done.”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Inspired by her mother, Tharpe pursued the music scene alongside her mother at six years old. Tharpe is known for her famous song Rock with Me, giving her the nickname Godmother of Rock and Roll. She is the first African American woman to be acknowledged for her influence on music. Tharpe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in May 2018. She has paved the way for future artists and genres.
Thomas L. Jennings was born in 1791 in the Big Apple, New York City. Jennings was a jack of all trades, from a tradesman to an inventor. Jennings started his career as a tailor but disliked the traditional way of cleaning clothes. He was the first African American to receive a patent for his dry-scouring invention. Jennings received this achievement in 1821, and his invention became the stepping stone of the present-day dryer.
WERD in Atlanta became the first African-American-owned radio station in 1949. Jesse Bayton, a professor at Atlanta University and bank president, purchased this station and hired his son Jesse Bayton Jr. Before Bayton owned the station, he attended Morehouse College and became the first African American in Georgia to be a Certified Public Accountant. He would go on to become a professor for black students and would encourage the community to invest within the community. Bayton purchased WERD in hopes of bringing more revenue to black communities in Atlanta Bayton Jr. would go on to hire who is now known as the WERD Four horsemen: Gibson, Joe Howard, Roosevelt Johnson, and Jimmy Winnington. The opening of WERD was a staple in the African American community and empowered many people to take action and speak up about discrimination and inequalities.
William Alexander Leidesdorff was born in 1810, and by age 35, he became the first African American U.S. Vice Consul to Mexico in 1845. That was not all Leidesdorff achieved; he was elected into San Diego’s first city council and was a part of the first school board in 1847. Unexpectedly, Leidesdorff passed away a year later and was given an honored burial in Mission Dolores Church.
This group of children known as the Little Rock Nine were the first group of African Americans to integrate an all-white school. Though they faced violence and criticism, the courageous nine ended up changing history forever. Voiced by Claire Palmer.
John Lewis is known for his part in the Civil rights movement. Coining the phrase "good trouble" Lewis was elected to the House of Representatives until his death in 2020. Voiced by David Kessler.
James McCune Smith is the first African American to become a doctor. McCune Smith attended the University of Glasgow in Scotland where he received his bachelor's master's and medical degree. Voiced by Jaden Foreman
Hiram Rhodes Revels is the first African American to be voted into congress. Revels took oath in 1870 for the State of Missouri where he fought for equal rights for all races and spoke out against inequalities. Voiced by Owen Mccarron.
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Oscar. Turning into a professional performer in high school, McDaniel secured her Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as a house servant in Gone With the Wind. Voiced by Owen Mccarron.
EE Ward Moving and Storage Company is the first Black owned company. Created by John T. Ward, the company was originally used to help transport runaway slaves during the Underground Railroad. Voiced by Rosalyn Tiangco
Earl Lloyd is the first black NBA player. Along with two other Black men, Lloyd was drafted in 1950 but was the first to be signed and play on the court! Voiced by Jordan Hirsh.
Cherelle Parker has been voted in as first Black female mayor of Philadelphia. She looks to take initiative and build up the City of Brotherly Love! Voiced by Allison Burton
Bessie Coleman is the was the first African American woman to earn her pilot's license. Voiced by Emily O'connor
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is the first African American fraternity to be founded. The organization helped inspire many African American men and had a big impact on the Civil rights movement. Voiced by Jay Johnson.
The story of Marie Van Brittan Brown, inventor of the home security system, is narrated by Logan VanDine.
The story of one of the most prolific inventors, Richard Bowie Spikes, is told by Nick Witkowski.
Listen to the story of the first African-American to host a network morning show, told by 107.7 The Bronc's General Manager John Mozes.
Listen to the untold story of Bayard Rustin narrated by 107.7 The Bronc's General Manager John Mozes.
The story of legendary African-American poet Essex Hemphill, who spoke on the Black gay experience, is narrated by Yusef Collins-Bryant.
Susie King Taylor's story as the first African-American teacher gets told by Heather Batezel.
American politician and attorney, Hakeem Sekou Jeffries's story is told by Naa'san Carr.
Known as the mother of environmental justice, Hazel M. Johnson's story gets told by Claire Palmer.
Bianca Bracey tells Carl Stokes's story on how he became one of the first African American Mayors.
Frederick McKinley Jones, inventor of mobile refrigeration, gets his story told by Owen McCarron.
Olivia Parker shares Dr. Daniel Hale Williams's story on how he became the first surgeon to perform "the first successful heart surgery."
Naa'san Carr tells the story of how Jack L. Cooper became the first African-American radio disc jockey.
Artist: Arcia Stokes
Arcia shares key contributions from her business, Stokes Notes, LLC.
Artist: Arcia Stokes
Arcia shares key contributions from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC.
Artist: Emily Katt
On this episode, Emily highlights key contributions from Marian Anderson.