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Description: Fritz Pollard was a trailblazing African American athlete who broke barriers as the first Black player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). Despite facing racial discrimination, Pollard's exceptional skills and leadership paved the way for future generations of Black athletes, leaving an enduring legacy of courage and achievement in professional football.
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Description: Phillis Wheatley was an African American poet who was born in West Africa in 1753. She was kidnapped and brought to Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 7. She was enslaved by the Wheatley family, who taught her to read and write. Wheatley began writing poetry at a young age, and her first poem was published in 1767. In 1773, she published her first book of poems, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. This made her the first African American and the second woman in the United States to publish a book of poemsShuttle Endeavour in 1992, becoming the first African American woman in space.
$22.00
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Description: Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who fought for equality for African Americans in the United States. He was born in Decatur, Mississippi, in 1925. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and then attended Alcorn College, where he graduated in 1952. After college, Evers worked as an insurance salesman and became involved in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1954, he became the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi. He worked tirelessly to register African Americans to vote, to desegregate public facilities, and to investigate cases of racial violence.
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Description: Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner, fondly known as Flo-Jo, made her mark as an outstanding American track and field athlete. In the year 1988, she achieved greatness by setting world records in both the 100 m and 200 m events. Not only did she dazzle the sports world with her record-breaking performances, but she also captured the public's imagination with her unique and eclectic personal style. Throughout the late 1980s, she became a beloved and popular figure, admired for both her unparalleled athleticism and her distinctive fashion sense.
Description: Black People were stripped of our identities when we were brought here, and it's been a quest since then to define who we are. - Spike Lee
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Description: After the Civil War, the U.S. government struggled to find a place for its Black troops in a smaller postwar Army. In 1866, the Army decided to form the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments to replace the U.S. Colored Troops. Black Americans, many Civil War Veterans and former slaves, signed up to join these regiments. At one point, these Black regiments comprised almost one fifth of the Army. These four regiments distinguished themselves during Westward Expansion—where they became known as “Buffalo Soldiers”—and Spanish-American War.
Description: After the Civil War, the U.S. government struggled to find a place for its Black troops in a smaller postwar Army. In 1866, the Army decided to form the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments to replace the U.S. Colored Troops. Black Americans, many Civil War Veterans and former slaves, signed up to join these regiments. At one point, these Black regiments comprised almost one fifth of the Army. These four regiments distinguished themselves during Westward Expansion—where they became known as “Buffalo Soldiers”—and Spanish-American War.
Description: Harriet Tubman was a courageous abolitionist and political activist who escaped from slavery and subsequently led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Known as the "Moses of her people," Tubman's bravery, leadership, and dedication to the cause of freedom made her a pivotal figure in the fight against slavery and a symbol of resistance against oppression.
$22.00
Description: Bessie Coleman became the first black woman to earn a pilot’s license and the first black woman to stage a public flight in the United States. She specialized in stunt flying and parachuting and remains a pioneer for women in aviation.
$22.00
$22.00
Description: Althea Gibson was a trailblazing African American athlete who broke racial barriers in tennis, becoming the first Black player to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (now the U.S. Open). Her remarkable achievements and pioneering spirit not only transformed the sport of tennis but also inspired generations of athletes, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and inclusion in sports history.
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Description: William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an American sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community, and after completing graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard University, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate, he became a professor of history, sociology, and economics at Atlanta University. Du Bois was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
Description: Althea Neale Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event.
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Description: Bass Reeves was a legendary lawman who served as a deputy U.S. marshal in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) from 1875 to 1907. He was known for his bravery, his tracking skills, and his ability to apprehend criminals. Reeves was also one of the first black lawmen in the United States. Reeves was born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. He escaped from slavery in 1863 and joined the Union Army. After the Civil War, he became a deputy U.S. marshal. He served under Judge Isaac Parker, who was known as the "hanging judge" for his tough stance on crime. Reeves was responsible for apprehending criminals in a 75,000-square-mile (194,000-square-km) region of what is now mostly Oklahoma and Arkansas.
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Description: Phillis Wheatley was a pioneering African American poet whose literary achievements challenged racial stereotypes and paved the way for future generations of Black writers. Despite being enslaved as a child, Wheatley's remarkable talent and perseverance led to her becoming the first published African American author, highlighting her enduring impact on American literature and the fight for equality.
$22.00
Description: Nina Simone was a groundbreaking musician and civil rights activist whose powerful voice and poignant lyrics challenged societal norms and inspired change. Known as the "High Priestess of Soul," Simone's eclectic blend of jazz, blues, and classical music, combined with her fearless advocacy for racial equality, cemented her legacy as a cultural icon whose influence continues to resonate today.
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Description: Joe Louis (1914-1981), the "Brown Bomber," was a dominant boxing champion and a national hero. During World War II, Louis enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. While he did not see combat, he significantly contributed to the war effort by participating in 96 exhibition matches that boosted the morale of over two million troops. He also generously donated over $100,000 to Army and Navy relief funds. Rising to the rank of sergeant, Louis was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1945 for his "incalculable contribution to the general morale" of the military forces. His service, often conducted in a segregated military, further cemented his status as an icon who transcended the sport of boxing.