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Coretta Scott King - Wife of Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. Dead at 78 (click here)

To learn more about her, click here.

Rosa Parks - Civil Rights Pioneer Dead at 92 (click here)

*** view her Obituary by clicking here ***

New story of the life of John H Johnson (click here)

Also visit "Remembering Attorney Johnny Cochran Jr." - click here

Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was born to parents who had been slaves. Neither mother nor father could read or write. Mr. Woodson had to work to earn money for the family and did not start school until later than most children. But, his motto was it is "never to late to learn." He became a high school teacher; and was sad to discover that none of the schools taught the history of black Americans. He started the American Negro Academy to study the important things black people had accomplished and on February 19, 1929 Woodson established "Negro History Week" which is now called Black History Month in the United States.

Perhaps the most well-known and remembered African-American is civil rights advocate and leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visit the links on the right to learn more about his birth, his death, and his struggle for equality.

Malcolm X was another force in the struggle for equal rights. His "by any means necessary" approach was sometimes considered hostile but was an effective means of bringing attention to his cause.

Nelson Mandela, a powerful, worldwide activist who was in prison on Robben Island for over 20 years, as well as who became the first black president of South Africa.

What would Jackie Robinson say if he were alive today, if he could survey all that has come in his prodigious wake? As not only a great athlete but a civil rights champion and community activist, would he approve of the state of American sports and the role of black athletes? Look here for an ESPN Special Report.

During the late 19th century, African American soldiers served in the U.S. Army in unprecedented numbers as members of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. These were the first to serve in the regular peacetime army; before that, African Americans were only allowed to assist in wartime efforts. After the Civil War, one in five soldiers was black. In July 1866, the first African American regiment was created by an Act of Congress approved by President Andrew Johnson. Less than a year later, six regiments of African American soldiers were recruited into the peacetime force. The young black men saw it as a golden opportunity: the Army offered $13 a month, food, clothing and a place to live.

A database of over 230,000 names of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) has been developed by the NPS and its partners in the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors (CWSS) project. It has been made available in conjunction with the dedication of the African American Civil War Memorial..
 

Visit some of these links for research on African-Americans and see how they have contributed to the diversity of America's culture throughout history. For more on Black people who made (or making) a difference, click here.

Be sure to visit our Black History Page. Click here!