By: Amelia Workman
I remember sitting in history class in school, learning about our founding fathers, famous military generals and U.S presidents. As a former student in American public schools, I noticed almost all of the history curriculum focused on white people, undermining the accomplishments and achievements of black people in history. Many of us are vastly uneducated on black history, let alone black women that have greatly impacted our world. We know famous black women, like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman from our history textbook. However, there are many inspiring black women that have had profound impacts on our country- that we may have never heard of. This list compiles 10 black women that we should have learned about in history class. Although, this is just a few of the many black women who have greatly influenced history.
1. Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson is known as one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. She traveled all over the U.S and Europe to perform for audiences and even shared a friendship with Albert Einstein. Anderson is best known for singing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after Eleanor Roosevelt invited her to perform in 1939. Anderson initially was refused the opportunity by the Daughters of the American Revolution, purely because she was black. Over 75,000 people saw her performance on the National Mall and she inspired many with her powerful voice and music.
2. Amelia Boynton Robinson
Amelia Boynton Robinson was an American civil rights activist and was one of the first black women to run for Congress in Alabama. She suffered from harsh beatings after she helped lead the 1965 civil rights march, known as Bloody Sunday. In 1990, Boynton Robinson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and her campaign raised awareness about voter discrimination. President Obama recognized her legacy and said she was, “an indomitable spirit.”
3. Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman in 1922, was the first African American woman to perform a public flight. She was known for doing impressive tricks and wowed audiences with her live flying shows. Coleman was also the first black woman to earn her pilot’s license. She encouraged African American women to learn how to fly and traveled all over the U.S and Europe performing shows and speaking to audiences. Coleman refused to speak anywhere that was segregated and continued to be vocal on her beliefs until her passing.
4. Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde was a writer, feminist, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described, “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” She addressed racism and sexism in her poetry and creative works. In addition to poetry, she wrote novels including, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, The Cancer Journal and Uses of the Erotic. Lorde’s contributions had many influences on feminist and queer theory as well as critical race studies. She also is credited to have pioneered many liberation movements, including civil rights, second-wave feminism, and LGBTQ+ equality. In 1981, Lorde founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, which furthered the writings of black feminists.
5. Mamie Johnson
Mamie Johnson was the first female pitcher to play in the “Negro Leagues,” which were U.S professional baseball leagues predominantly made up of African and Latin Americans. Johnson was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953 and had an impressive record. She was known by the nickname, “Peanut” after an opposing batter yelled to her, “What makes you think you can strike a batter out?” She yelled back, “Why, you aren’t any larger than a peanut!” and then, struck him out. She was a nurse after her baseball career ended and was a lecturer at the Library of Congress symposium in 2009.
6. Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells was a journalist, researcher and activist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her main goal was to expose the mistreatment of African Americans in the south through her writings. She published many findings on her investigations into the lynchings of black men. Wells also traveled all over the world, educating people about lynchings to countless audiences. She is also known for confronting white women in the suffrage movement who ignored lynching and the mistreatment of African Americans. Wells also founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Club, which addressed civil rights and women’s suffrage.
7. Madam C.J Walker
Madam C.J Walker was one of the first American women to become a self-made billionaire. She is known for her creation of specialized hair products for African American hair care. Walker traveled around the country demonstrating her products and established Madame C.J Walker Laboratories to manufacture her cosmetics and educate beauticians. She also opened a beauty school and organized conventions for her representatives. In addition, Walker was a philanthropist, she donated money to the construction of the Indianapolis YMCA in 1913.
8. Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress in 1968 and the first woman and African American to receive the nomination for president from the Democratic party. In 1964, she became the second African American in the New York State Legislature. She helped create the National Women’s Political Caucus and was the first black woman to serve on the White House Rules Committee. Chisholm faced extreme discrimination in her presidential campaign, as she was blocked from many televised primary debates. After her campaign, she founded the National Political Congress of Black Women
9. Mary Eliza Mahoney
Mary Eliza Mahoney is known for becoming the first African American licensed nurse. After she worked as a nurse’s aide and cook for many years in her teens, she was admitted to graduate school for nursing. Of the 42 students that entered the program, only four completed it. Mahoney was one of the students that finished the program and became a licensed nurse. After she faced discrimination from working in public nursing, she became a private nurse. After decades of nursing, she became the director of the Howard Orphanage Asylum for black children. Mahoney championed women’s rights and equality for African Americans.
10. Valerie Thomas
Valerie Thomas is an accomplished scientist and inventor, creating the patented illusion transmitter. The technology she created was adapted for use by NASA and is used in surgery and television screens. Thomas started as a math/data analyst for NASA and moved up to the positions of Space Physics Project Manager and Associate Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office. Despite the lack of early support for her work because of her skin color, she became a pioneer in aerospace research and technology.
Women's Center 