Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-breaking and Pioneering Historical Events

Jessie Carney Smith

Jan 2003 · Visible Ink Press

About this ebook

A superb historical study of black achievement. – Houston Chronicle. Readers will revel in the stories of barrier-breaking pioneers in all fields-arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, inventing, journalism, religion, science, sports, and more. And they will rejoice in their triumphs. With hundreds of illustrations and a daily calendar of firsts, this book is the culmination of many hours of work, courage, and perseverance, the exact qualities represented within. A testament to a rich but often overlooked part of history, this chronicle reveals stories of a people overcoming adversity to emerge triumphant and celebrates those who have won personal victories against the forces arrayed against them.

About the author

Jessie Carney Smith is a noted author, biographer, and black studies scholar. She is William and Camille Cosby Professor in the Humanities at Fisk University in Nashville, where she also serves as the university librarian. Among Dr. Smith's numerous awards are the 1992 National Women's Book Association Award, the Candace Award for excellence in education, and "Sage" magazine's Ann J. Cooper Award for her published works on African American Women. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.