(December 1, 1940- April 9, 2011) Photo credits: The Estate of Jerry Lawson (Jerry Lawson) Before Xbox, PlayStation, or even Atari, you had to buy a...

Self-made Millionaire at the age of 15

April 5, 2019

Wally Amos was the first black talent agent and entrepreneur who founded Famous Amos cookies.

April 7, 2019

Inventors

Black Firsts

Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, the Chemist Who Defied Boundaries and Changed Medicine

tellersuntold - February 17, 2025

Introduction Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of African Americans who have shaped our world. While figures like Martin Luther King...

Celebrating Black History: The Legacy of James Edward Maceo West and His Revolutionary Electret Microphone

February 6, 2025

Marie Van Brittan Brown: The Trailblazing Inventor Behind the First Home Security System

October 24, 2024

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African-American Firsts

Ruth Jean Baskerville: A Pioneer in Black Talent Representation

Black Firsts tellersuntold - October 15, 2023

This blog celebrates and highlights the remarkable life and career of Ruth Jean Baskerville, President of the world's largest black-owned talent and entertainment company,...

Matthew Alexander Henson: One of the First to Reach the North Pole

Black Firsts Nonso Nwagbo - May 6, 2021

Matthew Alexander Henson was born on August 8, 1866, in Charles County, Maryland, U.S. He was an African American explorer. "My thoughts were on the...

Meet a substantial contributor to the study of cardiovascular disease and the first black Ph.D. in Chemistry.

Black Firsts tellersuntold - September 20, 2019

Courage is like a habitus, a habit, a virtue: you get it by courageous acts. It's like you learn to swim by swimming. You...

Phillis Wheatley: 25 fascinating facts

Black Firsts tellersuntold - March 16, 2025

Phillis Wheatley, a name that should be etched in the annals of American history, remains largely unknown to many. Yet, her story is one...

Gertrude Jeannette-First Woman Cabdriver Who Turned Broadway Actor

Black Firsts tellersuntold - November 21, 2019

Gertrude Hadley Jeannette became the first woman in New York City licensed to drive a motorcycle. She was the first woman licensed to drive a cab. She became...

Jesse Owens: the Buckeye Bullet!