Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Taj Mahal
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Taj Mahal, an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and one of the pioneers of what came to be called world music. He combined blues and other African-American...
George Mason University
Chnm: Eubie Blake and Ragtime
This site contains a great interview with the pioneer of ragtime music, Eubie Blake. It also contains an audio clip of the interview.
Other
Black Inventors: Lloyd Hall
Lloyd Hall was a pioneer in the field of food chemistry, preservation, and sterilization.
Other
Tania Leon: A Woman Pioneering the Future
At this site read about Tania Leon, the Cuban born composer and conductor. This article focuses mainly on her works.
Other
Reading Group Guides: My Intonia
This site features a reading group guide for the book, "My Antonia," by Willa Cather. Students will benefit from the discussion questions listed in this resource.
Curated OER
Bessie Coleman
Explore the important part that African Americans played in the history of flight in the U.S. After introductory notes on Bessie Coleman and William J. Powell, be sure to click on Black Wings Epilogue for histories of WWII pioneers. Also...
Curated OER
William J. Powell
Explore the important part that African Americans played in the history of flight in the U.S. After introductory notes on Bessie Coleman and William J. Powell, be sure to click on Black Wings Epilogue for histories of WWII pioneers. Also...
Curated OER
National Park Service: New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park: Sidney Bechet
Discover more about the life of jazz pioneer Sidney Bechet with this well written site. With his colorful personality and unique style, you will appreciate the contributions this musician had toward the development of jazz.
Other
Oprah.com: Oprah Winfrey's Biography
Learn how Oprah became successful by reading her biography. Organized into several sections: "Television Pioneer," "Magazine Founder & Editorial Director," "Producer/Actress," "Philanthropist," "Television Programming Creator,"...
ESPN Internet Ventures
Espn: Althea Gibson Broke Barriers
Gibson was a woman of many firsts. She was the first black to compete at a national tennis tournament and then later at Wimbledon. She was the first black to win either and also won the French championship. This article discusses her...
Rutgers University
Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer
An extensive look at the inventor, Lewis Latimer, from the Thomas Edison Papers at Rutgers University. Read essays about his life and inventions, the culture in Boston which encouraged his work, and his life outside his inventions. A...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Thurgood Marshall
The first African-American on the U.S. Supreme Court as a pioneer for equal rights. Learn more about Thurgood Marshall on this Library of Congress site.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Charles Henry Turner
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Charles Henry Turner, an American behavioral scientist and early pioneer in the field of insect behavior. He is best known for his work showing that social insects can modify their...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Beyond the Playing Field: Jackie Robinson
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides several primary source documents pertaining to Jackie Robinson's period of civil rights advocacy, as well as corresponding lesson plans.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Lewis Howard Latimer
This is an excellent biography of Lewis Howard Latimer. It discusses his joy of learning throughout his entire life, and also includes additional links to help illustrate the topics presented.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Howard W. Odum
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Howard W. Odum, an American sociologist who was a specialist in the social problems of the southern United States and a pioneer of sociological education in the South. He worked to replace...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Wayne Shorter
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Wayne Shorter, an African-American musician and composer, a major jazz saxophonist, among the most influential hard-bop and modal musicians and a pioneer of jazz-rock fusion music.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Lewis H. Latimer
Use this site to learn about the inventor of the carbon-filament light bulb, Lewis H. Latimer (1848-1928 CE).
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Kansas: Nicodemus Historic District
Established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War, the town of Nicodemus symbolizes the pioneer spirit of people formerly enslaved. Established on homestead land, the town of Nicodemus was...