Fannie Jackson Coppin - Educator

Photograph courtesy The African American

Museum and Library at Oakland 

(A Division of The Oakland Public Library)

Fannie Jackson Coppin was known as an Educator, Missionary and a lifelong Advocate for female higher education. Born into slavery in 1837, Fannie was believed to be self-educated. In her youth, prominent white families, who noticed her exceptional intelligence, would help guide Fannie, giving her the opportunity to learn, in exchange for her work as their servant. Fannie would eventually attend Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin College is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the United States and one of the first colleges in the U.S. to admit African Americans.  Fannie mastered Latin, Greek and mathematics and graduated in 1865. She was the first Black teacher at the Oberlin Academy; a private preparatory school in Oberlin, Ohio. Fannie was committed to helping educate other Black people too. She wanted to dispel the myth that Blacks were intellectually inferior. Fannie became a teacher at the Quakers' Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia. Throughout her life, Fannie would share words of wisdom to educate and inspire. One quote was, "Good manners will often take people where neither money nor education will take them." Because of her education and advocacy, Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland (an Historically Black College and University - HBCU) is named after Fannie Jackson Coppin.

Women's History Month: Wilma Rudolph

               Photograph Courtesy of the Washington D.C. Public Library

Wilma Rudolph (1940 - 1994) was the first female American runner to win three gold medals in the Olympic Games. At the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, she won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and anchored the 400-meter relay, earning the title of World's Fastest Woman. This would be an amazing accomplishment for any athlete.  However what makes her achievements even more phenomenal is she suffered many health challenges as a child. Wilma had scarlet fever, pneumonia and she contracted infantile paralysis, which caused the polio virus, at the age of five. She would eventually recover from polio, but she lost the strength in her left leg and foot; disabling her for much of her early years. 

Wilma would struggle with mobility for many years, even wearing a leg brace until the age of 12. But with the support and care from her family and treatment at the historically Black Meharry Medical College (now Nashville General Hospital at Meharry), Wilma would eventually recover. She went on to play sports; basketball and track in high school; leading her to become an Olympic star.  Wilma Rudolph left a legacy that still shines today. She overcame obstacles, childhood illnesses and physical disabilities. She broke barriers of gender and race, becoming one of the first role models for African American and female athletes. She was named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year, won the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award and she was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. Wilma Rudolph is considered to be one of the greatest athletes in history who gave a tremendous boost to women's track in the United States.

Women's History Month: Lillian Evanti

Photo Courtesy Evans - Tibbs Collection

Lillian Evanti was one of the first African-Americans to become a professional opera singer. Born Annie Wilson Lillian Evans in 1890 in Washington, D.C. Lillian would graduate from Howard University. After marrying her husband Roy Tibbs, Lillian sailed to Paris and began her musical journey. She combined her maiden and married names and used the stage name of Evanti to sound more European. Between 1925 - 1928, Lillian, a soprano, studied and performed in many of the well-known and respected opera houses in France, South America and Italy. Although she was praised for her performances in Europe, only the Black newspapers in America were publicizing her success. In an article published in the Chicago Defender, Lillian stated, "Distinguished Parisians understand us."  Adding, "There is no such thing as color prejudice, especially among the upper classes." When she returned to the United States in the 1930's, the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City invited her to audition. Lillian was excited to sing opera in her native country. However, despite her European success, the Metropolitan Opera never offered Lillian a contract due to racial segregation.  Although she suffered rejection due to racism, Lillian was determined to perform in America and expose opera to more people in the Black community. She would eventually perform with the National Negro Opera Company, appear at The Town Hall performance space in New York City and sing for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House. But Lillian didn't stop there! She composed and published music, participated in the 1963 March on Washington with Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and throughout her life, she continued to be a trailblazer for African American artists in classical music, advocating for racial equality in the arts.  Lillian passed away in 1967 at the age of 77.

Women's History Month: Bessie Coleman

Photograph courtesy Arizona Historical Society, Tucson

March is Women's History Month, the perfect time to share stories of amazing women who have made a positive impact!  When you check into my Blog every Saturday this month, you will read about women you may not have known about, but you'll be glad you discovered them. 

Today's we are featuring: Bessie Coleman - Aviator and Activist

Born in 1892 in Atlanta, Texas, Bessie was the 10th of 13 children to parents, George Coleman, an African-American (who was also believed to have Cherokee or Choctaw grandparents) and African-American mother, Susan Coleman. Even as a young child, Bessie developed an interest in flying. She dreamt of becoming a pilot. Unfortunately, at the time, neither African-Americans, Native Americans or women could enroll in flight school in the United States. However, Bessie didn't let that stop her dream. In 1920, she moved to France to attend flight school. She successfully earned her flying license in 1921. Bessie became the first Black woman to earn an international pilot's license. When she returned to the United States, her next dream was to establish a flight school, that would welcome everyone. But she needed money to put her plans in place. In order to raise money, Bessie began flying in air shows all around the country. Bessie would do unique and thrilling stunts. People started calling her "Brave Bessie" and the "Nervy Lady". With the money she was paid, she continued to prepare for her flight school, even buying 3 airplanes; inching closer to her goal. But sadly on April 30, 1926 tragedy struck. Bessie was practicing her routine before an air show in Jacksonville, Florida. Bessie was a passenger, her mechanic, William Willis was piloting the plane. Witnesses say the plane went into a nosedive. Bessie, not wearing a seatbelt, fell to her death. William was killed when the plane crashed to the ground. Despite her death being more than 100 years ago, Bessie Coleman still inspires women and girls today. Her image is part of the Women Making History quarter series and her face is on the U.S. postage stamp. To read more about Bessie Coleman, go to your local library.

Black History IS American History: Isaac Burns Murphy

Photograph courtesy Library of Congress

Isaac Burns Murphy was considered "the greatest jockey in the history of the sport".  Born into slavery in 1856  in Clark County, Kentucky, Isaac began his racing career at the tender age of 14. In 1884 he won his first Kentucky Derby on a horse that was owned by a Black man. Isaac became the first jockey to ride winning mounts in the Derby three times and the first to win the prestigious race for two consecutive years. His talent would eventually make him one of the highest paid athletes and one of the most famous Black men in America, at that time. Isaac Burns Murphy had a career win - loss record of an incredible 628 out of 1412 starts. He passed away in 1896.

Black History IS American History : Patricia Roberts Harris

Photograph courtesy Bethune Museum

Patricia Roberts Harris was an Attorney, an Ambassador and a Cabinet Member. Patricia completed her undergraduate studies summa cum laude at Howard University, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Washington, D.C. After graduating with honors from Washington University's law school in 1960, she was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the District of Columbia bar.  She eventually was granted tenure as a professor of law at Howard University in 1963. Patricia was later named dean of the university's School of Law in 1969, becoming the first Black woman to head a law school in the United States. This would be one of many First for her. President Lyndon Johnson appointed Patricia Ambassador to Luxembourg; the first Black woman to receive an ambassadorship. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the post of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; the first Black woman to hold a Cabinet-level position. Patricia Roberts Harris went on to become Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1979.

Black History IS American History: Jesse Owens

Photograph: Courtesy Washington, D.C. Public Library

Although February is designated as Black History Month, I don't think telling the stories of the people who changed and continue to impact our Nation should be limited to only one month out of the year! Black History IS American History and should be celebrated Everyday! Although my Blog is usually shared once a month, during February I will present the story of an outstanding Black American every week. This week I'm sharing the life of Jesse Owens, a history making athlete and activist.

Jesse Owens is remembered as one of the world's greatest track and field athletes. He competed as a low hurdler, a broad jumper and a sprinter. Jesse was born in Danville, Alabama and would later attend The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. One of the most memorable moments in his athletic career happened at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany. This was a time when Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was in power. Prior to the Olympic games, Hitler had bragged to the world that no Black athlete would beat any of his Aryan athletes. However not only did Jesse Owens beat the Germans, but he won four gold medals as an angry Hitler watched. At that time, Jesse was the most successful athlete of the games and the first American to win four track and field gold medals at a single Olympics. And because of his decisive win, embarrassing and dispelling Hitler's racist beliefs, Hitler refused to present Jesse with his medals. 

Although Jesse had proven himself as an athlete and had represented America with honor and respect, when he returned to the United States he experienced some of the same racial prejudice that occurred in Nazi Germany. For many years, that racial prejudice made it very difficult for him to make a living. It wasn't until 1976, when Jesse was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom that his achievements were fully realized. Jesse Owens died in 1980 at the age of 66.