Elijah McCoy
Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, on 2 May 1844. His parents were George and Emillia McCoy, former slaves from Kentucky who escaped through the Underground Railroad. George joined …
Articles
Henry Boyd – Black inventor
Henry Boyd was a skilled carpenter, born into slavery in Kentucky on 12 April 1802. At a young age, his master apprenticed Henry out to a cabinetmaker. Henry proved to have an impressive talent for …
The Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were an umbrella term for state and local laws which legalised racial segregation. African Americans were to be marginalised by these laws – which existed for about 100 years, …
Lewis Latimer – Inventor
Lewis Latimer is regarded as one of the ten most significant Black inventors of all time, not just for his many inventions but also for his most famous discovery.
Latimer was born on 4 September …
Alice Marie Coachman – First black woman to win an Olympic gold medal
Alice Marie Coachman (born 9 November 1923 in Albany, Georgia) is an American former athlete. She specialised in the high jump and became the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal with …
Garret Morgan – Inventor of the traffic light and gas mask
Garrett Morgan possessed a rare gift of creativity that allowed him to produce outstanding inventions which have a tremendous impact on society.
Garrett Morgan was born on 4 March in Paris, …
Louise Bennet: Miss Lou dies at 86
On Wednesday, Jamaican poet and folklorist Louise Simone Bennett-Coverly, who became the voice of the island’s culture at home and abroad, died in Toronto. She was 86 years old.
Jamaica …
Planning for the summer holidays
It’s that time of the year when people who can afford it are off on their holidays, the children are out of school and their boredom threshold has increased to unimaginable levels. Not everyone …
A comprehensive look at the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, a protracted conflict that spanned from 1955 to 1975, remains one of the most tumultuous and defining periods of the 20th century. Rooted in the aftermath of World War II, this war …
Samuel Jackman Prescod: The voice of change in Barbados
Samuel Jackman Prescod stands as a towering figure in the annals of Barbadian history, embodying the relentless fight for justice, equality, and representation. His journey from the margins of society …
John F. Kennedy: An overview
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, remains one of the most iconic and influential figures in American history. Though tragically cut short by assassination, his presidency was …
World Poetry Day: A celebration of language, creativity, and emotion
World Poetry Day is an annual event held on 21 March, established by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) in 1999. It celebrates the power of poetry and its …