Alexander Haley

Alex Haley, (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992), US Coast Guard From Wikimedia Commons

United States Coast Guard

Sammy Davis Jr. and Son

Sammy Davis Jr. and his son Mark in 1964. Photo: Leonard McCombe/Time-Life Pictures.

Vintage Black Glamour | tumblr

Blanche McSmith

Blanche McSmith, 1920 – 2006,  McSmith was a legislator, social worker, mother, and tireless advocate for social and economic justice in Alaska. Born in Texas in 1920, Blanche Louise Preston graduated from Wiley College in 1941 and earned a masters degree in social work from the University of Southern California in 1944.

Blackpast |  Image Courtesy of the Alaska State Library, Historical Collections

Lucille Baldwin Brown

 Lucille Baldwin Brown was born on Suwannee Street in Smokey Hollow community to Mr. and Mrs. Dallis Baldwin (who co-founded St. John now New St. John Church). Lucille was the first black public county librarian. ca. 1940s

State Library and Archives of Florida, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 USA. Contact: 850.245.6700. Archives@dos.state.fl.us

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Louis Armstrong's stage personality matched his flashy cornet and trumpet playing. Armstrong is also known for his raspy singing voice. Text From Wikipedia

Photo by Samkling, Flickr

Ossabaw Island, Georgia

African American with loggerhead turtle, Ossabaw Island. ca 1925

georgiahistory | GHS Manuscript Collection

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks in the 1940s. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement". Wikipedia Text

prlog

Duke Ellington

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and big-band leader. Ellington was recognized in his lifetime as one of the greatest jazz composers and performers. photo by carbonated on Flickr

fotopedia

Vintage Postcards

Little girl with flowers and wearing a cute white dress.

Sweet little outfits and caps.

African American Children by the Sea. One is wearing a cute sun bonnet.  (It is difficult to find African American postcards. I was very happy to find this postcard thanks to The Graphics Fairy)

Adorable in her little clown suit

Flickr | from chicks 57

Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams, New York, N.Y., ca. 1946.
Mary Lou Williams (May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements, and recorded more than one hundred records. Wikipedia 

Paul Robeson

Paul Leroy Robeson (April 9, 1898 - January 23, 1976) was an American singer and actor who was a political activist for the Civil Rights Movement. c.1938  Wikipedia

National Archives of Canada | photo Yousuf Karsh

Billie Holiday

One thing is clear, Billie Holiday loved dogs! Here she is with her chihuahua, Pepi, in 1957. photographer Bob Willoughby/Redferns.

facebook | Vintage Black Glamour

Howard P. Perry

"Breaking a tradition of 167 years, the U.S. Marine Corps started enlisting Negroes on June 1, 1942.
The first class of 1,200 Negro volunteers began their training 3 months later
as members of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion at Montford Point, a section of the 200-square-mile Marine Base, Camp Lejeune, at New River, NC.
The first Negro to enlist was Howard P. Perry shown here."
N.d. Roger Smith. 208-NP-10KK-1.

archives.gov | Pictures of World War II | Pictures of African Americans During World War II US | National Archives

Lonnie Johnson

Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson (February 8, 1899 – June 16, 1970) was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of  jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos.  Johnson was not only one of the few black blues musicians invited to be 'guest featured' on a number of jazz recording sessions, he was also one of the only classic 1920's blues artists to have a revived a high-charting career after WWII.

chatterbox

Phillis Wheatley

On Virtue

Phillis Wheatley (May 8, 1753 – December 5, 1784)was the first African-American poet and first African-American woman to publish a book. Born in Senegambia, she was sold into slavery at the age of 7 or 8 and transported to North America

On Virtue

O Thou bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.
I cease to wonder, and no more attempt
Thine height t' explore, or fathom thy profound.
But, O my soul, sink not into despair,
Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o'er thine head.
Fain would the heav'n-born soul with her converse,
Then seek, then court her for her promis'd bliss.
Auspicious queen, thine heav'nly pinions spread,
And lead celestial Chastity along;
Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,
Array'd in glory from the orbs above.
Attend me, Virtue, thro' my youthful years!
O leave me not to the false joys of time!
But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.
Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,
To give me an higher appellation still,
Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,
O thou, enthron'd with Cherubs in the realms of day.

Phillis Wheatley

poemhunter |history

Fritz Pollard

Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard (January 27, 1894 – May 11, 1986) was the first African American head coach in the National Football League (NFL). Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920.

thefedoralounge

Man with Large Snake, circus photo by Tyne and Wear Archives  & Museums

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson,  (April 9, 1898 - January 23, 1976) majestic singer and actor, brilliant scholar and athlete, fierce political activist and all-around renaissance man. He is seen here in 1925 in a photo by the famed British photographer Alex Stewart Sasha. Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis.

vintageblackglamour

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley, (May 8, 1753 – December 5, 1784),was the first published African American poet and first African-American woman whose writings helped create the genre of African American literature. Born in Gambia, she was made a slave at age seven. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston, who taught her to read and write, and helped encourage her poetry. 
"On being brought from Africa to America"
Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic dye."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.´  

poemhunter

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday post by anna-dee

last.fm/music