Transcript African American Heritage

African American
Heritage
Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman (1892 –
1926)
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Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman (1892
– 1926) was the first female pilot of
African American descent and
the first person of AfricanAmerican descent to hold an
international pilot license.
Coleman specialized in stunt flying
and parachuting, earning a living
barnstorming and performing
aerial tricks.
Harry McAlpin
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In 1944, journalist
Harry McAlpin
became the first
African-American
reporter to attend
a U.S. Presidential
news conference
at the White
House.
Dr. Charlie Sifford
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Before Tiger Woods, there was Dr. Charlie
Sifford—the man who courageously
desegregated the PGA Tour of America, one
putt at a time. Last night, Sifford passed away
at age 92, leaving behind an unmatched
legacy. The two-time PGA Tour winner started
his career as a caddie and went on to have a
14-year, illustrious career—despite staunch
racial barriers of the day. Sifford boldly fought
the “Caucasian-only” rule that was etched in
professional golf; but his tenacity proved to be
stronger than any unjust clause. In 1960, he
became the first African-American golfer on the
PGA Tour and was later inducted into the World
Golf Hall of Fame—another first for a black
man.
Ella Fitzgerald
Howard P. Perry
The first black man to
enlist in the Marines,
Howard P. Perry.
Matice Wright
Sarah Rector
George Crum
The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum.
Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort
in Saratoga Springs, New York. French fries were popular at the restaurant during that
time, and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick. Although Crum
made a thinner batch, the customer was still unsatisfied. The chef kept slicing them
thinner, then fried them to a crisp, and seasoned them heavily with salt. By then, they
were too thin to eat with a fork. Crum expected the fussy customer to dislike them,
but the man praised them highly. So the potato chips were invented by accident.
The chips became popular and subsequently became known as "Saratoga chips" or
"potato crunches."
Thomas Mundy Peterson
Thomas Mundy
Peterson, first African
American to vote,31st
March 1870.
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey, an
entertainer who
combined singing with
ad libs, was in 1975 a
special ambassador to
the United Nations. She's
most famous for her
version of Hello, Dolly!
Claudette Colvin
Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington, president of
Tuskegee Institute, becomes the first
African American to be awarded an
honorary degree by Harvard
University. Born into slavery in Virginia,
Washington moved to Alabama in
1881 to open Tuskegee Normal
School. He soon gained fame as an
educational leader among black
Americans, a fact which Harvard
recognized with a Master of Arts
degree.
Dr. Ben Carson
Dr. Ben Carson ~ The most
famous African American
brain surgeon in the World.
He rose out of poverty and
life’s dourest situations to
become an accomplished
individual.