This article highlights the achievements of 29 influential African Americans in Philadelphia, ranging from activists to entertainers to record-breaking athletes to a postal worker, as we honor Black History Month.
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander | Writer | 1898-1989
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was a trailblazer, being the first Black woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in economics and the first to graduate with a law degree from Penn Law School. She was also the first African-American woman to practice law in Pennsylvania. Her legacy is preserved in the Penn archives, and a school in West Philly, the Penn Alexander School, is named in her honor.
Richard Allen | Minister | 1760-1831
Richard Allen, a minister, educator, and writer, founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent Black denomination in the U.S. He established the first AME church in Philadelphia in 1794. Born into slavery, Allen purchased his freedom in the 1780s and rebelled against racial seating restrictions in churches by founding his own congregation.
Maya Angelou | Poet | 1928-2014
Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, singer, and civil rights activist, is celebrated for her autobiography “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” among many other literary works spanning over 50 years. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2010.
Arthur Ashe | Tennis Player | 1943-1993
Arthur Ashe, a tennis icon, made history by winning multiple Grand Slam titles and advocating for AIDS awareness after being diagnosed with the virus. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously from President Clinton.
James Baldwin | American novelist | 1924-1987
James Baldwin, a prominent novelist, playwright, and activist, is remembered for his impactful literary works and advocacy for civil rights. His novel “If Beale Street Could Talk” was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2018.
“When ignorance is combined with power, justice faces its most formidable foe.”
Ruby Bridges | Civil Rights Activist | 1954-present
Ruby Bridges made history at the age of 6 by becoming the first African American student to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. Despite facing isolation during school, she didn’t miss a day of classes that year. In 1999, Bridges founded The Ruby Bridges Foundation to advocate for tolerance and change through education. She was also honored as an honorary deputy marshal in 2000 in Washington, DC.
U.S. Deputy Marshals escort Ruby Bridges from William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, La.
Quinta Brunson | Actress | 1989-Present
Quinta Brunson, known for her work in the comedy series “Abbott Elementary,” is a graduate of Temple University. She is the creator, executive producer, and star of the show, drawing inspiration from her family’s love for comedy. Brunson became a prominent figure with her Instagram series “Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date” and gained fame for her content on Buzzfeed with over 1 billion views. She made history as the first Black woman to receive multiple comedy award nominations, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Additionally, she was recognized in Time’s 100 Most Influential People list and advocated for peace in Gaza along with other artists.
EXCLUSIVE Quinta Brunson, winner of outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for “Abbott Elementary” at the 75th Emmy Awards Governors Gala Winners Circle on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Kobe Bryant | NBA star, humanitarian | 1978-2020
Kobe Bryant, a basketball phenom, won multiple championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also an Olympic gold medalist and an Academy Award winner for his animated short film “Dear Basketball.” Alongside his wife, Vanessa, Bryant started the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, focusing on reducing homelessness in Los Angeles. Tragically, Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Kobe Bryant was a source of inspiration for basketball players globally, showcasing exceptional skills and unmatched competitive spirit.
Octavius V. Catto | Civil Rights Activist | 1839-1871
Recognized as a significant civil rights activist in Philadelphia in the 19th century, Catto vigorously advocated for the end of slavery and the establishment of civil rights for all. His efforts were instrumental in desegregating public trolleys in Philadelphia and influencing the passing of the 15th amendment, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting. Tragically, Catto was assassinated at the age of 32 in 1871, on the first Election Day where African Americans were permitted to vote. In 2017, a monument commemorating Catto was revealed at Philadelphia’s City Hall.
Mama Cax | Model | 1989-2019
Mama Cax, the Haitian-American model and activist born as Cacsmy Brutus in Brooklyn, NY, faced challenges early in life after being diagnosed with bone cancer at 14, resulting in the amputation of her right leg at 15. She boldly advocated for representation of individuals with disabilities in the fashion industry, proudly showcasing her prosthetic leg on runways for renowned designers, including a memorable appearance in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty show in 2019. Tragically, she passed away at the age of 30 after complications from multiple blood clots were discovered following a hospital visit for abdominal pains in the U.K..
Mama Cax attends VH1’s Trailblazer Honors at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Thursday, June 21, 2018, in New York.
Pinky Cole | Entrepreneur /Restaurateur | 1987-
Pinky Cole, the CEO and founder of the popular Slutty Vegan franchise, has emerged as a prominent figure in Atlanta’s culinary scene, combining her love for vegan comfort food with a mission to promote health in underserved Black communities. With her innovative approach, she has opened multiple successful locations and plans to expand further. Pinky’s contributions extend beyond her business, as she supports educational initiatives and financial assistance for children of color through The Pinky Cole Foundation. Additionally, she recently authored a book titled “Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Meals That Will Blow Your Meat Lovin’ Mind.”
“Slutty Vegan, to my mind, is someone who eats vegan but enjoys junk food… I knew the name would be a great hook to help people reimagine food.” – Pinky.
In this Wednesday, May 20, 2020, photo, Pinky Cole, owner of Slutty Vegan restaurants and food trucks, cleans a sign on her storefront in Atlanta. Pinky Cole has been supporting struggling small businesses by covering their rent through her Pinky Cole Foundation. She highlighted the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses in accessing resources, emphasizing the effort and dedication invested can be lost rapidly.
Bessie Coleman | Civil Aviator | 1892-1926
Bessie Coleman made history as the first African-American woman to pilot an airplane. Faced with racial barriers in American flying schools, she taught herself French and went to France to earn her pilot’s license within seven months. Coleman specialized in stunt flying and aerial performances, inspired by stories of World War I pilots.
Claudette Colvin | Civil Rights Pioneer | 1939-present
Claudette Colvin, at 15, was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white woman, preceding Rosa Parks’ famous protest by nine months. Despite the NAACP’s decision not to litigate her case due to her age, Colvin later became one of the plaintiffs in the Browder v. Gayle case, leading to the ruling that Montgomery’s segregated bus system was unconstitutional.
Medgar Evers | Civil Rights Activist | 1925-1963
Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist in Mississippi and World War II veteran, dedicated his life to fighting segregation and promoting civil rights. As the state’s NAACP field secretary, he played a crucial role in challenging racial segregation policies, ultimately assassinated in 1963 by a white supremacist, sparking widespread civil rights demonstrations and inspiring various forms of art and music.
Mary Fields | Mail Carrier | 1832-1914
Mary Fields, known as “Stagecoach Mary,” was the first African-American mail carrier in the U.S. Born into slavery and later freed, she became a mail carrier at the age of 63, known for her exceptional work ethic and reliability. Fields earned the nickname “Stagecoach” for her commitment to delivering mail, even trekking through deep snow on snowshoes when necessary to fulfill her duties.
Rudolph Fisher | Physician | 1897-1934
Rudolph Fisher was a multifaceted African-American physician, writer, musician, and activist known for his contributions to both medicine and the arts. A talented pianist who collaborated with renowned artists like Paul Robeson, Fisher authored novels, short stories, and scientific articles, championing civil rights causes through his work with the NAACP until his untimely death at 37.
James Forten | Abolitionist | 1766-1842
James Forten, a prominent African-American abolitionist and successful businessman in Philadelphia, dedicated himself to fighting for the abolition of slavery and equal rights. Forten’s entrepreneurial success in sailmaking allowed him to actively support civil rights causes, becoming a respected voice for African-Americans in Philadelphia during the 1830s.
Robert Guillaume | Actor | 1927-2017
Robert grew up with his grandmother in the segregated south but later moved to New York to escape racial inequality. He spent 19 years in theater, earning a Tony nomination for his role as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. In 1976, he gained fame for his role as Benson on Soap, winning an Emmy, and later his own spin-off, Benson, which also earned him an Emmy. In 1990, he returned to the stage as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera at the Ahmanson Theatre. Robert also voiced the beloved animated character Rafiki in Disney’s productions and continues to narrate the animated series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child.
A Los Angeles woman became the youngest inaugural poet when she performed an original poem at President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony.
Amanda Gorman | Poet, Activist | 1998
Amanda is an American poet and activist who made history as the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration in US history. Her poem, “The Hills We Climb,” propelled her to international fame. Raised by a single mother in Los Angeles, Amanda overcame speech challenges and found strength in reading and writing. She is known for her work addressing oppression, race, feminism, and the African Diaspora’s complexities. Amanda’s inspiration to become a UN youth delegate in 2013 came from Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. She was named the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles in 2014 and published her first poetry book, “The One for Whom Food is Not Enough,” a year later while studying at Harvard College. Amanda was recognized as the first National Youth Laureate in 2017 and received the OZY Genius Award.
Francis Harper | Poet | 1825-1911 (died in Philadelphia)
Born free in Baltimore, Harper was an abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, public speaker, and writer. She aided slaves in escaping to Canada via the Underground Railroad and, in 1894, co-founded the National Association of Colored Women. She served as vice president and dedicated herself to highlighting the exceptional efforts and progress of Black women.
Langston Hughes was an influential figure in the Harlem Renaissance and jazz poetry.
Langston Hughes | Poet | 1902-1967
Hughes, an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, was born in Missouri and later moved to New York, pioneering jazz poetry. In the early 1920s, he published his first book of poetry and wrote a weekly column for The Chicago Defender, advocating for civil rights. His ashes rest beneath a floor medallion in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, at the entrance to an auditorium named in his honor.
Zora Neale Hurston | American author | 1891-1960
Hurston, an American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, faced educational challenges as a child when her father ceased paying her school fees. She eventually attended public school by falsifying her age for a free education. She delved into the study of hoodoo and made her way to Hollywood as a story consultant. Her renowned work, Their Eyes Were Watching God, was adapted into a film in 2005.
Nipsey Hussle | Rapper, Entrepreneur | 1985-2019
Born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, Nipsey Hussle was an American activist, entrepreneur, and Grammy Award-winning rapper. Raised in South Central, he initially joined gangs for survival before achieving success in the music industry. Nipsey focused on providing solutions and inspiration to young Black men, condemning gun violence through his music, influence, and community work. He openly discussed his experiences with gang culture and tragically lost his life a day before a scheduled meeting with LAPD officials to discuss gang violence in South Los Angeles.
If you look around the intersection of Grand and Ellita Avenues, you’ll notice a colorful mural of Grammy-nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle that is sure to capture your attention.
Harriet Jacobs | Author | 1813-1897
Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery, and after her mother’s death when she was 6 years old, she was taken in by her late mother’s owner. She was taught to sew and read. In 1842, with the help of activists from the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee, she escaped to Philadelphia and later worked as a nanny in New York. Her freedom was secured in 1852 after her former owners tried to reclaim her. She secretly wrote her autobiography, published in the U.S. in 1860 and in England in 1861. Jacobs spent the rest of her life as an abolitionist, aiding escaped slaves and freedmen.
Cecil B. Moore | Attorney |1915-1979
Cecil B. Moore, a lawyer and civil rights activist from Philadelphia, played a crucial role in desegregating Girard College successfully. After serving in World War II, he moved to Philadelphia for law studies at Temple University. He gained a reputation as a tough lawyer advocating for his primarily African-American clients in North Philadelphia. From 1963 to 1967, he led the Philadelphia NAACP chapter and served on the Philadelphia City Council. Moore is recognized for his contributions to social justice and race relations, with a neighborhood in North Philadelphia named in his honor.
Sheryl Lee Ralph | Actor | 1956-Present
Sheryl Lee Ralph, an American actress, producer, and activist, gained fame for her role as Barbara in the Emmy-winning series “Abbott Elementary.” She made history as the first Black woman in 35 years to win an Outstanding Supporting Actress award and received a Tony nomination for her role as Deena in “Dreamgirls.” Raised by her father, a Jamaican college professor, and a fashion designer, she split her childhood between the east coast and Jamaica. She is known for her diverse roles, including Dee on “Moesha” where she speaks Patois, a Jamaican creole dialect. Fans can anticipate her return in the 3rd “Sister Act” movie. Ralph founded the DIVA foundation in response to losing friends to AIDS, focusing on Health Awareness, Women and Girls, LGBTQ+, Social Justice & Racial Equity, and Food & Housing Insecurity.
Bayard Rustin | Civil Rights Leader | 1912-1987 (Born in West Chester, PA)
Bayard Rustin, a prominent figure in civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights movements, was a key adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. Born in West Chester, Rustin attended Cheney University of Pennsylvania, a Historically Black College. As a gay man, he legally adopted his partner to protect their rights and legacy. In 2013, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously for his contributions.
Nina Simone | Artist | 1933-2003
Nina Simone, known for her contributions as an American singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and civil rights activist, had a diverse musical career spanning various genres like classical, jazz, blues, and R&B. Raised in North Carolina, Simone displayed musical talent from a young age, learning to play the piano and performing in church. She pursued classical piano studies at The Juilliard School after overcoming racial barriers. With over 40 albums, Simone was recognized with an honorary degree just before her passing in 2003.
When Nikole Hannah-Jones noticed the absence of her ancestors in American history, it inspired her to tell the full story of America.
Amy Sherald |Artist| 1973
Amy Sherald, an American painter specializing in African American imagery and using grisaille for skin tones, gained recognition for painting the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Her artwork, like “The Bathers” (2015), has achieved significant prices at auctions, highlighting her growing influence in the art world.
Big Mama Thornton | Vocalist | 1926-1984
Big Mama Thornton, renowned for her powerful voice, captivated audiences with her 1952 R&B hit “Hound Dog,” later covered by Elvis Presley, and her original song “Ball and Chain,” popularized by Janis Joplin. Growing up singing in church, Thornton’s talent was discovered while she subbed for a singer at a saloon. As an openly gay artist, she toured with the Hot Harlem Revue, showcasing her vocal and dancing skills across the southeastern United States.
Notable Figures in History
Cicely Tyson, a pioneering actress born in 1924 in Harlem to Caribbean immigrants, made significant strides in the entertainment industry. Tyson was the first Black actress to win an Emmy Award and the second to be nominated for an Academy Award. Beginning her career in modeling, she quickly gained success and recognition in publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Over the years, she graced the covers of Ebony, Essence, and Jet before her passing in 2021.
Muddy Waters, an acclaimed American blues singer and musician, earned the moniker of “father of modern Chicago blues.” He began his musical journey playing the guitar and harmonica at a young age and later moved to Chicago to pursue a full-time music career. Waters’ impact on the blues genre was profound, with notable performances at events like the Newport Jazz Festival and the release of Grammy-winning albums.
Phillis Wheatley| Poet |1753-1784
Phillis Wheatley, born in West Africa and sold into slavery, defied the odds by becoming the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry. Despite facing challenges in having her work published in America, Wheatley eventually found success in London. Her talent caught the attention of historical figures like George Washington, leading to significant encounters during the American Revolutionary War.
SOURCE: 6abc.com
