Black History Month
African-American Firsts: Literature
Melinda Hightower, a student at The University of Virginia. Starting from humble beginnings in Detroit, Melinda has gone on to earn an MBA from The University of Chicago, an undergraduate degree from Cornell and was rated as one of the top debaters in the world. Read her story here.
In the summer of 1908, the country was shocked by the account of the race riots at Springfield, Illinois. Here, in the home of Abraham Lincoln, a mob containing many of the town's "best citizens," raged for two days, killed and wounded scores of Negroes, and drove thousands from the city. And because of this the NAACP was born.
Venus and Serena Williams have been on top of their game for a long time, and have made a name for themselves in more than just the tennis world. Serena with her own fashion line and the two of them becoming part owners of the Miami Dolphins. Take a look back at how the sisters started their career here.
. MELANIE FIONA Some of the best advice soul singer Melanie Fiona ever received was from Kanye West. Regarding her budding career, he told Fiona, “What ever you got to do to make the mother f***ers remember you, do that.” And so she did. She won over an entire audience, full of music lovers and […]
African-American Firsts: Sports
In 1863, during the American Civil War (1861–1865), President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in the southern states at war with the North.
Bessie Coleman, the daughter of a poor, southern, African American family, became one of the most famous women and African Americans in aviation history. "Brave Bessie" or "Queen Bess," as she became known, faced the double difficulties of racial and gender discrimination in early 20th-century America but overcame such challenges to become the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license. Read more on her story here.
Haeley Vaughn is an ambition young girl who has set her eyes on being the first African American Pop Country Mainstream singer, and she has gotten herself off to a good start. Check out her American Idol audition that had Simone Cowell enamored with her.
Remember Hootie & The Blow Fish? See what lead singer Darius Rucker is up to now.
Madame Tussauds’ in New York has unveiled a wax figure of Michelle Obama in a one-shouldered white gown inspired by the one she wore to the inaugural ball. Check out this gallery of the First Lady In Wax.
When celebrating Black History Month, people tend to look back, instead of forward. And we don’t blame them. After all, it’s in the title – “history,” meaning all things memorable about the past. But here at HelloBeautiful, we’d really like to call attention to not only those who made a difference or broke the mold, […]