Month: April 2022

Fannie Franklin Wall 1860-1944 Fannie Wall was a clubwoman, civic leader, community activist, and children’s home founder. A prominent community activist, she took part in several organizations promoting African American economic empowerment and antiracism. Wall was active in the National Association of Colored Women whose motto was ‘Lifting As We Climb’ Wall was ‘the motivating spirit’ behind… Continue reading Fannie Wall

Mamie Till-Mobley 1921-2003 Mamie Till-Mobley was the mother of Emmett Till, who was tortured and lynched while visiting Mississippi in 1955. Only 14, he was wrongly accused of whistling at a white woman. Mamie Till insisted on an open casket at his funeral as “I wanted the world to see what they did to my boy.” After her… Continue reading Mamie Till- Mobley

Lydia Flood Jackson 1862 –1963 Lydia Flood Jackson fought for African American civil rights and was a champion of women’s rights. She was an active clubwoman and first legislative chair of the California State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs.   As a political activist, she traveled to Mexico, South America and the West Indies for lectures. Jackson… Continue reading Lydia Flood Jackson

Eunice Kathleen Waymon better known as Nina Simone. Singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist. Nina Simone 1933-2003 Trained as a classical pianist, Simone’s musical style fused gospel and pop with classical music, in particular Johann Sebastian Bach. In one of her first jobs, playing at a jazz club, she was told she had… Continue reading Nina Simone

Maria P. Williams 1866-1932 Maria Priscilla Thurston Williams is credited as the first Black woman film producer for the silent crime drama The Flames of Wrath in 1923.