Annie Easley 1933 -2011 Two weeks after reading an article on twin sisters working as human computers, Annie Easley began a career in 1955 as a ‘human computer’, doing computations for researchers. This involved analyzing problems and doing calculations by hand. In the face of discrimination, her motto was “[I]f I can’t work with you,… Continue reading Annie Easley
Month: January 2024
Ellen Jackson
Ellen Jackson 1935–2005 Ellen Swepson Jackson was an American educator and activist best known for founding Operation Exodus in 1965. Jackson got involved because her five children attended an overcrowded school of predominantly Black students who were not encouraged to prepare for college. Jackson’s experience on how to work the system started as a parent… Continue reading Ellen Jackson
Jean Hutson
Jean Blackwell Hutson 1914–1998 Jean Blackwell Hutson was an African American librarian, archivist, curator, and finally chief of the New York Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture from 1948 to 1980. She also taught classes in Black Studies at the City College of New York from 1962-1971. Additionally, the then president of Ghana, Kwame… Continue reading Jean Hutson
Lucy Laney
Lucy Craft Laney 1853–1933 Born into slavery in 1854, Lucy Craft Laney was educated by her parents as slaves were not allowed to attend school. Before she became a teenager she could not only read and write English, but also Latin. However, when she attended Atlanta University in 1873, she was not allowed to take… Continue reading Lucy Laney
Annie Easley
Annie Easley 1933 -2011 Two weeks after reading an article on twins working as human computers, Easley began a career in 1955 as a “human computer,” doing computations for researchers. This involved analyzing problems and doing calculations by hand. In the face of discrimination, her motto was “[I]f I can’t work with you, I will… Continue reading Annie Easley
Alice Coachman
Alice Coachman 1923–2014 Alice Coachman was the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Coachman’s medal was awarded at the 1948 Olympic Games in London where she leapt 5 feet 6 ⅛ inches to win first place in the high jump. Even though Coachman was celebrated for her win with motorcade parades, she… Continue reading Alice Coachman
Althea Gibson
Aletha Gibson 1927–2003 In 1956 Althea Neale Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the French Championships). The following year she won both Wimbledon and the US Nationals (precursor of the US Open), then won both again in 1958 and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated… Continue reading Althea Gibson
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson 1897–1993 A Contralto, Marian Anderson performed with renowned orchestras and on the opera scene between 1925 and 1965. She started in the U.S. but performed in Europe because of segregated audiences. Anderson was an important figure in the struggle to overcome racial prejudice. In 1939, the Daughters of the American refused to allow… Continue reading Marian Anderson
HVCC show 2024
Doing the Right Thing: Portraits from the Women of Color and Accomplishment series by Carol JacobsenFebruary 1-March 30, 2024 Opening ReceptionFebruary 4, Sunday, 4-6 pmRefreshments served Homestead Valley Community Center315 Montford, Mill Valley, CAClosing Artist TalkThursday, March 286-8 pm. Talk at 7 pm For more information contactinfo@homesteadvalley.orgor carol@caroljacobsen.org