On May 4, 1959, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African American woman to win a GRAMMY award.
Author Archives: The Black Blog
Abigail Osei-Tutu | CEO and Co-Founder
Abigail Osei-Tutu is a first-generation Ghanaian with a passion for community building and connecting with people from the African diaspora. Her educational background includes earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Temple University. Subsequently, Abigail began a career in therapy, driven by a passion for supporting others through emotional challenges. Due to her upbringing in one of the largest Ghanaian populations in America, she learned the importance of community and culture.
The Black Student Sit-In took place at Northwestern University in 1968
On May 3, 1968, the Black Student Sit-In took place at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. In 1968, black students at Northwestern University took control of Bursar’s Office and orchestrated a monumental sit-in.
Deron Gadsden | Founder and HBCU Alum
Deron Gadsden is a North Charleston native and HBCU alum with a passion for STEM and community engagement. He is a graduate of LSU and North Carolina A&T State University. Having attended an HBCU, Deron felt he had a duty to advocate for people of color within his industry. He became an executive board member for the Louisiana chapter of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) to support understanding of finance and insurance in the African American Community as well as to promote networking for African American professionals within the industry.
Influential engineer and inventor Elijah McCoy was born in 1844
On May 2, 1844, Elijah McCoy was born. Elijah McCoy was an influential engineer and inventor. During his lifetime, McCoy received more than 50 patents. His most notable invention was a lubricating oil drip cup for engines.
Shaneisha Dodson | Award-Winning Playwright, Author and Entrepreneur
Shaneisha Dodson is an award-winning playwright, author, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Brilliant Girl and Black Girlz Productions. She was born in Arkansas and currently resides in Burbank, CA. Dodson earned her Bachelor’s from Grambling State University, a Master’s from Dallas Baptist University, and a certificate in women’s entrepreneurship from Cornell University. Dodson has received numerous accolades including the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2023 Honorary Doctorate, and the 2015 Best Playwright.
Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950
On May 1, 1950, Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
Monet Smith | Licensed Professional Counselor
Mone’t Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has vast experience working in the mental health field. Mrs. Smith’s educational background includes earning an associate’s degree from Tyler Junior College (2004), a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas-Arlington, and a Master’s degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2011). She dedicated 8 years to working with abused and neglected children for Child Protective Services before pursuing a career in counseling.
Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to receive a pilot’s license, died in 1926
On April 30, 1926, Bessie Coleman died at the age of 34. In 1926, Bessie Coleman died in a plane crash during a test flight. Many African American leaders attended her funeral including Ida B. Wells.
Frederick “KIMANI Anku” Kenner | Global Garden Coach
KIMANI Anku is a DMV native with a passion for gardening and fighting food insecurity. His love for gardening and producing his own food was derived over ten years ago through unconventional means. He is the founder of Gardening and Beats, a thriving garden coaching business. In his free time, he engages in youth programming in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
TheBlack.Blog 