African American Firsts All pictures taken by Percy White and are the property of FindFamilyRoots.com unless otherwise indicated.
Lorraine Vivian Hansberry May 19, 1930 to January 12, 1965 |
Born in Chicago to prominent parents, Lorraine Hansberry attended college at Wisconsin University for two years before leaving to pursue a career as a writer. She briefly studied to be a painter before taking a job as a reporter and editor for the Paul Robeson headed Freedom monthly journal. In 1953 she married Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish literary student and song writer. They developed marital problems and were divorced in 1964. After her death in 1965 due to pancreatic cancer, Nemiroff remained the person responsible for her literary affairs. In 1959 Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun opened on Broadway. Loosely based on events from her early childhood, the story examined the life of a black family as they try to move to an all white neighborhood. Lorraine Hansberry won many awards for A Raisin in the Sun: New York Drama Critics Circle Award 1959 (The first black woman to receive the award winning over Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill and Archibald MacLeish) Screenwriter’s Guild Nomination for best Screenplay of the Year 1961 Cannes Film Festival Gary Cooper Award 1961 Tony Award 1973 for Raisin the Musical Also, A Raisin In the Sun was the first Broadway play written by a black woman and the first directed by a black person, Lloyd Richards. Other works include: A Raisin in the Sun 1959 A Raisin in the Sun (screenplay) 1961 A Raisin in the Sun TV film) 2008 On Summer (essay) The Drinking Gourd 1960 The Movement: Documentary of a Struggle for Equality 1964 The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window 1965 To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words 1969 Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays by Lorraine Hansberry edited by Robert Nemiroff 1994 Throughout her career Lorraine Hansberry wrote and spoke out against racism and was an activist for the civil rights of blacks, gays and lesbians.
PICTURE: L: Lorraine Hansberry, from post card. R: Grave marker
SOURCES:
Internet "Lorraine Hansberry (1930 - 1965)." Kirjasto.sci.fi/corhans.htm, Web. 4 Jul. 2008. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 8: Lorraine Hansberry." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. URL:http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap8/hansberry.html, Web. 26 Nov. 2011 Site Visit
Gravesite. Bethel Cemetery. Croton-on-Hudson, NY. 1 Aug. 2010.
INTERRED: Bethel Cemetery, located at the intersection of Radnor Avenue and Old Post Road, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
SUBMITTED: August 4, 2010. Updated. January 31, 2012. Picture of gravestone taken August 1, 2010, except black/white picture.
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Madam C. J. Walker December 23, 1867 to May 25, 1919 |
The first African American female millionaire. Sarah Breedlove, later known as Madam C. J. Walker, developed a corporation which made and sold hair care products for African American women.
PICTURE: Top L: Madam C.J. Walker, internet public domain. Top R: Advertisement used to sell Ms. Walker's hair care products. Bottom: Ms. Walker's and her daughter's gravestone.
SOURCES: Internet "Madam C.J. Walker." lkwdpl.org/wihohio/walk-mad.htm, Web. 15 May 2009. "Madam C.J. Walker." loc.gov, Web. 23 May 2009.
"Madam C.J. Walker." madamcjwalker.com/, Web. 15 May 2009.
Site Visit
Gravesite. Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY. 23 May 2009.
INTERRED: Woodlawn Cemetery, Webster Avenue and E. 233rd Street, Bronx, NY 10470. Phone: 718-920-0500, toll free: 877-496-6352.
SUBMITTED: May 25, 2009. Picture of Madam C.J. Walker added May 25, 2009. Picture of advertisement and gravestone taken May 23, 2009.
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Maggie Lena (Mitchell) Walker July 15, 1867 to December 15, 1934 |
Former slave and servant in the home and mansion of prominent Richmond businessman, John Van Lew. After his death, Ms. Walker was freed by his daughter Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union supporter who operated a spy ring during the Civil War. In 1901, Maggie Walker established the St. Luke Herald Newspaper. In 1903, she founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank and in doing so became the first women/first Black woman to be president of a bank. She established the St. Luke Emporium in 1905. It was the first African American retail store in Richmond, VA and is believed to be one of the first African American retail stores in the country. As a member and trustee of the National Association of Colored Women, she was instrumental in persuading the group to purchase the home of Frederick Douglass and turn it into a museum and historical center. She also worked as a cook in the mansion of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union supporter who operated a spy ring during the Civil War.
PICTURES: Top L: Maggie Walker Courtesy of the National Park Service, Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, nps.gov/mawa/index.htm. Top M: Family Plot. Top R: Monument at Maggie Walker's grave. Second Row L: Her home located at 110 1/2 E. Leigh Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, National Historic Site. Second Row R: The St. Luke Building on St. James Street, Richmond, VA, 23223.. Third Row L/M/R: Maggie Walker's gravestone. Fourth Row L: Husband's gravestone. Fourth Row R: Oldest son's gravestone. Fifth Row L: Gravestone of second oldest son, Melvin Walker. Fifth Row R: Mother's gravestone.
SUBMITTED: September 19, 2008. Picture of Maggie Walker added September 19, 2008. Picture of home and St. Luke Building taken June 20, 2008. Pictures of graves taken September 19, 2008.
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Maggie Lena (Mitchell) Walker (continued) |
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In 1915, it was reported to Maggie Walker's son, Russell Walker that a burglar was on the roof of their home. As Russell searched for the intruder, he saw someone in the house and fired his gun. It was his father and he was dead. Russell was adjudicated and found not guilty. However, some people in the community questioned if Russell killed his father in order to be next in line for the families inheritance.
PICTURES: Top L: Step-father and brother's gravestone. Top R: Aunt's grave stone. Bottom L: H. Maurice Payne, relationship unknown. Bottom R: Gravestone of friends.
SOURCES: Internet "Maggie Walker." nps.gov/nr/feature/wom/2003/walker.htm, Web. 6 Sept. 2008. Books Appiah, Kwame, Anthony and Gates, Henry Louis, ed. "Africana The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience." 1st ed. New York: Civitas, 1999. Print. Site Visit Gravesite. Evergreen Cemetery. Richmond, VA. 19 Sept. 2008. Home. Richmond, VA. 20 Jun. 2008. St. Luke Building. Richmond, VA. 20 Jun. 2008.
INTERRED: Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Road, Richmond, VA.
SUBMITTED: September 19, 2008. Pictures of graves taken September 19, 2008.
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Pictures taken and submitted by Percy White unless otherwise indicated African American History, African American Culture, African American Churches, African American Cemeteries, African American Schools, Places of Interest in African American History |