News

Working as a mathematician and human computer at NASA’s Langley Research Center, Dorothy Jean Johnson Vaughn became the first African-American woman to receive a promotion and supervise a group of staff at the center and was later promoted to supervisor. During her 28-year career Vaughn prepared for the introduction of electronic computing in the 60s…

Ann Lowe (1898-1981) was an accomplished dress designer in the United States. She dressed many women for society events, including the wedding party of Jacqueline Bouvier when she married John F Kennedy. Her work was highly praised and recommended by her clients. She was known for her handmade flowers, which she learned to create as…

The world enjoys vanilla extract today because of the horticultural contributions of Edmond Albius in 1841, when he was 12. Edmond was enslaved on a plantation where he learned botany. He developed the method to pollinate the vanilla orchids that allowed them to produce the seed pods used all over the world. Although his development…

Celebrated author Langston Hughes has more than 60 poetry, novels, non-fiction works, and plays to his name. His first published poem appeared in The Crisis, which was the official magazine of the NAACP. He was awarded 3 honorary doctorates in his lifetime. Langston Hughes, half-length portrait, facing left. , 1942. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2005687122/

Author Nora K Jemisin has written over 30 novels and short stories, winning 3 Hugo Awards. She holds a BS in psychology and a Master in Education. She uses her platform gained by writing compelling Afrofuturism works to speak out against racism in the science fiction community. Photo by photographer Laura Hanifin, copyright 2015. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/