History

Cathay Williams: The Trailblazing Woman Who Disguised Herself as a Man to Serve in the US Army

Cathay Williams was an African American woman who is notable for being the first known female African American to enlist and serve in the United States Army.

How Enslaved Black Women Resisted Slave Breeding By Using Cotton Roots as Contraceptives

Slave breeding was a slave multiplication agenda. It was implemented by slave owners through a forced sexual relation between the male and female slaves and between masters and their female slaves.

François Mackandal, the Haitian Leader Who Was Burned Alive in 1758 for Rebelling Against French Colonial Authorities

François Mackandal was a Haitian Maroon leader who was apprehended and burned alive by French colonial authorities for collaborating with Maroons to murder slave owners in Saint Domingue.

Tignon Laws: the Law That Prohibited Black Women From Wearing Their Natural Hair in Public

The tignon law was a 1786 law in Louisiana that forbade black women from going outdoors without wrapping their natural hair with a Tignon headscarf.

The Forgotten Story of George Bridgetower, the Black Violinist Who Inspired Beethoven

Bridgetower was a biracial Afro-European musician who started playing the violin at the young age of 10. He is well known for inspiring Beethoven's

King Sobhuza II, the Longest-reigning Monarch Ever in Recorded History (1899-1982)

Swaziland King Sobhuza II, KBE is the longest-reigning monarch, having served as monarch for 82 years and 254 days.

The Virginia Killing Act of 1669: the Law That Made It Legal to Kill a Slave

The Virginia casual killing act of 1669 declared that, should a slave be killed as a result of extreme punishment, the master should not face charges for the murder.

Bussa’s Rebellion of 1816, the Largest Slave Revolt in Barbadian History

The largest slave rebellion in Barbadian history took place during the Bussa uprising in April 1816. The rebellion takes its name from the African-born slave, Bussa, who led the rebellion. During the slave trade era, many embittered Africans expressed their...

Cornelius Frederiks: the Namibian Captain Who Was Locked Up in a Concentration Camp for Fighting Against German Colonialists

Cornelius Frederiks was a Namibian freedom fighter who actively fought a guerrilla-style war against German colonialists during the Herero-Nama war of 1904.

Ndaté Yalla Mbodj: the Senegalese Queen Who Led the Resistance Against French Colonial Forces in 1855

Ndaté Yalla Mbodj was the last great Lingeer (Queen) of Waalo (present day Senegal) who fought against the French colonialist army led by General Louis Faidherbe in 1855.
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William Bowser: The Enslaved African Who Was Executed for Participating in a Slave Ship Revolt in 1826

On April 26, 1826, a desperate struggle for freedom unfolded aboard the Decatur, a coastwise slave ship sailing from...
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