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Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events
A testament to a rich but often overlooked part of history, this work captures the stories of barrier-breaking African American pioneers in all fields—arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, invention, journalism, religion, science, sports, and more. With hundreds of illustrations and a daily calendar of firsts, this chronicle reveals stories of those who overcame adversity to emerge triumphant and celebrates those who have won personal victories against the forces arrayed against them. A vital collection of more than 4,000 entries, this book is proof that the celebration of African American accomplishments is ongoing.
- GenresNonfiction
700 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2002
About the author
Jessie Carney Smith
49 books6 followersDr. Jessie Carney Smith was born September 14, 1930 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Dr. Smith has won many honors and awards, including the National Women's Book Association Award in 1992 and the Martin Luther King Black Authors Award in 1982. Her most recent include the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Candace Award in Education; the Women's National Book Association Award; the Black Caucus of the American Library Association Achievement Award; and the Anna J. Cooper Award for Distinguished Scholarship from SAGE journal on black women.
Born into the segregated South during the Jim Crow era, she learned to turn adversity into opportunity. Dr. Smith attained degrees during a time when women, particularly African American women, were not expected to do so. She is the author of numerous publications including books, edited works and research articles, and is well noted for her work as a librarian and educator.
Dr. Smith began exploring her passion for writing as a way of bridging the gaps in scholarship. In 1992 she published the award winning, Notable African American Women and went on to publish Notable African American Men in 1999. Her other books include, Black Firsts: 2000 Years of Extraordinary Achievement in 1994, Statistical Record of Black America in 1995 and Black Firsts: 4000 Groundbreaking and Pioneering Historical Events in 2003.
She graduated from North Carolina A&T with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. Her desire to attain her master’s degree took her to Cornell University. She soon married and had a son. After a brief leave from school, she returned to Michigan State University where she received her master’s degree in 1955 in Child Development.
Smith went on to receive her master’s degree in Library Science from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in 1957 and earned a Ph. D. in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1964. Dr. Smith became the first African American to receive a Ph. D. in library science from that institution.
In 1957, Dr. Smith became head of cataloguing and coordinator of library science at Fisk University, while also working as a Nashville city school teacher. She began her current position as head librarian in 1965.
Most info from author interview at http://www.visionaryproject.org/smith...
Dr. Smith has won many honors and awards, including the National Women's Book Association Award in 1992 and the Martin Luther King Black Authors Award in 1982. Her most recent include the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Candace Award in Education; the Women's National Book Association Award; the Black Caucus of the American Library Association Achievement Award; and the Anna J. Cooper Award for Distinguished Scholarship from SAGE journal on black women.
Born into the segregated South during the Jim Crow era, she learned to turn adversity into opportunity. Dr. Smith attained degrees during a time when women, particularly African American women, were not expected to do so. She is the author of numerous publications including books, edited works and research articles, and is well noted for her work as a librarian and educator.
Dr. Smith began exploring her passion for writing as a way of bridging the gaps in scholarship. In 1992 she published the award winning, Notable African American Women and went on to publish Notable African American Men in 1999. Her other books include, Black Firsts: 2000 Years of Extraordinary Achievement in 1994, Statistical Record of Black America in 1995 and Black Firsts: 4000 Groundbreaking and Pioneering Historical Events in 2003.
She graduated from North Carolina A&T with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. Her desire to attain her master’s degree took her to Cornell University. She soon married and had a son. After a brief leave from school, she returned to Michigan State University where she received her master’s degree in 1955 in Child Development.
Smith went on to receive her master’s degree in Library Science from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in 1957 and earned a Ph. D. in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1964. Dr. Smith became the first African American to receive a Ph. D. in library science from that institution.
In 1957, Dr. Smith became head of cataloguing and coordinator of library science at Fisk University, while also working as a Nashville city school teacher. She began her current position as head librarian in 1965.
Most info from author interview at http://www.visionaryproject.org/smith...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 5, 2014
I see this as more of a work of reference, then something that would be read through cover to cover.
The topics in this book are a cross between those found in Trivial Pursuit and on Jeopardy. Under each topic are subtopics in alphabetical order and then accomplishments are listed chronologically under each subtopic. At the end of each accomplishment or entry is a source or sources for where the author found her information.
This book showcases more than the Oprah Winfrey's, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ken Griffey, Sr. & Jr., Michael Jordan, LeBron James, etc. While most of the stories are inspiring, some firsts are things that nobody would intentionally aspire to, like the man who was the first black to be shot during the Civil War.
I really wish their were more books like this: for whites, Appalachians, and other people. As I stated earlier, most of the stories are inspiring and many of the roles and careers are things that everyone should aspire to.
The topics in this book are a cross between those found in Trivial Pursuit and on Jeopardy. Under each topic are subtopics in alphabetical order and then accomplishments are listed chronologically under each subtopic. At the end of each accomplishment or entry is a source or sources for where the author found her information.
This book showcases more than the Oprah Winfrey's, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ken Griffey, Sr. & Jr., Michael Jordan, LeBron James, etc. While most of the stories are inspiring, some firsts are things that nobody would intentionally aspire to, like the man who was the first black to be shot during the Civil War.
I really wish their were more books like this: for whites, Appalachians, and other people. As I stated earlier, most of the stories are inspiring and many of the roles and careers are things that everyone should aspire to.
July 14, 2014
Good stuff!!
Want to Read
April 15, 2019I made lists of some of the "firsts" and put them in my Bullet Journaling box.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews