Welcome to Black History Month: Amazing Firsts by African-American Woman at The Researcher’s Gateway. We are beyond excited to bring to you the stories of some of the most incredible and influential women in America’s history this month.
Many of my heros growing up and even today were overlooked in their day, and sometimes by history. When I was a little girl, probably far younger than I should have been, I read a book called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. When I said that I read it, I mean I devoured every word, every phrase. There was a poetry within those words that spoke to me at a deep level and I have been an incredible fan of her work ever since. I can say, easily and without reserve, that I am a writer and poet today in large part to Ms. Angelou.
This month’s idea was almost planned before our company existed.
When RoseAnna and I started The Researcher’s Gateway, we wanted to do something to celebrate women when we could. So for Black History Month, I told her that I wanted to celebrate African-American Women.
This month we’re bringing you an incredible list of African-American woman from our history, and a few bonus who while might not be from America, have already had a huge impact upon our country’s culture. These women are inspirations for all of us and should be honored and known for their amazing contributions to society. With each post, we will also be providing a printable download that you can use as well!
Introducing the Women who inspired us for this Black History Month.
Josephine Baker – First African-American actress to star in a major motion picture. She also served as spy in World War II.
Octavia Butler – African-American Science Fiction Author
Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman – First African-American and Native American Woman to get her Pilot’s License
Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler, MD. – First African-American woman to receive her Doctor of Medicine (1864)
Marie M. Daly, Ph.D – First African-American woman to achieve a doctorate in Chemistry working with DNA.
Althea Gibson – African-American tennis player and 1st black athlete to cross the line of color in international tennis.
Shirley Jackson, Ph.D. – First African-American woman to get a doctorate from MIT, the first to be awarded the National Medal of Science, and the second to get a PhD in physics.
Mildred Jefferson, MD. – First African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and the first woman to graduate in surgery there. She was a prominent physician and activist.
Mae C. Jemison, MD. – First African-American woman astronaut to go travel in space.
Katherine Johnson – African-American mathematician who worked for NASA and who’s orbital calculations were critical to the U.S. manned space flights.
Mary Eliza Mahoney – First African-American Nurse
It’s just a short preview of Black History Month here at The Researcher’s Gateway
It is our hope, here at The Researcher’s Gateway, that you truly enjoy learning about these incredible women. They are a mere 12 out of so many more whom we could have presented to you, but because there are only so many days in February. You’ll just have to wait until next year to meet some more of the fascinating women on our list.
Enjoy!
Galen
