pioneers & progress
1900 - 1949
Fast-forward to the first half of the 20th century, when the world reeled from two World Wars, the Great Depression, and new political ideas.
Amidst the chaos, the black community pushed forward, breaking barriers and redefining the possible. From arts and entertainment to sports and politics, black pioneers were rising to the challenge and making history. You’ll encounter groundbreaking firsts, like Amy Ashwood Garvey, the Trinidadian-born Pan-African activist who co-founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, and Jesse Owens, the legendary American athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. So get ready to be amazed and inspired by the trailblazing visionaries who dared to dream, defied the odds, and changed the world forever!
Allen Glaser Minns breaks new ground, becoming the first black mayor in Britain and inspiring future leaders!
john richard archer break barriers and becomes the first black mayor of a london borough, making history in jolly ol' england!
W.E.B. Du Bois brings together leaders from across the globe for the very first Pan-African Congress!
Founded by Amy Ashwood Garvey, The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) unites the world at its first international convention!
Josephine Baker lights up the big screen by becoming the first black woman to star in aΒ major motion picture!
Augusta Savage sculpts her dreams, becoming the first black woman to open her own art studio in the United States!
Hattie McDaniel triumphs in Hollywood, becoming the first black person to win an Academy Award!
Ann Petry's "The Street" becomes the first bestselling novel by a black woman, taking the literary world by storm!
The UK's first race riots erupt in Liverpool, sparking a call for change and unity!
Gwendolyn Brooks makes history as the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry!