Essay On Charlotte E Ray

Considered one of the most important writers of the twentieth century African American literature, Zora Neale Hurston successfully paved the way for future prominent writers. Through dedication and hardships in her life, she is famously recognized as an important person during the 1920s for her writing and role in the Harlem Renaissance. (Zora.com)

She has risen from a poor background and was ranked the richest African American of the 20th Century, the greatest black philanthropist in American history and was once the world’s only black billionaire. She is also known as the most influential woman in the world, both older generations and young.

One of the most influential and inspirational women of all time was Rosa Parks. By one action she helped change the lives of a majority of African Americans and more importantly society as a whole. Rosa Parks sparked the attention of America when she refused to settle for the black (lower class)standards. Not only did she help change the lives for many African Americans but she helped equality for all men and women in the United States. By one brave women our world will be forever thankful.

February of every year is known as National Black History Month. There are many African American people who made a great impact on all African-Americans today. In honor of this month, though, I have chosen to write about Marian Anderson. Marian Anderson was a singer who had made a great impact on many of the black singers in the past. She was one of the first female African-American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955. Some of Marian’s last words to the public were “I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country.”

Another amazing African American women leader and voice for her feminist activist audience was Sojourner Truth who spoke from within

Oveta Culp Hobby is known for her many achievements. She was “the first director of the Women’s Army Corps” and built an army from nothing (Farrar). Later on, she became a cabinet member for President Eisenhower and was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. We remember her today because she is the reason why women received opportunities to join the army (Oveta Culp Hobby). Frances Farenthood was a lawyer and politician from Texas. She was the runner-up vice-president candidate to be nominated for that position for the election of 1972, making her the first woman to actually be viable for this position (it was very close, she lost at 48% of votes) Also, she campaigned for governor of Texas twice, but lost. (Frances 'Sissy ' Farenthold). Texas’ second female governor, Ann Richards left a huge impact on the Lone Star State. She fought for women’s and minorities’ rights and was well-liked by many people because of her humor and wittiness. Even after failing to be re-elected (she lost to George W. Bush), she still cared about the people very much and continued to speak about equal rights for all (Ann Richards Biography). Barbara Jordan was the first African American congresswoman and first African American in the Texas Senate. Another highlight about her life was that she was also the first African American women to deliver the keynote

Have you ever heard of Rosa Parks or Ruby Bridges?Well these women are extra special.Rosa got arrested from not giving her seat up and Ruby was incredible and didn’t get scared when she was the only black girl in a whole white school and was getting yelled at by angry mobs.

Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Maine. She was the oldest of three and was the daughter of a religious fanatic and distributor of religious tracts. At the age of 12, she left to live with her grandmother in Boston and later then lived in Massachusetts with her aunt. She began going to school for teaching at 14. After, attending teaching school she returned to Boston where she founded Dix Mansion, an all girls school, as well as a charity school for girls who could not afford to

She showed them that they could be equal. The only difference was the color of the skin. She taught them that that wasn’t even a big difference. She fought segregation her entire life.

Ida Wells Barnett was born in Holly Springs, Missouri, on July 16, 1862, exactly 2 months and 6 days later prior to when United States President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in Confederate-held territory. Ida attended Shaw University, also known as Rust College, a school that was established for freed men after the Civil War. Like her father, Ida attended Shaw University, but was expelled for rebellious behavior after a confrontation with the college president. While visiting family in the Mississippi Valley in 1878, at the age of 16, she became primary caregiver to her six brothers and sisters, when both of her parents and brother succumbed to yellow fever, leaving her and her five other siblings orphaned.

Bessie Coleman left a legacy not just in Texas but in the United States that few pilots could ever achieve. She may not have been the first African American to earn a pilot's license but she was the first female African American. When people hear of famous African Americans their first thought automatically goes to Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King Jr but nobody has heard of Bessie Coleman. It is thought that Bessie’s life was shaped by the tragedies she endured. First Bessie was born in early 1892 to illiterate parents that were both English-born slaves and that were children of slaves. Bessie’s father left her and his family in 1901. Her mother and two older brothers went to work later that year. Second, being African American during that time made it difficult for Coleman and her family to accomplish anything. Because of these reasons Bessie lived a life of hardships and tribulations. (notablebiographies.com)

Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African-American female astronaut to travel in space. Patricia Roberts Harris was the first African American female Ambassador of the United States. Miss Vanessa Williams was the first African American Miss America and the first African American White House Social Secretary was Desiree Rogers. There have been many nationally recognized accomplishments by African American women. Additionally, there have also been many unknown “paving the way” accomplishments by African American women such as Linda Adams Hoyle, the first African American woman to graduate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1968. Also, Jackie Blackwell, Linda Turner, and Marguerite Scott were three of the First

In a time of economic failure and discrimination, it was important for leaders to emerge and stand up for minorities in America. One of these leaders was Mary McLeod Bethune, whose work laid a foundation for society's view of the black community. Based on her contributions to advancements in civil and educational rights for people of color, she was arguably the most impactful leader in the 1930s.

Unlike Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou devoted her life to inspiring African Americans to do whatever they wanted to do no matter what other people said. She also wanted to inspire people. Her poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise inspired not only the African American people, which is was intended to, but the whole world including men. Like Hughes, Maya Angelou did not think that one day she would be reading one of her poems at President Clinton 's inauguration. But she did think that she would inspire young African American writers that they too could become wonderful writers in a white society. Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman.

Maya Angelou has inspired me in more ways than one, and I had to write about her. When Maya speaks people listen. She has this wisdom that only few have, especially when life wasn’t always great. She turned tragedy into triumph, and helped others in doing so. So, Maya has proven too many women, especially black women that you succeed, even if you have had a child in your teen years. She’s proof that with determination nothing is unattainable.