Destined for a Greater Purpose

Bernard A. Harris, Jr. was the first African American to walk in space.




Elijah McCoy invented an automatic oiling device that allowed machines to be lubricated while they were still in use. Some say that this is where the expression "the real McCoy" originated.


Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented a machine to make shoes that lasted in 1883.



Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress.


Lewis H. Latimer was the only African American member of Thomas A. Edison's team of scientists. He helped pave the way in the development of the electric light bulb.



Phillis Wheatley is known as the first published African American poet.



Marian Anderson was the first African American soloist in 1955 at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.