Henry Johnson (1897?-1929), served valiantly as part of the 369th regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters. On June 2, 2015, representatives of his National Guard unit were presented with the
Harlem Hellfighter Receives Medal of Honor Posthumously Read More »
Slaveholding was still a way of life for some residents of Washington, D.C. even after the Civil War began. But in 1862 that changed. On April 16, 1862, President Abraham
Why Emancipation Day is Held April 16 in Washington, D.C. Read More »
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) grew up in a family who cared deeply about social issues, including the abolition of slavery. Stowe chose to use the power of words to bring to light the injustice of slavery. She wrote: “…the enslaving of the African race is a clear violation of the great law which commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Anti-Slavery Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Read More »
Mary Pickersgill (1776-1857) was a well-regarded flagmaker in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1813 she was approached by U.S. military representatives to make an oversized United States flag that would fly over
Mary Pickersgill: Maker of the Star-Spangled Banner Read More »
James Reese Europe (1880-1919) was a gifted musician who achieved numerous firsts in bringing African-American musicians and music into the mainstream. As a conductor and composer, he is credited with
James Reese Europe: Bandleader Who Popularized Jazz and Ragtime Read More »
The “Harlem Hellfighters” was a name acquired by an all-black military unit from Harlem that fought during World War I. Officially, they were the 369th Infantry. They became known for their
Harlem Hellfighters: Black Soldiers in World War I Read More »
