On The Shoulders of Giants
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On the Shoulders of Giants was created by Joseph Ward. The website for On the Shoulders of Giants can be found by clicking here. Joseph Ward can be reached through his On the Shoulders website. Joseph Ward is available for Speaking Engagements and workshops on Black History, Sexual and Domestic Abuse, and various Life Skills Subjects.
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Clicking on the names will like you to their profiles on the On the Shoulders of Giants Website.
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Pressing "ctrl + f" or utilizing the find feature will allow you to find the names of people.
Gwendolyn BrooksIn 1938 Gwendolyn became involved with a group of writers who wrote for Harriet Monroe’s still-extant Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, she also married Henry Blakely and by 1951 they had two children, Henry, Jr. and Nora. In 1943 she won the Midwestern Writers Conference Poetry Award. In 1945 she became an award winning author with her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville, which immediately brought her critical acclaim and she was later selected as one of Mademoiselle Magazine’s “Ten Young Women of the Year”. She also won her first Guggenheim Fellowship, and became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Afrika BambaataaKevin Donovan was inspired by the Zulu of South Africa. He was most impressed with the Chief of the Zulu Bhambatha. He marveled at the unity and the community Chief Bhambatha built with his leadership. Soon after his trip to Africa, Donovan changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim. He also became a part of the change within his neighborhood. He created an organization called The “Bronx River Organization.” This organization was designed to build up the neighborhoods instead of tearing them down.
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Norma Merrick SklarekIn 1980 Sklarek became the first African-American women to be honored with a fellowship by the American Institute of Architects. In 1985 Sklarek along with her colleges Margot Seigal and Katherine Diamond created their own architectural firm; Seigal, Sklarek and Diamond. Their firm became one of the largest female-owned firms in the United States. Sklarek became the first African-American woman to create and manage her own architectural firm.
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Ivan Van SertimaDr. Van Sertima immigrated to the United States in 1970 and enrolled into the University of Rutgers to complete his graduate studies. While completing his graduate studies Dr. Van Sertima published his book They Came Before Columbus in 1976. This book gives information about the African origins of ancient American culture. In 1977 he earned his master’s degree from Rutgers University. He also became an associate professor of African Studies.
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Marva CollinsMrs. Collins used her brilliance to create a method of teaching that would push the students to give their best. Her method was called “The Collins Method;” it was centered on students learning through phonics, math, reading, English and classic literature. She was able to teach the children that were viewed as undesirables anything ranging from Homer to Plato.
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Medgar EversMedgar Evers led the charge against the Mississippi legal system because of the constant discrimination against its black citizens. He challenged the Mississippi police department to re-investigate the murder of Emmitt Till in 1955 and protested the conviction of Clyde Kennard in 1960.
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Patricia BathIn 1981 Bath began working on her most well-known invention– the Laserphaco Probe, which she created in 1986. She was able to harness laser technology, creating less painful and more precise treatments of cataracts. She received a patent for the device in 1988, becoming the first African American female doctor to receive a patent for a medical purpose. She also holds patents in Japan, Canada and Europe for her Laserphaco Probe.
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Noble Drew Ali In 1926 Noble Drew Ali was able to build and officially register Temple No. 9 as a Moorish Science Temple. Ali was spreading Islam and Moorish consciousness.
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Ida B Wells-BarnettIda B. Wells-Barnett moved to New York because her life was in danger in the south. While in New York she wrote an article for the New York Age highlighting the lynching of blacks in America. In 1893 Wells-Barnett began lecturing worldwide about the inhumane lynching of blacks in America. Wells-Barnett wrote and circulated a pamphlet exposing the ban of African American art exhibitors at the World’s Colombian Exposition in 1893.
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Jan MatzeligerUpon his death Jan Matzeliger revolutionized the shoe industry, his machine improved shoe production and lowered the prices. Because the shoe was now affordable for the average American the shoe industry was able to grow into the Behemoth it is today. Enjoy!!
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Afeni ShakurA political activist, a prominent speaker and a well known philanthropist. Afeni Shakur is a brave and brilliant woman who defied the odds and achieved greatness. Enjoy!!
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John Clarke Dr. John Henrik Clarke Clarke devoted his life to studying the history of his people and during the process he traveled all over the globe. During his journey, he began to see that the history of African people had been hidden not only in America but all over the world. Hidden in plain sight, Dr. Clarke learned that the history of man started with African people and decided to tell the world to help uplift his people. Enjoy!!
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Beatrice VitaBeatrice Kimpa Vita and her followers pushed the ideas that God, Jesus and his saints was African, and heaven was for Africans as well as whites. These ideas were contrary to the historic ideas of Christianity in the Kongo; Kimpa Vita’s ideas were revolutionary and truly empowering for her people.
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Lucy ParsonsIn 1915 Lucy Parsons organized the Chicago Hunger Demonstrations; the demonstrations forced the American Federation of Labor, the socialist party, and the Jane Addams' Hull House to become active in the demonstration. The demonstration was created to help make changes in the cities dealings with the less fortunate
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Edward Blyden Blyden became known as "The Father of Pan-Africanism" because of his work in Liberia and Sierra Leone and his writings. His best known piece of writing is titled Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race; which he wrote in 1887. This piece helped to promote his ideas of Islam as a better religion for African people. He believed that Christianity had a debilitating effect on the Psyche of African people. His book caused a stir in Britain because of Blyden's race and his content
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Anna NzingaNzinga lived during the Atlantic slave trade and her land was being threatened by the Portuguese. One of Nzinga first displays of leadership and superior intelligence was when she accompanied her brother at a peace conference. They were attempting to persuade the Portuguese Governor Mendes de Vasconselos to withdraw the fortress of Ambaca from Ndongo land, return fellow countrymen who had been kidnapped an enslaved, and command the Imbangala mercenearies to cease their services.
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Thomas SankaraThomas Sankara made women's rights one of his priorities; he banned female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy. He would also appoint women to positions within his government and encouraged them to work outside the home. He would also encourage pregnant women to stay in school. Sankara's idea was to promote overall equality for men and women within his country. The Sankara led government would be the first African Government to recognize AIDS as a major epidemic to Africa. Sankara became popular with the people of Burkina Faso by making equality between the people and the government a priority. Sankara was named the "African Che Guevara" because he emulated his personal style and politics.
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Aprille Ericsson-JacksonIn 1998 Aprille Ericsson-Jackson received the Women in Science award for the best female engineer in the federal government. She received recognition at the Black Engineers Award Conference; she also won the Goddard Honor Award for Excellence in Outreach. She was named as one of the 18 women who will change the world by the Women's Network.
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Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin is considered the founder of modern Russian literature, he managed to restructure and create new elements of Russian literature.
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Alice Augusta Ball Alice Ball developed a treatment for Hansen's disease which was used from 1918 to 1940. In the year 2000 the University of Hawaii honored Ball by dedicating a plaque in her honor and placing it on the only Chaulmoogra tree on the campus. That same day the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii declared February 29th "Alice Ball Day." In 2007 Ball was honored by the University of Hawaii with a medal of distinction.
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Fred HamptonFred Hampton would later become leader of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party where he held rallies weekly, worked with local clinics, taught political education classes, and provided supervision of the Chicago Police. Hampton provided a free breakfast program for the black Chicago community, ensuring community members were able to eat.
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Andrew Foster1920 was a year to be remembered, this was the year of the formation of the Negro National League. Foster, Taylor, and six other team owners met and came to terms for the formation of the league. Foster was named president of the NNL and managed his team the American Giants. Enjoy!!
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Meta Vaux Warrick FullerFuller is regarded as the first artist to celebrate afrocentricity within her art; she was one of the forerunners of the Black Renaissance. Because of Fuller and several contemporaries positive art depicting Africa and African-Americans was beginning to flourish. Enjoy!!
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Ignatius SanchoSancho was the catalyst behind the heightened consciousness of the horrors of the slave trade through Britain. His outstanding writings caused people to pay attention to slavery and Sancho's brilliant writing style. His letters helped extinguish the slave trade in Britain. Enjoy!!
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Septima P. ClarkSeptima Clark was and educator who was able to train over 10,000 school teachers, who taught over 25,000 students. As a result of the first session of classes 37 new voters were able to register to vote in 1958. By 1969, 700,000 blacks became registered to vote because of her "Citizenship School" program. Enjoy!!
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Funmilayo Ransome-KutiFunmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a renowned activist and noted educator, as well as a leader within the women's rights movement. She helped make life easier for Nigerian women by either starting or becoming a part of a number of women's rights organizations.
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Rev. C. K. Steele Rev. Steel was a pastor for 28 years at Bethel Baptist Church, in his time he fought hard for social change in Tallahassee, FL as well as the south. Rev. Steel faced death and many incarcerations to help blacks receive humane treatment by their white counterparts. Rev. Steele made Tallahassee, FL and every other city he lived in a better place for blacks to live because of his actions and relentlessness.
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Nina SimoneOn the Shoulders of Giants brings you Nina Simone, a singer, song writer, classical pianist and civil rights activist. She stood for freedom and equality, and set a standard that black women in American can follow and be proud of. With prominent Negroid features, she shattered the American standard of beauty, while igniting the souls of anyone who listened to her music. Her music influenced a whole generation of music lovers and creators, from rap artist to folk singers. She also set political and cultural standards that showed future generations how to use music to influence and uplift its listeners. Mrs. Nina Simone, we stand on your shoulders.
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William StillThis historical video series is shedding light on persons of African descent from around the world. This week's video is highlighting William Still. Labeled as the "Father of the Underground Railroad," Still helped hundreds of people find freedom. He also maintained historical records of his encounters with people escaping slavery, and made a book of it; The Underground Railroad.
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Queen NannyA Jamaican national hero, Queen Nanny escaped slavery and became a leader in the fight against slavery in Jamaica in the early 1700's. She lived and died for freedom, and helped create a free settlement for people escaping slavery called "Nanny Town."
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HatshepsutAfter gaining control of the reigns in Kemet, Hatshepsut had to be smart enough to keep her control. Her Nephew Tuthmose III was becoming older and wanted to rule; Hatshepsut used acute political skills to remain in power. To decrease fear amongst her people she made herself Pharaoh in all statuary and relief during her twenty year reign. Dressing as a Pharaoh she even wore the beard the Pharaohs wear; she also gave the people of Kemet fifteen years of no war.
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ImhotepAs one of the few commoners to ever be given divine status after his death, he was worshiped as a god for 3,000 years in Greece and Rome due to his talents and contributions. He is credited as the author of the Edwin Smith Papyrus which describes over 90 anatomical terms and 48 injuries. Imhotep founded a school of medicine known as “Asklepion”, which remained famous for 2,000 years, and he did so 2,200 years before the so called Greek “father of medicine”, Hippocrates, ever existed.
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Melvin Tolson Melvin Tolson was a literary giant, educator, activist, and African historian.
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Stokley CarmichaelAs a high school senior Carmichael witnessed a sit-in on television which compelled him to join the civil rights movement. "When I first heard about the Negroes sitting in at lunch counters down South," he later recalled, "I thought they were just a bunch of publicity hounds. But one night when I saw those young kids on TV, getting back up on the lunch counter stools after being knocked off them, sugar in their eyes, ketchup in their hair—well, something happened to me. Suddenly I was burning.''
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Fannie Lou HamerThe summer of 1962 would change her life forever. She attended a meeting where blacks were protesting the poll tax used to keep them from voting. After attending the meeting she decided to dedicate herself to helping end the oppression. In 1962 she traveled with 17 others to Indianola, Mississippi to the courthouse to oppose the poll tax. They were met with resistance by the local law enforcement officers. As a result of fighting against the poll tax, Miss. Hamer was fired from her job and kicked off the plantation where she lived for 20 years
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Malik AmbarDespite being placed into slavery as a child Ambar became the first general, politician and financer of his time. Under his rule his country thrived, it was immaculately cultivated and the citizens were very happy. Ambar founded the city of Aurangabad and beautified it with a palace, gardens, and bodies of water lined with stone.
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Sister SouljahIn 1985 Sister Souljah graduated from Rutgers University with a dual major in American History and African Studies. She also gained a reputation on campus for speaking out about injustices against blacks and others. One of her efforts as a student activist was bringing Jessie Jackson to Rutgers to speak against the university’s unsettling investments in an apartheid stricken South Africa.
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Dr. George CarruthersDuring his seven year stint at the University of Illinois, Carruthers graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1961, a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1962, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronomical Engineering in 1964. During his graduate studies, Carruthers was as a research and teaching assistant, working with plasma and gasses. After earning his Ph.D. Carruthers accepted a position with the Naval Research Laboratory in 1964, as a research physicist, having received a fellowship in Rocket Astronomy from the National Science Foundation.
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Yaa AsantewaaWith the greatest passion Yaa Asantewaa stood and spoke; “Now I have seen that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our king. If it were in the brave days Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king taken away without firing a shot. No white man could have dared to speak to chief of the Ashante in the way the Governor spoke to you chiefs this morning. Is it true that the bravery of the Ashante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you the men of Ashanti will not go forward, then we will. We the women will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.”
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Wallace AmosAmos would find a new focus in life after show business and baking, he focused his attention on battling illiteracy. He served as the national spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America from 1979 to 2002. He also served on the boards of the National Center for Family Literacy, Read to Me International, and Communities in Schools. In 2005 Amos and his wife co-founded the Chip & Cookie Read Aloud Foundation. Amos has also received the President’s Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, the Horatio Alger Award, and the National Literacy Honors Award.
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Kathleen CleaverIn 1989 Kathleen would receive a law degree from Yale Law School, as well as became an associate at the Law firm of Cravath, Swain and Moore. She would later become a clerk for Judge A. Leon Higginbotham of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She served on the Georgia Supreme Court Commission for Racial and Ethnic bias and served as a board member of the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights. Kathleen has used her time to help former Black Panther Party leader Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt gain his freedom after a 27 year prison sentence for a crime he did not commit.
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Dr. Ben-JochannanDr. Ben-Jochannan is often criticized for promoting black supremacy; but I say he promotes black consciousness. He has dedicated his life to uplifting and empowering the black man across the globe. The information he has presented challenged the more commonly accepted versions of history. These historical stories have conveniently left out the contributions of the African to the civilization of mankind. Because of heroes like Dr. Ben-Jochannan generations of African people around the globe have a stronger sense of pride and history.
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Roberto ClementeDuring that winter Clemente and his family were in Puerto Rico working on his dream, opening a sports clinic for the youth in San Juan. December 23rd, 1972 an earth quake struck Managua, Nicaragua killing thousands of people. Clemente quickly organized an aid effort to help the people affected. After getting word that the Nicaraguan government was not getting supplies to the people, he rented a small plane to take the supplies. On December 31st 1972, the plane that was carrying Clemente and three other people crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and his body was never found. He died at the age of thirty-eight.
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Sam CookeIn 1968 Cooke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1987 he was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame. In 2008 Cooke was ranked as the fourth greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone. Mr. Cooke was an innovator; he thought outside of the box and gave the black musician reason to become more than just a singer. Sam Cooke’s music and legacy inspired black people to become the change they wanted to see. Mr. Samuel Cooke, we stand on your shoulders.
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Shirley DuboisShirley Dubois never forgot her passion for helping to end racism in her communities. Her political activism found her being fired as the director of the YWCA-USO in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Because Dubois stood up for the protestors of the death of three black solders she lost her job. But because of her versatile skill set she was hired quickly by the NAACP as a field secretary. As a field secretary she was responsible for organizing new NAACP branches across the U.S.
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