Grace Ogot , née Grace Emily Akinyi (born May 15, 1930, Butere, near Kisumu, central Nyanza Region, Kenya—died March 18, 2015, Nairobi), Kenyan author of widely anthologized short stories and novels who also held a ministerial position in Kenya’s government.

Season 1, Episode 19

Mark Anthony Neal is joined by artist, Hank Willis Thomas. Later, Hank takes Mark down to the Franklin Center Gallery to walk through his latest exhibition, Hope.

Hank Willis Thomas on Advertising and Public Perceptions - Duration: 7:00. Duke Franklin Humanities Institute 1,210 views

Left of Black with Nathaniel Friedman and Bomani Jones - Duration: 45:14. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 3,354 views

Left of Black with Karolyn Tyson and Ytasha Womack - Duration: 47:01. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 1,791 views

Hank Willis Thomas on Race - Duration: 2:23. artlogvideo 1,684 views

Left of Black with Cornel West - Duration: 1:02:11. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 19,304 views

Left of Black with Melissa Harris-Perry and Marc Lamont Hill - Duration: 49:02. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 4,832 views

Artnet TV by Nicole Davis - Hank Willis Thomas - Duration: 7:40. artnet2007 6,235 views

Left of Black with Bakari Kitwana and Kyra Gaunt - Duration: 46:42. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 565 views

Left of Black with Claudia Milian, Lakeshia Coffey, and Chaunesti Webb - Duration: 36:41. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 697 views

Teens Interview Hank Willis Thomas - Milwaukee Art Museum - Duration: 7:07. Milwaukee Art Museum 547 views

Expanding the African American Narrative—A Playwrights Convening—CENTERSTAGE—May 15, 2013 - Duration: 51:26. HowlRound 441 views

Hank Willis Thomas Speaks at the Corcoran - Duration: 1:41:28. Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design 89 views

Left of Black with Farai Chideya and Cathy Cohen - Duration: 46:15. John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University 728 views

World War I Battle of Henry Johnson, Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts are the first Americans to be awarded the Croix de Guerre, Frances highest military award

During the Jim Crow Era, many African-American men and women defied great odds and established their own businesses. Working in industries such as insurance and banking, sports, news publishing and beauty, these men and women developed strong business acumen that allowed them to not only build personal empires but also help African-American communities fight social and racial injustice. 

Businesswoman Maggie Lena Walker was a follower of Booker T. Washington’s philosophy of cast down your bucket where you are, Walker was a lifelong resident of Richmond, working to bring change to African-Americans throughout Virginia.

Yet her achievements were so much bigger than a town in Virginia. 

In 1902, Walker founded the St. Luke Herald, an African-American newspaper serving the Richmond area.

And she did not stop there. Walker became the first American woman to establish and be appointed as a bank president when she established the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. By doing so, Walker became the first women in the United States to found a bank. The goal of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank was to provide loans to members of the community.

By 1920 the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank had assisted members of the community purchase at least 600 houses. The success of the bank helped the Independent Order of St. Luke continue to grow. In 1924, it was reported that the order had 50,000 members, 1500 local chapters, and estimated assets of at least $400,000.

During the Great Depression, St. Luke Penny Savings merged with two other banks in Richmond to become The Consolidated Bank and Trust Company. Walker served as chairperson of the board.

Walker consistently inspired African-Americans to be hard working and self reliant. She even said, I am of the opinion [that] if we can catch the vision, in a few years we shall be able to enjoy the fruits from this effort and its attendant responsibilities, through untold benefits reaped by the youth of the race. More »

 Robert Sengstacke Abbott is a

Andre Marie Mbida becomes Premiere of Cameroon

The Chip Womans Fortune by Willis Richardson, the first dramatic work by an African American playwright to be mounted on Broadway, opens at the Frazee Theatre on Broadway

Camilla Williams, the African American woman to sign a contract with a major American opera company appears in the title role of Madama Butterfly with the New York City Opera.

Born on May 15, 1969, in Pensacola, Florida Emmitt Smith wished to be one of the Dallas Cowboys from a young age but the enthusiastic individual had to face many struggles before he could pursue a career in professional football. Belonging to a financially weak family, Smith had to juggle between different jobs at a young age in order to support the house.

Despite of his personal troubles, Smith excelled as an athlete in school and went to play football at the University of Florida. As a part of the Florida Gators’ team, Smith quickly became a valuable asset, rushing more than 100 yards in his first game. While at the university, Smith set and broke his own record by rushing 14 touchdowns.

However, Smith dropped out of the University of Florida in 1990 in order to join his dream team, NFL’s Dallas Cowboys but later came back to earn a bachelor’s degree in public recreation. Excelling as a running back, Smith became an essential part of the team’s offense and stayed on board with the Cowboys for the next 12 seasons. Included in his victories during this time period is the team’s Super Bowl Championship victories in 1993, 1994 and 1996.

1995 proved to be his most fruitful year with a record of 1773 rushing yards and 62 receptions. It was also the year that Smith played the most number of games in a season and scored 25 touchdowns.

While playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Smith also earned the title of Rookie of the Year and eight Pro Bowl nods. At the Super Bowl XXVIII, he was specially recognized for his contributions and was awarded the Most Valuable Player in 1994. The previous year, he had been named NFL’s Most Valuable Year.

Smith also became the first player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 11 seasons straight while also playing in several Pro Bowl games. In 2002, he became the best rusher in NFL history by beating Walter Payton’s rushing record. Emmitt Smith ended his NFL career in 2002 with record setting 18,335 yards, 164 touchdowns and 4409 carries.

Hard luck awaited Smith at the end of his 226-game

John Morront becomes 1st black missionary to work with

Indians is ordained as a methodist misinister in London,England