January 15, 1891 Bridget “Biddy” Mason, nurse, real estate entrepreneur, and philanthropist, died. Mason was born enslaved on August 15, 1818 in Hancock County, Georgia. She was given to a couple as a wedding present and they took her to Mississippi and then to California. California was a free state and any enslaved person brought […]
Tag Archives | philanthropist
January 9th in African American History – Earl Gilbert Graves, Sr.
January 9, 1935 Earl Gilbert Graves, Sr., author, publisher, entrepreneur and philanthropist, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Graves earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Morgan State University in 1958 and from 1965 to 1968 served as an administrative assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In 1968, he started Earl G. Graves, […]
December 15th in African American History – Maggie Lena Walker
December 15, 1934 Maggie Lena Walker, teacher, businesswoman and the first African American bank president, died. Walker was born July 15, 1864 in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the Colored Normal School to be trained as a teacher and received her diploma with honors in 1883. After graduation, she taught for three years. In 1899, Walker […]
January 29th in African American History – Oprah Gail Winfrey
January 29, 1954 Oprah Gail Winfrey, television host, producer, businesswoman and philanthropist, was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. At the age of 17, Winfrey won an oratorical contest which secured her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. In 1983, she moved to Chicago to host […]