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African-American Pioneers
by Liana Mahoney

You probably know the

Ella Baker Shirley Chisholm
stories of many well-known African
American leaders who left their
mark on history, including Harriet
Tubman, Frederick Douglass,
Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall Phyllis Wheatley Dr. Charles Drew

and Ruby Bridges. You may be

familiar with modern-day African
American leaders, such as Michael
Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and Barack
Obama. But there are many lesser-known African-American pioneers who have
influenced art, literature, medicine, science, entertainment, sports, government,
journalism, music, and education. Here are five African-American pioneers with whom
you may not be very familiar, but who are deserving of a place in our history books:

1. Ella Baker

Ella Baker was the granddaughter of a former slave. Ella's passion for social justice
and equality was fueled by stories her grandmother shared with her about slavery and
inequality. She was a supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s work, and helped King to form
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It was her work with young people,
however, that had the most influence on civil rights. Baker taught young people that
their voices were important in affecting change. She emphasized non-violent
approaches to protesting inequality, and laid the framework for the SNCC (Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), an important organization that included mostly
college-aged students. These students took part in the Freedom Rides of the early 1960s.

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They peacefully protested segregated transportation systems by riding together on

buses with other activists in Alabama and Mississippi, often putting their lives at risks
and facing angry mobs.

2. Thurgood Marshall

Known as "Mr. Civil Rights," Thurgood Marshall was the first black United States
Supreme Court Justice, nominated to his post in 1967, at the height of the Civil Rights
movement. He served on the Supreme Court for twenty-four years, during which time
he was a relentless defender of constitutional rights, attacking inequality and racism
through America's judicial system. He was able to get case after case overturned in favor
of civil equality for African-Americans. Prior to serving as a justice, he was a very
successful lawyer. One of his most famous cases is Brown vs. Board of Education of
Topeka. The verdict in this famous case ended segregation in public schools.

3. Phyllis Wheatley

Often referred to as "the mother of Black literature" in America, Phyllis Wheatley

was a poet who lived during the late 18th century. Kidnapped from her home in Africa
and sold as a slave as a young child, Phyllis lived at a time when few women, and even
fewer black people, wrote for publication. In most southern states in colonial America,
it was illegal to teach a black person how to read and write. Yet the Wheatley family
encouraged Phyllis to become literate, and by the age of 12, she was writing her own
poetry. In 1773, she published her first book of poetry. Shortly after, the Wheatley family
freed her. She was no longer a slave, but she used her success as a poet to speak out
against the tyranny of slavery.

4. Dr. Charles Drew

Dr. Charles Drew was the first African-American to receive his doctorate degree

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from Columbia University in 1940. This, however, is not his most important achievement.
Dr. Drew became a medical authority on blood transfusions and storage just as the
world was entering World War II. His extensive research on blood led to new
developments in the safe collection, storage, and transfusion of blood and the creation
of successful blood banks. These blood banks greatly benefited American troops during
the war, even though at this time in history, the U.S. military did not allow
African-American blood to be given to white people. Dr. Drew also trained a generation
of black doctors before he tragically passed away in a car accident in 1950. His work,
however, lives on in that it continues to save lives today.

5. Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American congresswoman in 1968. She

was a New York state legislator and a congresswoman who ran under the slogan
"Unbought and Unbossed." She served seven terms until 1983, during which time she
fought for better education, health services, and social services. In 1972, she attempted
to further her political career by becoming the first black candidate to run for a major
party's nomination for President of the United States. She also became the first woman
to run for the Democratic Party's nomination. She was known as a fierce champion of
the underprivileged, facing intense discrimination at the height of the Civil Rights
movement because she was a woman and she was black. In the world of politics,
Chisholm was a true pioneer, paving the way for future minorities to serve as
government leaders.
Each of these African-American leaders was a pioneer, changing the world as we
know it today. They all courageously faced adversity in one form or another, and used
their talents, skills, and tenacity to overcome their obstacles to making positive changes.
Although somewhat lesser-known, these African-American leaders have made a huge
impact on culture and society, and have a rightful place in history.

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African-American Pioneers
1) Which of these best describes the central theme of the passage?

a) Explaining how each of these pioneers excelled in their fields and went abroad
to obtain higher degrees to boost their careers
b) emphasizing how each of these pioneers overcame obstacles and adversities
to bring about positive changes for the country and the world, and thus
deserves recognition and a place in the history
c) sympathizing with these lesser-known African-American pioneers whose great
efforts went in vain
d) drawing attention to the sufferings of African-American people in the country
and the severity of discrimination and inequality they had to deal with

2) Match the personalities to the attributes that best describe them.

a) Ella Baker spoke out against slavery

b) Shirley Chisholm researched to create blood banks

c) Phyllis Wheatley attacked inequality through the judiciary

d) Charles Drew educated young people about civil rights

e) Thurgood Marshall fought for the underprivileged

3) According to the writer, these pioneers deserve a rightful place in history. What
reasons does the writer offer to substantiate this assertion?

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African-American Pioneers

4) Sift through the passage to identify the rights that the African-Americans were
denied.

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African-American Pioneers
5) Each of these five African-American pioneers employed a different medium to
fight for the same cause. Explain the statement briefly.

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Answer key

African-American Pioneers
1) Which of these best describes the central theme of the passage?

a) Explaining how each of these pioneers excelled in their fields and went abroad
to obtain higher degrees to boost their careers
b) emphasizing how each of these pioneers overcame obstacles and adversities
to bring about positive changes for the country and the world, and thus
deserves recognition and a place in the history
c) sympathizing with these lesser-known African-American pioneers whose great
efforts went in vain
d) drawing attention to the sufferings of African-American people in the country
and the severity of discrimination and inequality they had to deal with

2) Match the personalities to the attributes that best describe them.

a) Ella Baker spoke out against slavery

b) Shirley Chisholm researched to create blood banks

c) Phyllis Wheatley attacked inequality through the judiciary

d) Charles Drew educated young people about civil rights

e) Thurgood Marshall fought for the underprivileged

3) According to the writer, these pioneers deserve a rightful place in history. What
reasons does the writer offer to substantiate this assertion?

The writer rightfully opines that each of these African-American leaders

was a pioneer, as they contributed in changing the world for the better in

their own way. They all courageously faced adversity in one form or another,

and used their talents, skills, and tenacity to overcome the obstacles and

make positive changes. The writer further substantiates this assertion by

saying that even though they were somewhat lesser-known, these African-

American leaders have certainly made a huge impact on culture and

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Answer key

African-American Pioneers
society, and thus deserve a rightful place in history.

4) Sift through the passage to identify the rights that the African-Americans were
denied.

Inequality, racism, discrimination and social injustice had been plaguing

America for a long time. There was segregation in transportation systems,

in public schools among many other sectors. It was illegal to teach a black

person how to read and write. The U.S. military did not allow

African-American blood to be given to white people. These

underprivileged people were also deprived of good health or

social services.

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Answer key

African-American Pioneers
5) Each of these five African-American pioneers employed a different medium to
fight for the same cause. Explain the statement briefly.

The African-American leaders in the passage were pioneers in their own

fields and championed the causes of social injustice and discrimination

using their own media. Ella Baker used the voice of the youth to effect

change and strengthen the civil rights movement. Thurgood Marshall

attacked inequality and racism using America's judicial system. Phyllis

Wheatley used her poems to speak out against the tyranny of slavery.

Dr. Drew's research on blood transfusions and storage greatly benefited

the American troops during the war as the African-Americans were not

allowed to give blood to white people. Shirley Chishelm used her position

and power of being a congresswoman to fight for the underprivileged.

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