Alice of Dunk's Ferry (c. 1686-1802) : Oral historian, slave, toll collector -- Ethel D. Allen (1929-1981) : physician, politician, women's rights advocate -- Del Marie Neely Anderson (1937- ) : college president, educator, model -- Ivie Anderson (1905-1949) : singer -- Leafy Anderson ([1887-1927]): religious leader -- Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson (1843-?) : temperance leader, suffragist, civil rights activist, writer -- Violette Neatley Anderson (1882-1937) : lawyer, reformer, clubwoman -- Lucie Bragg Anthony (1870-1923) : physician, educator, temperance leader, musician, writer -- Hannah Diggs Atkins (1923-[2010]) : librarian, educator, state representative. -- Anita Baker (1958- ) : singer -- Gwendolyn Calvert Baker (1931- ) : administrator, educator, activist -- Harriet Ann Baker (c. 1829-?) : evangelist -- Kathleen Battle (1948- ) : opera singer -- Belinda (c. 1713-?) : slave -- Halle Berry (1966- ) : actress, model, activist -- Ruth Gardena Birnie (1884-1956) : pharmacist -- Juliann S. Bluitt (1938- ) : dentist, college administrator, educator, writer, lecturer -- Dorothy Lee Bolden (1923-[2005]) : labor organizer -- Thelma Berlack Boozer (1906-[2001]) : journalist, public relations official, government official -- Maudelle Brown Bousfield (1885-1971) : educator, reformer, club leader -- Ariel Serena Hedges Bowen (c. 1862-1904) : educator, temperance leader, writer, lecturer -- Cornelia Bowen (1858-1934) : school founder, educator, clubwoman, writer -- Ruth Jean Bowen (1924- [2009]) : entertainment booking agent, business executive -- Rosa Dixon Bowser (1885-1931) : educator, clubwoman -- Aurelia E. Brazeal (1943- ) : ambassador, government official -- Martha Bailey Briggs (1838-1889) : educator, school administrator -- Mary Elizabeth Britton (1858-1925) : physician, educator, journalist, social activist, church worker -- Virginia E. Walker Broughton (c. 1856-1934) : feminist, missionary, educator, lecturer, writer -- Clara Brown (1800-1885) : philanthropist, pioneer -- Cora M. Brown (1914-1972) : social worker, police officer, lawyer, politician -- Elaine Brown (1943- ) : political activist, civic activist, musician -- Sue M. Wilson Brown (1877-1941) : clubwoman, writer, editor, political activist, suffragist, church worker -- Willa Brown (1906-1992) : aviator, activist, educator -- Marie Bryant (1919-1978) : dancer, singer, choreographer, dance instructor -- Bessie Allison Buchanan (1902-1980) : state politician, singer, dancer -- Olivia Ward Bush-Banks (1869-1944) : writer -- DeVerne Lee Calloway (1916-1993) : state representative, educator, civil rights activist, editor -- Mary Ann Campbell (c. 1817-1910) : philanthropist, civic worker, church worker -- Vinnette Justine Carroll (1922-[2002]) : actress, stage director, playwright, educator -- Mae Bertha Carter (1923-[1999]) : civil rights activist, teacher, sharecropper -- Sarah Lou Harris Carter (1926- ) : educator, entertainer, model, humanitarian -- Tracy Chapman (1964- ) : folksinger, songwriter -- Emma Carolyn Chappell (1941- ) : banking executive -- Michele Clark (1941-1972) : television correspondent -- Constance E. Clayton (1937- ) : educator, school superintendent, reformer -- Xernona Clayton (1930- ) : television executive, television producer, television host, educator, civil rights activist, civic leader -- Pearl Cleage (1948- ) : playwright, poet -- Kathleen Neal Cleaver (1945- ) : educator, writer, lawyer, activist -- Carrie Williams Clifford (1862-1934) : clubwoman, writer, editor, women's rights and civil rights activist -- Lucile Clifton (1936-[2010]) : poet, children's author, educator -- Inez Clough (c. 1870-1933) : singer, dancer, actress -- Helena Brown Cobb (1870-c. 1918) : educator, missionary, editor, writer, feminist -- Maria Cole (1922-[2012]) : singer, business manager, charity worker, producer, writer -- Natalie Maria Cole (1950-[2015]) : singer -- L. Zenobia Coleman (1901-?) : librarian -- Lucretia Newman Coleman (18??-?) : writer, educator, secretary, bookkeeper -- Mattie E. Coleman (1870-1942) : physician, missionary, school superintendent, activist, lecturer, feminist, suffragist -- Johnnie Colemon ([1920-2014]) : minister, evangelist, church founder, educator -- Florence O. Cole-Talbert (1890-1961) : opera singer, educator -- Barbara-Rose Collins (1939- ) : community activist, state representative, U.S. representative -- Helen Appo Cook : club leader, civic worker -- Myrtle Foster Cook (1870-1951) : editor, clubwoman, educator, civic worker, political worker -- Anne Margaret Cooke (1907-?) : theater educator, director -- Cooper Ada A. : lecturer, educator, poet, writer, journalist, missionary -- J. California Cooper ([1931-2014]) : short story writer, novelist, playwright -- Patricia S. Cowings (1948- ) : psychologist, flight scientist -- Wilhelmina Marguerita Crosson (1900-1991) : educator, school administrator, civic worker -- Minnie Lou Crossthwaite (1860-1937) : educator, college registrar, clubwoman -- Julie Dash (1952- ) : filmmaker -- Dora Dean (c. 1872-1949) : dancer, entertainer -- Georgia Mabel De Baptiste (1867-19??) : social worker, religious worker, educator -- Lois M. DeBerry (1945-[2013)) : state representative, political activist -- The Delaney sisters : Sadie Delany (1889-[1999]) : educator, humanitarian -- Bessie Delany (1891-[1995]) : dentist, civil rights activist -- Louise De Mortie (1833-1867) : lecturer, missionary, fund-raiser -- Suzanne de Passe (1948- ) : producer, record and film company executive -- Helen Octavia Dickens (1909-[2001]) : physician, surgeon, researcher, educator, health administrator, counselor, lecturer -- Addie Whiteman Dickerson (1878-?) : real estate broker, reformer, clubwoman, civic and political activist -- Beulah Mae Donald (1920-1988) : civil rights activist -- Lizzie Douglas (189?-1973) : singer, guitarist, songwriter -- Grace Bustill Douglass (1782-1842) : abolitionist, milliner -- Hazel Nell Dukes (1932- ) : civil rights activist -- Mollie Ernestine Dunlap (1898-1977) : librarian, bibliographer, editor -- Georgia R. Dwelle (c. 1884-1977) : physician, temperance worker, writer -- Sarah Jane Woodson Early (1825-1907) : educator, temperance leader, activist, writer, lecturer -- Joycelyn Elders (1933- ) : physician, researcher, state health official, U.S. Surgeon General -- Mercedes Ellington (1939- ) : dancer, choreographer, art director, educator -- Minnie Evans (1892-1987) : visionary artist -- Myrlie B. Evers-Williams (1933- ) : organization executive, civil rights activist, writer, civic worker
Mae Faggs (1932-[2000]): track athlete, educator, administrator -- Jean Fairfax (1920- ) : civil rights activist, philanthropist -- Lola Falana (1942- ) : entertainer, singer, dancer, actress -- Sarah Collins Fayerweather (1812-1878) : school integrationist -- Sarah Collins Fernandis (1863-1951) : social activist, educator, poet, civic leader -- Gail Fisher (1935-[2000]) : actress, model -- Roberta Flack (1940- ) : singer -- Julia A.J. Foote (1823-1901) : evangelist, preacher -- Justina L. Ford (1871-1952) : physician, humanitarian -- Mary Weston Fordham (c. 1845-1905) : educator, school founder, poet -- Elizabeth Denison Forth (c. 1973-1866) : maid, landowner, investor, philanthropist -- Frankie Muse Freeman (1916- ) : civil rights activist, community activist, lawyer -- Eliza Ann Gardner (1831-1922) : abolitionist, clubwoman, dressmaker, reformer, religious leader -- Hazel B. Garland (1913-1988) : journalist, editor -- Zina Lynna Garrison (1963- ) : tennis player -- Amy Jacques Garvey (1895-1973) : feminist, journalist, organization leader, activist -- Mercedes Gilbert (1889-1952) : actress, poet, songwriter, playwright, novelist -- Thelma Thurston Gorham (1913-1991) : journalist, organization leader, activist -- Mercedes Gilbert (1889-1952) : actress, poet, songwriter, playwright, novelist -- Thelma Thurston Gorham (1913-1991) : journalist, educator, editor, writer, administrator -- Rosa L. Gragg (1904-1989) : educator, school founder, clubwoman, civic worker, church worker -- Micki Grant ([1941]- ) : actress, singer, composer-lyricist -- Eloise Greenfeld (1929- ) : children's author -- Pam Grier (1949- ) : actress -- Lani Guinier (1950- ) : lawyer, educator -- Bonnie Guiton (1941- ) : administrator, government official -- Jessie P. Guzman (1898-[1996]) : researcher, writer, educator, school administrator -- Mabel Dole Haden ([1909-2007]) : lawyer, organization leader, educator -- Helen Eugenia Hagan (1893-1964) : pianist, educator -- Julia West Hamilton (1866-1958) : civic organizer, church leader, clubwoman -- Gladys Riddle Hampton (c. 1910-1971) : business manager, record company executive, road manager, singer, modiste -- D. Antoinette Handy-[Miller] (1930-[2002]) : flutist, educator, administrator, radio host, writer -- Ruth Wright Hayre (1911-[1998]) : school superintendent, educator, philanthropist -- Jessie Mae Hemphill (1932-[2006]) : blues singer, musician -- Freddye Scarborough Henderson (1917-[2007]) : entrepreneur, travel agent, fashion designer, writer, educator -- Anita Hill (1956- ) : lawyer, educator -- Ann Hobson-Pilot (1943- ) : harpist -- Josephine Groves Holloway (1898-1988) : organization executive, college registrar, social worker -- Bell Hooks (1952- ) : feminist, critic, social activist, educator, writer -- Shirley Horn (1934-[2005]) : jazz singer, musician -- Cora Catherine Calhoun Horne (1865-1932) : suffragist, clubwoman, organization worker, social worker -- Whitney Houston (1963-[2012]) : singer, model -- J. Imogene Howard (1851-19??) : educator, principal -- Helen Humes (1913-1981) : singer -- Ida Alexander Gibbs Hunt (1862-1957) : educator, pan-Africanist, writer -- Kristin Hunter (1931-[2008]) : novelist, short story writer, educator, journalist -- E. Belle Mitchell Jackson (1848-1942) : educator, entrepreneur, religious worker, reformer -- Ida L. Jackson (1902-[1996]) : educator, humanitarian -- Janet Jackson (1966- ) : singer, actress -- Caterina Jarboro (c. 1898-1986) : opera singer -- Louise E. Jefferson (1908-[2002]): calligrapher, illustrator, art director, cartographer, photographer -- Elaine B. Jenkins (1916-[1999]) : entrepreneur, consultant firm founder, educator -- Sebetha Lee Jenkins (1939- ) : educator, college president, administrator -- Patricia Prattis Jennings (1941- ) : keyboardist, composer, songwriter, editor -- Amelia E. Johnson (1858-1922) : poet, editor, novelist, educator -- Eddie Bernice Johnson (1934- ) : politician, consultant firm founder, nurse -- Virginia Johnson (1950- ) : dancer -- Claudia Jones (1915-1964) : political activist, black nationalist, feminist, journalist -- Edith Irby Jones (1927- ) : physician, educator, organization leader -- Elaine R. Jones (1944- ) : organization executive, lawyer, civil rights activist -- Elayne Jones (1928- ) : percussionist, timpanist -- Grace Jones (1952- ) : entertainer, dancer, model, singer, actress -- Grace Morris Allen Jones (c. 1876-1928) : educator, school founder, fund-raiser, postmaster, clubwoman, reformer, writer -- Sarah Gibson Jones (c. 1843-1938) : educator, school founder, fund-raiser, journalist, poet, lecturer, clubwoman -- Star Jones (1962- ) : lawyer, television correspondent, television host -- Florence Griffith Joyner (1959-[1998]) : athlete -- Marjorie Stewart Joyner (1896-1994) : entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist -- Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee (1962- ) : athlete -- Amalya Lyle Kearse (1937- ) : judge, lawyer, writer -- Maida Springer Kemp (1910-[2005]) : labor leader and consultant, women's and civil rights activist -- Yvonne Kennedy (1945-[2012]) : educator, state representative, college president -- Jayne Harrison Kennedy-Overton (1951- ) : actress, model, dancer, spokesperson, television host, producer -- Yolanda Denise King (1955-[2007]) : actress, producer, director -- Gladys Knight (1944- ) : singer, business executive, television producer, actress -- Patti LaBelle (1944- ) : singer, actress -- Queen Latifa (aka Dana Owens) (1970- ) : rap artist, actress, business executive -- Jennifer Lawson (1946- ) : television and film company executive, film producer and editor, writer, educator, civil rights activist -- Rosetta E. Coakley Lawson (c. 1854-1936) : educator, religious worker, reformer, club leader, temperance leader -- Maria Coles Perkins Lawton (1864-1946) : clubwoman, educator, political activist, lecturer, columnist -- S. Willie Layten (1863-1950) : feminist, organization leader, educator, clubwoman, political worker -- Mollie Huston Lee (1907-1982) : librarian, civic leader, organization leader -- Shirley A.R. Lewis (1937- ) : college president, educator, religious fund director -- Charlotte E. Linden (1859-1919) : poet, laundress, clubwoman -- Melba Liston (1926-[1999)] : musician, arranger -- Eleanor Young Love (1922-[2006]) : university administrator, educator, counselor, librarian -- Maritcha R. Lyons (1848-1929) : educator, writer, lecturer -- Hulda Margaret Lyttle (1889-1983) : nurse, hospital and school administrator
Julianne Malveaux (1953- ) : economist, television host, writer, columnist, activist -- Grace A. Mapps (?-c. 1891) : educator, administrator, poet -- Vivian Osborne Marsh (1897-1986) : community activist, clubwoman, government official -- Harriet Gibbs Marshall (1868-1941) : pianist, educator, school founder -- Constance Hill Marteena (1903-1976) : librarian, educator, writer, organization leader -- Roberta Martin (1907-1969) : gospel singer, composer, arranger -- Ruby Grant Martin (1933-[2003]) : government official, lawyer -- Ernestine McClendon (1918-[1991]) : actress, talent agent, educator -- Gay Johnson McDougall (1947- ) : international lawyer, social activist, administrator -- Viola Harris McFerren (1931-[2013]) : civil rights and social activist -- Doris Evans McGinty (1925-[2005]) : musician, educator, writer -- Leatrice B. McKissack (1930- ) : business executive, educator -- Patricia Carwell McKissack (aka L'Ann Carwell) (1944- ) : children's author, educator, consultant, storyteller -- Terry L. McMillan (1951- ) : writer, educator, editor -- Georgia L. McMurray (1934-1992) : civic worker, child care advocate -- Barbara McNair ([1934-2007]): singer, actress, entertainer -- Claudia McNeil (1917-1993) : actress, singer -- Carrie Meek (1926- ) : U.S. representative, educator, administrator -- Mabel Mercer (1900-1984) : singer -- Stephanie Mills (1957- ) : singer, actress, entertainer -- Leona Mitchell (1949- ) : opera singer -- Mildred R. Mitchell-Bateman (1922-[2012]) : psychiatrist, state mental health administrator -- Sybil Collins Mobley (1925-[2015]) : certified public accountant, educator, college administrator -- Carol E. Moseley- Braun (1947- ) : lawyer, politician, radio host -- Mary Ella Mossell (1853-1886) : missionary -- Jennie Dee Booth Moton (1879-1942) : educator, civic leader, clubwoman, government official -- Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (1951- ) : photographer, writer, AIDS activist -- Anna Evans Murray (1857-1955) : kindergarten advocate, educator, clubwoman, civic leader -- Gloria Naylor (1950- ) : short story writer, novelist, playwright -- Ida Gray Nelson Rollins (1867-1953) : dentist -- Constance Berry Newman (1935- ) : government official, entrepreneur -- Jeanne Noble (1926-[2002]) : educator, writer, consultant, college administrator, organization leader -- Marita Bonner Occomy (1899-1971) : writer, educator -- Hazel O'Leary (1937- ) : U.S. Secretary of Energy, government official, lawyer, business executive, consultant -- Lillian Adams Parks (1932- ) : school superintendent, social activist, civic leader -- Lillian Rogers Parks (1898-[1997]) : servant, memoirist -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942) : political activist, journalist, poet -- Jennie R. Patrick (1949- ) : chemical engineer, educator, motivational speaker -- Dorothy Smith Patterson (1930- ) : nurse, teenage parent advocate, humanitarian -- Sarah E.C. Dudley Pettey (1868-1906) : educator, school administrator, feminist, lecturer, columnist -- Billie Goodson Pierce (1907-1974) : jazz and blues pianist and singer, dancer -- Ponchitta Pierce (1942- ) : television host and producer, magazine writer and editor -- Mary F. Pitts (1860-1914) : educator, clubwoman, organization worker, temperance worker -- Deborah Prothrow-Stith (1954- ) : physician, educator, consultant, administrator -- Georgiana Frances Putnam (1832-1912) : educator -- Charlotta Gordon Pyles (c. 1806-1880) : abolitionist, lecturer -- Florence Spearing Randolph (1866-1951) : evangelist, minister, missionary, suffragist, lecturer, club leader, temperance leader -- Emma S. Ransom (?-1943) : religious worker, clubwoman, civil rights activist -- Phylicia Ayers-Allen Rashad (1948- ) : actress, singer, dancer -- Della Reese (1932- ) : singer, actress -- Sylvia Lyons Render (1913-1986) : educator, researcher, manuscript curator -- Sylvia M. Rhone (1952- ) : record company executive -- Condaleezza Rice (1954- ) : educator, university administrator, Sovietologist -- Linda Johnson Rice (1958- ) : publishing company executive -- Helen Caldwell Day Riley (1926-[2013]) : religious worker, hospitality house founder, nurse, writer -- George Kay Roberts (1950- ) : conductor, violinist, educator -- Jo Ann Gibson Robinson (1912-[1992]) : civil rights activist, educator, writer -- Carolyn Rodgers (1942-[2010]) : poet, critic, educator -- Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark ([1916-2006]) : lawyer, politician, organization founder, researcher -- Esther Rolle (1922-[1998]) : actress -- Lucille Mason Rose (1918-1987) : civil worker, political activist -- Gertrude E. Durden Rush (1880-1962) : lawyer, educator, lecturer, organization founder, playwright, club leader -- Patricia A. Russell-McCloud (1946- ) : educator, lawyer, motivational speaker, entrepreneur -- Elizabeth Thorn Scott (?-1867) : educator, school founder, church worker -- Catherine Seal (c. 1874-1930) : religious leader -- Leah J. Sears-Collins (1955- ) : lawyer, judge, state supreme court justice -- Lucy Stanton Day Sessions (1831-1910) : educator, abolitionist, writer, missionary, reformer -- Betty Shabazz (1936-[1997]) : educator, nurse, community activist -- Patricia Walker Shaw (1939-1985) : business executive, organization leader, social worker -- Susie Isabel Lankford Shorter (1859-1912) : religious worker, writer, clubwoman, educator -- Jeanne C. Sinkford (1933- ) : dentist, educator, college administrator, researcher, lecturer -- Lucy Smith (1875-1952) : minister, healer, church founder -- Lucy Harth Smith (1888-1955) : educator, club leader, black history advocate -- Mary Levi Smith (1936- ) : educator, college president -- Mary Perry Smith (1926-[2015]) : educator, organization executive -- Jane Morrow Spaulding (?-1965) : clubwoman, social worker, community activist, political organizer, government official -- Vaino Hassan Spencer (1920- ) : judge, lawyer -- Carrie Steele (?-1900) : children's home founder -- Charlotte Andrews Stephens (1854-1951) : educator, principal, librarian, reformer -- Ellen Stewart (c. 1920-[2011]) : stage producer, fashion designer -- Maxine Sullivan (1911-1978) : singer -- Clara Smyth Taliaferro (1873-?) : pharmacist, educator, clubwoman -- Alethia Browning Tanner (17??-18??) : slave, gardener -- Mary Magdalena Lewis Tate (1871-1930) : minister, religious leader, healer, church founder -- Merze Tate (1905-[1996]) : scholar, educator, writer -- Mildred D. Taylor (1943- ) : children's author -- Rebecca Stiles Taylor (1880-1970) : educator, principal, club leader, journalist, humanitarian -- Debi Thomas (1967- ) : figure skater, [physician]
Verneice D . Thompson (1926-1993) : social worker, psychotherapist, consultant, educator, administrator -- Willie Mae Thornton (1926-1993) : blues singer, musician, songwriter, dancer -- Amelia L. Tilgghman (1856-1931) : singer, educator, writer, editor, composer -- Turner, Carmen Pawley : transportation official, government official -- Wyomia Tyus (1945- ) : track athlete, educator, coach -- Leslie Uggams (1943- ) : actress, dancer, singer -- Shirley Verrett (1931-[2010]) : singer -- Yvonne Walker-Taylor (1931-[2006)) : educator, college president, humanitarian -- Fannie Franklin Wall (c. 1860-1944) : clubwoman, civic leader, children's home founder -- Aid Ward (1903-1984) : entertainer -- Gertrude Mae Murphy Ward (1901-1981) : gospel singer, road manager, publishing firm founder -- Mary Fitzbutler Waring (c. 1870-?) : physician, educator, clubwoman, activist, writer -- Fanny Smith Washington (1858-1884) : housekeeper, educator -- Ora Washington (1898-1971) : tennis player, basketball player -- Maxine Waters (1938- ) : politician -- Barbara Watson (1918-1983) : ambassador, state department official, lawyer, entrepreneur -- Joann Watson (1951- ) : organization executive, social activist, radio producer and host, educator, social worker -- Elisabeth Welch (1908-[2003]) : singer, actress -- Verda Freeman Welcome (1907-1990) : educator, state senator -- Frances Cress Welsing (1935-[2016]) : child psychiatrist, lecturer, writer -- Emma Rochelle Wheeler (1882-1957) : physician, hospital and nursing school founder -- Frances Anne Rollin Whipper (1845-1901) : writer, political activist -- The Whitman Sisters : Mabel Whitman (?-1942) : entertainer, theatrical entrepreneur ; Essie Whitman (1882-1963) : entertainer, theatrical entrepreneur ; Alberta Whitman (?-1964) : entertainer, theatrical entrepreneur ; Alice Whitman (?-1969) : entertainer, theatrical entrepreneur -- Marion Birnie Wilkinson (1870-1956) : humanitarian, educator, clubwoman -- Camilla Williams (1919-[2012]) : opera singer, educator -- Ella V. Chase Williams (1852-?) : educator, school founder, organization leader -- Marion Williams (1927-1994) : gospel singer -- Blenda Jacqueline Wilson (1941- ) : college president, administrator, educator -- Emma J. Wilson : educator, school founder, missionary, fund- raiser -- Addie L. Wyatt (1924-[2012]) : labor leader. -- Madiie Hall Xuma (1894-1982) : YWCA founder, educator. -- Jean Childs Young (1933-1994) : civil rights activist, educator, children's welfare advocate
Summary:
Arranged alphabetically from "Alice of Dunk's Ferry" to "Jean Childs Young," this volume profiles 312 Black American women who have achieved national or international prominence.
