Trailblazers

Live out Martin Luther King’s legacy by becoming familiar with his speeches and life story, not to mention the campaigns to establish a holiday and a memorial to recognize his work to end racial discrimination.

When the Tuskegee Airmen emerged as war heroes during World War II, the military was racially segregated and many doubted that African Americans could carry out complex missions. The Airmen changed that perception with their heroic feats in the sky.

The series of speeches the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave throughout his life reveal much about his political views, activist strategies and perspectives on morality and international relations. These excerpts from various King speeches paint a broader picture of who King was.

Given that there’s a national holiday in his honor and children worldwide learn about the U.S. civil rights movement in social studies class, it’s easy to think that there’s not much more to learn about the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Many facts in King’s biography are overlooked, however. Did you know that the civil rights leader...

This list of famous Latinos illustrates the contributions people of Hispanic heritage have made in music, film, politics and science. Remember the series of rap-rock bands that came out in the 1990s? A musician of Mexican descent, Zack de la Rocha, pioneered that trend. Also learn more about the five actors of Latin American background who’ve...

Koremastu Day is the only holiday in the nation observed in honor of an Asian American. Learn about Fred Korematsu’s life and the importance of the California holiday that recognizes him with this overview of his efforts to fight racial discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II.

Native American heroes such as Jim Thorpe, the Navajo Code Talkers and actors and authors such as Sherman Alexie, Irene Bedard and Adam Beach have left a significant mark on U.S. culture and society.

With works ranging from the irreverent to the heartbreaking, Native American writers such as Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich and Leslie Marmon Silko have painted a three-dimensional portrait of American Indians that challenges stereotypes and pervasive misperceptions about indigenous peoples. This list of top American Indian poets, novelists and...

Without the help of the Navajos who enlisted in the Marines as code talkers, World War II could’ve turned out very differently for the United States. The military code based on the complex Navajo language proved impossible for the Japanese to decipher. Thanks to the Navajo code talkers, the U.S. military was able to carry out important missions...

Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest U.S. athletes in history, was of Native American descent. This biography chronicles Thorpe’s amazing athletic career, including the controversial decision to strip him of his Olympic medals, as well as his financial struggles and battles with alcohol. Learn more about how the strengths and challenges of Jim Thorpe...

Although Japanese Americans faced fierce racial discrimination, even placement in internment camps, after Japan’s attack of Pearl Harbor, many Nisei men enlisted in the military to prove their loyalty to the United States. The 442 Regimental Combat Team, made up entirely of Nisei, became the most decorated unit of its size and length of service...

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision to place more than 110,000 Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II without warrant remains one of the most shameful periods in U.S. history. Angered that the federal government had violated their civil rights, some Japanese-American men refused to serve in the U.S. military when they...

Barack Obama made history in 2008 when he became the first man of African ancestry elected U.S. president. During his time in office, Obama's racially mixed heritage has had pros and cons. On one hand, it has led to wider discussions of biracial identity and to others exploring their roots. Conversely, being "the first black president" has...

President Obama’s historic election was seen as a boon to race relations, but the racist attacks against him suggest that the country has much progress to make in the racial sphere. What are the three main racist attacks the president has faced? This outline lists them.

This bio of NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez chronicles how the child of Mexican migrant workers realized his dream of traveling to space.

Martin Luther King Jr. may have fathered the Civil Rights Movement, but history reveals that turning his birthday into a national holiday took struggle and persistence. Discover who the key players were in creating a day in celebration of King, the lawmakers who resisted such a holiday and the states which took the longest to recognize King’s legacy.

Cesar Chavez changed life for laborers of all ethnic backgrounds with his use of passive resistance to unionize farm workers. Chavez Day is held in a number of states to honor his contributions. This overview provides a history of the holiday, how and where it’s celebrated and the push for a federal observance.

This Herman Cain profile chronicles the black politician’s upbringing in Atlanta, early years in the Navy, rise to CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and Republican candidacy for president. The biography also outlines his political views, notable quotes and controversies he’s sparked, helping readers answer this question: Who is Herman Cain?

In 1961, a coalition of black and white civil rights activist embarked on a dangerous journey from Washington D.C. to the Deep South to protest segregation on interstate bus lines. They endured beatings from white supremacist mobs as well as arson attempts, but through their efforts, Jim Crow on interstate bus and rail lines was finally struck...

When CNN anchor Don Lemon came out as gay, he was applauded for being one of the few high-profile blacks to do so. Lemon’s announcement sparked debate about why other famous gay minorities remain closeted. Yet, the list of famous gay people of color who’ve come out is growing. In addition to black gay and lesbian celebrities, the list includes...

When President Barack Obama made a trip to Ireland in May 2011, it was the first time the biracial politician put his Irish heritage on display. Will this move help Obama win over white voters, and what impact will the knowledge that Obama is Irish American have on the African-American community that has long claimed him.

Whitney Young Jr. was arguably the National Urban League’s most influential executive director. During the decade he served as head of the civil rights organization, Young increased its budget 18-fold, pushed corporate America to provide more jobs for African Americans and swayed dignitaries to use federal funding to benefit inner cities. Learn...

Despite its name, the Black Panther Party accepted members from all racial backgrounds. One of the founding members of the group, Richard Aoki, was a Japanese American. Aoki served as a field marshal in the Panthers, using his experiences in the U.S. Army to help the revolutionary group. His biography reveals how he’s a hero to African and Asian...