Newton Knight and the Legend of the Free State of Jones Newton Knight was born in 1837 near the Leaf River in Jones County, Mississippi. Back then, the area was filled with tall pine trees, wild animals like wolves and
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William T. Shorey: The Only African American Ship Captain on the West Coast
William T. Shorey: The Only African American Ship Captain on the West Coast William T. Shorey (July 13, 1859 – April 15, 1919) was a remarkable African American who became a ship captain at a time when racial barriers were
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The Shocking Story of Acid in a Motel Pool: A Civil Rights Movement Moment
The Shocking Story of Acid in a Motel Pool: A Civil Rights Movement Moment In 1964, a photograph taken by Horace Cort shocked the nation. It showed black and white protesters swimming together in the Monson Motor Lodge pool in
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Biddy Bridget Mason: From Enslaved to Entrepreneur
Biddy Bridget Mason: From Enslaved to Entrepreneur Biddy Bridget Mason (1815–1891) was an extraordinary woman who rose from a life of slavery to become one of the first Black women to own property in Los Angeles. Her story is one
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Juana Maria: The Native American Who Lived Alone for 18 Years on San Nicolas Island
Juana Maria: The Native American Who Lived Alone for 18 Years on San Nicolas Island San Nicolas Island is one of the Channel Islands off the coast of California. These islands have been home to humans for thousands of years,
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The 1976 Chowchilla Kidnapping: A Crime That Shook America
The 1976 Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping: A Crime That Shook America In 1976, a shocking crime shook the small town of Chowchilla, California. Three young men from wealthy Bay Area families—Frederick Woods and brothers James and Richard Schoenfeld—came up with a
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One of the Last Slave Ship Survivors Shares His Story in a 1930s Interview
One of the Last Slave Ship Survivors Shares His Story in a 1930s Interview The last American slave ship docked illegally in Mobile, Alabama in 1860, carrying about 160 West African captives. Among them was Cudjo Lewis, who recognized how
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The Brave Men Who Broke the Rules and Survived the Titanic
The Brave Men Who Broke the Rules and Survived the Titanic The Titanic’s sinking is one of the most famous disasters in history. People often talk about the rule of “women and children first.” But not everyone followed that rule.
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Abebe Bikila: The Barefoot Marathon Legend
Abebe Bikila: The Barefoot Marathon Legend Many people know the famous story of Abebe Bikila, the Ethiopian marathon runner who won the 1960 Rome Olympic Games running barefoot. But fewer know why he ran without shoes or the events that
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A Dying Miner’s Final Goodbye To His Beloved Wife In 1902
A Dying Miner’s Final Goodbye To His Beloved Wife In 1902 One letter from a man named Jacob Vowell was tragically found next to his body The Fraterville Mine disaster in Tennessee was one of the worst in history. The
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