Ida B. Wells-Barnett, educator and journalist
July 16, 1862-Mar. 25, 1931

Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic, 1998)
Born in Civil War times, Wells-Barnett was first a teacher. Then she was a part owner of a newspaper where she exposed the injustices of segregation in print.
Thomson Gale Co.is in the educational publishing business and posts a biography of Wells-Barnett on their website.
Arthur Ashe, Jr., athlete
July 10, 1943-February 6, 1993

Lives of the Athletes: Thrill, Spills (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt, 1997)
An international tennis star, Ashe was first African-American to break into the white-dominated field of tennis.
Ashe’s career, photos, fast facts, awards and quotes are just some of the things you’ll find on the The Arthur Ashe Web Site.
by Anne on February 26, 2010
Fats Domino, musician
Feb. 26, 1928-

Shake, Rattle & Roll: The Founders of Rock & Roll by Holly George-Warren, illustrated by Laura Levine (Houghton Mifflin, 2001)
Domino learned to play piano when he was ten. Born and raised in New Orleans, he’s still rockin’.
Domino was an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
by Anne on February 17, 2010

Michael Jordan, athlete
Feb. 17, 1963-
Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan by Floyd Cooper (Philomel, 2004)
Meet African-American basketball player Air Jordan as a child and young adult in this picture book biography about him. Hoops, anyone?
NBA.com offers a player profile of Jordan. Check it out.
by Anne on February 5, 2010
Hank Aaron, athlete
Feb. 5, 1934-
Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbock, illustrated by Paul Lee (Gulliver Books, 2001)
African-American baseball great Hank Aaron followed his dream and in spite of the racial tensions in the 1960s and hate mail directed to him, he kept on and broke the home run record of Babe Ruth.
Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, Aaron is featured on their site.