Guion Bluford

Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. is an American aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot, and former NASA astronaut, who is the first African American and the second person of African descent to go to space.

Bluford deployed the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B) while in orbit. Other activities of the STS-8 crew included putting the Canadarm robotic arm through its paces and several experiments to see how space affects the human body, among other milestones. The shuttle landed safely Sept. 5, 1983.

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah was literally ‘born a crime’. At the time of his birth in 1984, South African laws prohibited his mother, a black South African woman, and his father, a white European, from having a romantic relationship. Trevor spent his childhood in Johannesburg, South Africa, absorbed in books and family as he was hidden away from authorities who could fine his mother for her illegal relationship. Trevor Noah is now a bestselling author, a world famous comedian, and the current host of The Daily Show. 10th graders at Moravian Academy will read his autobiography in history classes as they learn about South African Apparteid!

Simone Biles

Simone Biles is tied for the most decorated gymnast of all time with 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. The two-time Olympian became known for more than gymnastics following the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Simone Biles catalyzed the conversation of mental health in sports. She said, “I have to put my pride aside. I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being. That’s why I decided to take a step back.” Simone Biles also discussed what steps she has taken to put herself first, “Therapy has helped a lot, as well as medicine. That’s all been going really well. Whenever you get in high-stress situations, you kind of freak out and don’t really know how to handle all of those emotions especially at the Olympic Games.” Simone Biles started a movement in which many athletes came forward about their fear to speak about their mental health struggles, including Michael Phelps.

Arthur Mitchell

Arthur Mitchell was, let's just say it, born to dance! Mitchell paved the way for black dancers with his charisma and determination. He became the first African American Member of the New York City Ballet in 1955. He was promoted to principal dancer in 1962 and performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Agon. Mitchell was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement and chose to dedicate himself to teaching other black children from Harlem how to dance. He opened the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969, which is America’s first African American ballet company. He recently died in 2018 at the age of 84, but he left a lasting impact on the opportunity of ballet for black dancers. He said that his greatest accomplishment was bringing black people into an art form that was three or four hundred years old. 

Dance Theatre of Harlem: Arthur Mitchell Tribute

Issa Rae  

I’m mean, where do I start? Issa can do it all! From Stanford graduate to writer and star of the HBO television series Insecure, Issa's star is on the rise. Her memoir, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, is a New York Times best-seller. She’ s on the 2018 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world! She has been nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. She can make me and millions of others laugh till they cry, but don’t just take my word for it, watch it yourself in her perfectly awkward and hilarious ESSENCE speech: