Page 23 - Lighthouse of Hope Magazine

CATHAY WILLIAMS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMAN TO ENLIST IN THE U.S.
ARMY

Cathay Williams was the first African
American woman to enlist in the U.S.
Army, and the only black woman doc-
umented to serve in the US army in the
19th century.

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN RUBY BRIDGES
CHILD TO ATTEND AN ALL
WHITE PUBLIC SCHOOL years old and had to be es-
corted to class by her mother
Ruby Bridges was the first Afri- and U.S. Marshals due to vio-
can-American child to attend an all lent mobs. Her bravery paved
white public elementary school in the way for continued Civil
the American South. Bridges was six Rights actions.

FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN-AMERI-

MABEL FAIRBANKS CAN FIGURE SKATER & COACH

Mabel Fairbanks was an African American figure skater and
coach. She was inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of
Fame, as the first African-American, and the International
Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

THOMAS DORSEY

When he lost his wife Nettie in childbirth and their infant son also
died, Thomas Andrew Dorsey wrote “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,”
which his protégé Mahalia Jackson sang at the funeral of Martin Lu-
ther King, Jr. Dorsey helped develop and shape modern day gospel
music through the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Cho-
ruses, which he founded. He is considered the father of modern gos-
pel music.

GEORGE JUNIUS STINNEY THE YOUNGEST PERSON EXE-
CUTED IN THE UNITED STATES
IN THE 20TH CENTURY
On December 17, 2014, Stinney’s conviction was vacated
by circuit court judge Carmen Mullen, who cited that as the
youth had not received any kind of defense at his trial, his
Sixth Amendment rights had been violated. Judge Mullen
ruled that his confession was likely coerced and thus inad-
missible.

LOH Magazine / February 2016 23