African American Pride

CHAKA "ZULU KING AND WARRIOR" (1786-1828)

Chaka, "Great Zulu warrior", "The Black Napoleon", "Absolute ruler and tyrant." These were the titles and characteristics used when describing Chaka. He was a strong leader and military innovator. Chaka is noted for revolutionizing l9th Century Bantu warfare. He was a man with great power and the heart of a tiger. Chaka had no rifles, and different from Napoleon, used hand-to-hand war tactics.

Chaka was born in 1786, the son of Senzangakona, Zulu Chief and his mother Nandi. Chaka's parents were blood relatives which was a crime, punishable by death. However, Chaka's father was not killed because he was a Chief.

As a young boy, Chaka was a very difficult child. On many occasions, he had confrontations with people in his village. He was also the victim of terrible cruelties. One time, hot porridge was poured on his hands, and burning hot meat forced down his throat. Those who inflicted evil on Chaka would live to regret it.

When Chaka was twenty-six, his father died and left the throne to a son, Sijuana. Chaka ambushed and killed Sijuana, taking leadership of the Zulus. He came to power around 1820. Chaka revolutionized military tactics. He chose the most superior and graceful soldiers. Chaka was the first to group regiments by age, and to train his men to use modern weapons and special tactics. He developed a short stabbing spear. He marched his regiments in tight formation using large shields to fend off the enemy. Chaka's troops were feared by enemies, they would flee at the sight of them. Chaka caused over two million people to die. Chaka's motto was "Death or Victory."

Chaka built the Zulu tribe into a powerful nation of more than one million, and united all tribes in South Africa against colonial rule.

George Washington Carver Jr.

Products developed by Mr. Carver:

Elijah McCoy (1843–1929) invented an oil-dripping cup for trains.

Fast Fact: Other inventors tried to copy McCoy's oil-dripping cup. But none of the other cups worked as well as his, so customers started asking for "the real McCoy." That's where the expression comes from.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852–1889) invented a shoemaking machine that increased shoemaking speed by 900%!

Fast Fact: In 1992, the U.S. made a postage stamp in honor of Matzeliger.

Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919) invented a hair-growing lotion.

Fast Fact: Walker grew up poor. But she became the first female African- American millionaire.

Garrett Morgan (1877–1963) invented the gas mask.

Fast Fact: Morgan also invented the first traffic signal.

Dr. Patricia. E. Bath (1949–) invented a method of eye surgery that has helped many blind people to see.

Fast Fact: Dr. Bath has been nominated to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don’t believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn’t want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment." Malcolm X

Martin Luther King, Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for civil rights. Assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Jackson, Jesse (Louis) (1941- ), African American civil rights activist and political leader.

The Honorable Minister
Louis Farrakhan

Director, Producer, Writer, Actor,  Editor, Cinematographer,

Spike Lee

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell

Dr. David Satcher is the 16th Surgeon General of the United States. Sworn in on February 13, 1998, he is only the second person in history to simultaneously hold the positions of Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health.

Trial Attorney

Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.

First Black Astronaut, Robert Lawrence

First Black Female Astronaut, First Black Woman in Space

Mae C Jemison