Learn how entrepreneurs and institutions built livelihoods, opportunities and communities.
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Loading image…1801–1864
John Telemachus Hilton (April 1801 – March 5, 1864) was an African-American abolitionist, writer, and businessman, who established barber, furniture dealer, and employment agency businesses. He was a Prince Hall Mason and established the Prince Hall…
1927–2018
John W. Barfield (February 8 1927 – January 2, 2018) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) was an African American businessman who served in the U.S. Army in France and Germany immediately after World War II. On his return, Barfield began working as a custodian for the…
Loading image…1847–1899
John William Edinburgh Thomas (May 1, 1847 – December 18, 1899) was an American businessman, educator, and Illinois politician. Born into slavery in Alabama, he moved to Chicago after the Civil War, where he became a prominent community leader. In 1876 he…
Loading image…1949–
John Wendell Thompson (born April 24, 1949) is an American technology executive who was the chairman of Microsoft from 2014 until June 2021, and chairman of Illumina from 2021 until 2023. He is a former chief executive of Virtual Instruments, a…
Loading image…1852–1920
John Wesley Alstork (September 1, 1852 – July 23, 1920) was an American religious leader and African-American community organizer. He was a preacher and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E. Zion Church) and is considered one of the…
1912–1988
John Willard Banks (November 7, 1912 – April 14, 1988) was a self-taught African American artist known for his vivid and expressive drawings that document Black life and imagination in 20th-century Texas.
Biography
John William Jones (d. January 29, 1909) was an American politician and civil servant from Alabama. Just after the American Civil War he was active as a businessman in Hayneville, Alabama, where he ran a plantation, a race track, and a store.
Loading image…1838–1893
John Willis Menard (April 3, 1838 – October 8, 1893) was a federal government employee, poet, newspaper publisher and politician born in Kaskaskia, Illinois to parents who were Louisiana Creoles from New Orleans. After moving to New Orleans, on November 3,…
Biography
Johnathon Banks is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2014. He held the IBO cruiserweight title from 2008 to 2009 and challenged once for the IBF cruiserweight title in 2009. He currently works as a boxing trainer, most notably…
Born 1861
Johnny Banks (born December 25, 1861, in Richmond, Virginia), was an African American boxer who fought under the sobriquet "The Darkey Wizard" and was the Negro Middleweight Champion of the World during the mid-1880s. Standing 5'6" tall (some sources claim…
Loading image…1844–1919
Johnson Crayne Smith (October 27, 1844 – August 20, 1919) was an early 20th-century businessman from Pittsburgh and the namesake of Johnson C. Smith University.
ca. 1940
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA black and white photograph of customers at Johnson’s Grocery Store in Hampton, Virginia. The customers stand in front of the counter while a man works at the cashier. The store is filled signage advertising the price of goods.
Loading image…1997–
Jordana Gleise de Jesus Menezes (born February 11, 1997), better known by her stage names Jojo Todynho and Jojo Maronttinni, is a Brazilian singer, television presenter, and entrepreneur. She gained national recognition with the funk carioca hit song "Que…
1974–
Jomo Gamal Thomas was an American businessman, attorney, and author based in New York City. He died on November 27, 2025, in Cebu, Philippines.
Biography
Jonathan D. Gosier (born 1981 or 1982) is a entrepreneur, investor, film financier, and philanthropist. He was named as one of Ten African Tech Voices to Follow on Twitter by CNN and one of the 25 most influential African-Americans in Technology by…
Loading image…1966–
Jonathan Luther Jackson (born January 7, 1966) is an American activist and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 1st congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party and son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, he was previously…
1957–
Jonnetta Patton (born April 6, 1957) is an American talent manager, entrepreneur and film and television producer. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, she is the founder of J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator, JPat Management, and Lion Queen Entertainment, a film and…
1980–
Jonny Shipes is an American record executive. Credited with discovering Nipsey Hussle, Joey Bada$, Sean Kingston, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, and Druski, he is the founder and CEO of GoodTalk, an independent record label and successor to Cinematic Music…
Loading image…1825–1907
Jordan Anderson or Jourdon Anderson (December 1825 – April 15, 1905) was an African-American former slave noted for an 1865 letter he dictated, later titled by publishers as "Letter from a Freedman to His Old Master". It was addressed to his former master,…
Loading image…1848–1918
Jordan Carlisle Jackson Jr. (February 28, 1848 – October 7, 1918), also known as J. C. Jackson, was an American lawyer, funeral director, newspaper editor, and Black community leader. He was married to abolitionist Eliza "Belle" Mitchell Jackson.
Dates not recorded
Jordan Kensington is a British serial Entrepreneur, artist, actor, songwriter, television and radio presenter best known as the founder of the Urban Music Awards, an awards show celebrating the achievement of hip hop, R&B, soul and jazz music artists in…
Loading image…1989–
Jordin Brianna Sparks Smith (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2007 after winning the sixth season of American Idol at age 17, becoming the youngest winner in the series' history. Her 2007 self-titled debut…
1789–1848
Joseph Cassey (c. 1789–1848) was a French West Indies-born American businessman, abolitionist activist and Underground Railroad conductor. He also worked as a barber, and as well as a wig maker, perfumer, and money-lender. He lived in the historic Cassey…
1898–1974
Joseph Armstrong "J. A." De Laine (July 2, 1898 – August 3, 1974) was an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister and civil rights leader from Clarendon County, South Carolina. He received a B.A. from Allen University in 1931, working as a laborer and…
Biographies, museum objects and archive records are distinct card types. Every card links to its historical source.
