The Negro and the elective franchise. A series of papers and a sermon

Among the first African Americans to graduate from Cornell, he later wrote searching, public-minded essays on Black citizenship and political rights at the turn of the 20th century.

Francis J. (Francis James) Grimké

1850–1937

Born into slavery-era South Carolina and shaped by the long fight for freedom, this Presbyterian minister became one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected Black clergy voices. His life joined preaching, public witness, and steady work for civil rights.

John Hope

1868–1936

A pioneering Black educator and civil rights leader, he helped shape Morehouse College and Atlanta University at a time when debates over the future of Black education were especially fierce. His life joined scholarship, public leadership, and a steady belief in broad, liberal education.

A longtime technology writer and editor, he is known for making complex computing topics approachable for working developers and curious readers alike.

Kelly Miller

1863–1939

A pioneering Black scholar at Howard University, he helped shape public debate on race, education, and democracy in America. His work brought together mathematics, sociology, journalism, and sharp social criticism.