Sojourner Truth
Fighting for Freedom
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Sojourner Truth was born to slaves. She had no choice. But when she grew to be a young mother herself, she ran away with her child looking for freedom. She used her voice to speak for all slaves wanting to be free.
Daniel Inouye
World War II Hero and Senator
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Daniel Inouye was born in Hawaii to parents who came from Japan. He had a happy life as a child until 1941 when the Japanese military bombed Pearl Harbor in his hometown. As war broke out, Daniel's life changed forever. He fought in the U.S. Army against the Japanese and then went on to serve Hawaii and his country in the U.S. Senate.
Jackie Robinson
Baseball's Second Base Hero
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Jackie Robinson broke barriers as the first African American to play baseball in the modern major leagues.
Today there are many great Black players in the MLB, but this pioneering moment in 1947 marked a significant milestone, opening doors for generations of Black athletes to come.
Helen Keller
Inspiring Opportunity for All
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Helen Keller was an American author and educator who was blind and deaf.
Even though she could not see or hear like most people, she finished college and became a powerful writer and speaker on behalf of those with similar disabilities. Her achievements knew no bounds.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
From "Most Likely to Succeed" to the Supreme Court
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Born in Washington, DC, in 1970, and raised in Miami, Florida, Ketanji Brown Jackson developed an interest in law at an early age.
While in grade school, she sat with her father and watched him complete his law school assignments. And though some people, including a school guidance counselor, discouraged Ketanji from aiming high, she proved them wrong and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School after being named in high school as Most Likely to Succeed. She went on to make history by becoming the first Black woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court in 2022.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Fighter for Women's Rights
Part of the Beginner Biography series
When Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a young girl she knew she could do anything her brothers could do. But the laws in the country said women were not equal to men. Elizabeth knew she had to make a difference for all women.
Will Rogers
Native American Star of Stage, Screen, and Politics
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Will Rogers was the most famous American entertainer, writer, and actor of the early 1900s.
He was best known for making fun of politics and the US government. His humor endures, with today's politicians in Washington, DC, admiring his sharp wit.
Cesar Chavez
Friend to Farm Workers
Part of the Beginner Biography series
As a child, Cesar Chavez worked on farms with his family. He felt the workers were not treated well. Cesar used his voice to become a leader in making sure farm workers were paid better and treated fairly.
Maria Tallchief
Native America's Prima Ballerina
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Maria Tallchief was inspired to dance while watching Osage dancers as a child in Oklahoma. For tribal ceremonies only men were allowed to dance. But, Maria went on to become America's first prima ballerina.
Rosa Parks
Brave and Determined
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Rosa Parks was a Black American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her seat on a public bus became the spark that started the civil rights movement in the United States.
Rosa's brave and heroic acts led to desegregation on public transportation, reshaping history.
Congressman John Lewis
A Man on a Mission to Seek Justice for All
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
John Lewis was a Black American civil rights activist and one of the original Big Six leaders of the nonviolent movement along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
He said his hero was Rosa Parks, who told him it was okay to get into "good trouble" in fighting for justice and equal rights. Lewis took her advice all the way to the US Congress.
Jim Thorpe
World's Greatest Athlete
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Jim Thorpe, an Oklahoma-born Native American, played pro baseball in New York, Cincinnati, and Boston, but he was an even better football player.
In the 1912 Olympic Games, he won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon events, showcasing his exceptional athletic talents.
Ellen Ochoa
Breaking Barriers in Space
by Jennifer Marino Walters
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Ellen Ochoa was selected by NASA in 1990 to join its astronaut program, and she became the first Hispanic female astronaut when she completed her training in 1991.
Two years later, she flew on the space shuttle Discovery, becoming the first Latina to be launched into space. Ochoa continued breaking barriers at NASA for women and for Hispanics.
Sequoyah
Man of Many Words
Part of the Beginner Biography series
Sequoyah created a way of writing the Cherokee language 200 years ago. Thanks to Sequoyah, the Cherokee today know more about their history and native language than almost any other tribe in North America.
