Earlier today, we asked our Black Mail Readers Which African American Woman Was First To Author A Non-Fiction Bestseller? The answer is B) Maya Angelou. “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” published in 1969 would make her the first African American woman to author a non fiction best seller.
1st African American Man To Be Trained As An Astronaut – Robert Lawrence https://blackmail4u.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/robert-h-lawrence-jr-first-black-man-to-be-trained-as-an-astronaut/
BLACK MAIL FAST FACT: Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was refused an autograph by a boxer that he idolized (Sugar Ray Robinson). As a result, Ali vowed that when he became a boxer that he would never deny an autograph request. He kept this vow throughout his career.
Paul R. Williams (1894-1980) was a renowned architect during a period in history where African American architects were rare. Williams was orphaned at 4 when his parents died. His new foster family recognized his artistic talents and encouraged him to utilize them. His career spanned 50 years and 3,000 projects.
Williams opened his own architectural firm at the age of 28. He mastered the skill of rendering his architectural drawings upside down. He developed this skill so that his white clients (who might have been uncomfortable sitting next to him because he was black)could see his drawings right side up as they sat across the table from him. Known as an architect to the stars, Williams designed homes for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lou Chaney, Barbara Stanwyck, and Charles Correll.
In 1953 he received the prestigious Springarn Medal from the NAACP for his outstanding contributions as an architect and member of the African American Community. Williams in reflecting on his life noted the irony that most of the homes he designed and constructed were on property whose deeds included segregation covenants that prohibited blacks from purchasing the property.