Tarpon Springs Campus students created a display of heroes who are not often listed during the celebration of African American History Month. The display will be in the Library/Learning Center in the campus’ FA building through the end of February.

This blog post was written by Emily Adkins, one of the students who helped create the Tarpon Springs Campus display of African American History Month heroes. Ethan Hart, Associate Director of Learning Resources at the Tarpon Springs Campus, worked with students to develop this project. 

James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Chinua Achebe, Amiri Baraka, and Esther “Baby Esther” Jones are among African American History Month heroes whose work influenced the fields of  Arts, Humanities, and Design.

James Baldwin

James Baldwin was an African American novelist and playright who published the 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Baldwin is known for putting uncommon subjects in his works and for exploring racial and social issues.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was an African American author, poet, and social activist known for his insightful and realistic portrayals of black life in American between the 1920s and 1960s.

Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor and critic, known best for his 1958 novel Things Fall Apart; the book has sold more than 20 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages.

Amiri Baraka

Amiri Baraka was an African American poet, writer, teacher, and political activist. He was best known for his confrontational essays that were written to shock audiences about political concerns of black Americans.

Esther “Baby Esther” Jones

Esther “Baby Esther” Jones was the inspiration for Betty Boop. Jones sang during the 1920s in the Cotton Club in Harlem.