TODAY: Have you ever heard of Annie Easley? How about Dr. Mae Jemison?
Bessie Coleman?
These women were pioneers in more ways than one. Learn about them, and many others, in a collection at the Bradford Area Library called True Colors in American History: The Impact of America’s People of Color On Its Progress and Identity.
In 1955, Annie Easley began her career at NASA as a “human computer,” doing computations by hand for researchers. This began her 34-year career with NASA, where she became a computer programmer and a role model for young girls everywhere.
Dr. Mae Jemison is the first African American astronaut. In 1992, she flew into space aboard the Endeavor. A medical doctor, she conducted experiments in space on weightlessness and motion sickness.
Bessie Coleman was the first African American and first Native American woman pilot. She was famous for doing “loops-the-loops” and doing a figure 8 in an airplane. She gave speeches and showed films of her air tricks, but refused to speak anywhere that was segregated or that discriminated against African Americans.
A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the library for the collection, which is presented by the YWCA Bradford and the Bradford Area Public Library. The collection was made possible through a local benefactor.
Marking a display for the collection will be a sign with a unique frame, created by local artist Julie Mader. Inside the frame are objects representing the contributions of those in the True Colors collection: an airplane, an astronaut, science text, a space capsule and much more.
We’re excited about the collection, and encourage everyone to check it out.
