Presents a collective biography of sixteen black men and women who have left their mark on history, from the eighteenth century throughout the twentieth, including James Forten, a powder boy and prisoner of war in the American Revolution who became captain of his own ship and an abolitionist; Richard Potter, who became a great performing ventriloquist, magician, and hypnotist; and Katherine Johnson, a mathematician and physicist who helped make the calculations to launch successful Apollo missions.

Venture Smith, prince -- James Forten, entrepreneur -- Richard Potter, magician -- James McCune Smith, physician -- Mary Bowser, spy -- Allen Allensworth, town founder -- Clara Brown, pioneer -- Sissieretta Jones, concert singer -- Maggie Lena Walker, bank founder -- Charlie Wiggins, race car driver -- Eugene Bullard, combat pilot -- Oscar Micheaux, filmmaker -- Jackie Ormes, cartoonist -- Sadie Tanner, Mossell Alexander, economist & attorney -- Paul R. Williams, architect -- Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson, mathematician.