The majority of historical discussions often focus on a select few figures—and they’re usually white. A lot of people of color are left in the shadows as we ignore their contributions by celebrating an incomplete picture of the past. Let’s give these people the voice they deserve! Here are twelve times when the history books whitewashed important events. This isn’t to lessen the experience of white Americans but rather to shine a light on those who have often been ignored.
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The Overlooked Black Cowboys
Most of us picture cowboys as white men riding across the Wild West. But in reality, about one in four cowboys was Black since many former slaves moved west to find freedom & work herding cattle after the Civil War. They played a huge role in taming the frontier. Yet history books & Hollywood films have largely ignored them by focusing on white figures like Wyatt Earp instead.
Unsung Heroes of NASA’s Space Race
Ask any American and they’ll tell you just how important someone like Neil Armstrong was! But behind the scenes, Black female mathematicians were doing important work. Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectories for space missions while Mary Jackson was the agency’s first Black female engineer. Without them, it’s unlikely that we would’ve ever made such giant leaps so why do we forget to talk about them?
Lewis Latimer’s Illumination
Even though Thomas Edison is famous for inventing the light bulb, it was Lewis Latimer who made it practical for everyday use. He was a Black inventor & draftsman who developed a carbon filament in 1881 that allowed light bulbs to last longer. This also made them more affordable. But that’s not all—Latimer also worked with Alexander Graham Bell to draft the patent drawings for the telephone! Sadly, his efforts are mostly forgotten.
Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Uprising
In 1969, the Stonewall Uprising happened which was a major event for LGBTQ+ rights yet many accounts focus on white activists. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, was an important figure during the riots. In fact, she co-founded the Gay Liberation Front and Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to support homeless transgender youth. Sadly, many contemporary takes on these events focus on white activists instead, with films like 2015’s Stonewall ignoring the role that people of color had to play in such a landmark event.
Chinese Laborers and the Transcontinental Railroad
In 1869, workers completed the Transcontinental Railroad, a great American achievement—or was it? Thousands of Chinese immigrants worked under grueling & dangerous conditions to lay tracks through the Sierra Nevada mountains. They performed some of the most difficult tasks like blasting tunnels through solid granite, even after facing discrimination & earning lower wages.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s Valor
During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces. They flew over 15,000 sorties in Europe & North Africa, including one of the lowest loss records of all escort fighter groups. Sadly, they had to deal with a lot of discrimination & segregation at home—and in the military. Most historical accounts focus on white pilots instead.
Ida B. Wells in the Women’s Suffrage Movement
There’s no denying that people like Susan B. Anthony were important in the fight for women’s suffrage. However, Ida B. Wells, a Black journalist & activist, also had a part to play since she fought tirelessly against racial injustice and for women’s right to vote. She was a founder of the NAACP, using her investigative journalism to expose the horrors of lynching in the South.
Native American Code Talkers’ Secrets
In both World War I & World War II, Native American code talkers used their languages to create unbreakable codes for secure military communications. One group was known as Navajo Code Talkers and they were a major factor in U.S. victories in the Pacific Theater. However, their work remained classified for years. Even after it was declassified, their contributions received little attention as the focus was on white soldiers instead.
Pioneers of Rock ‘n’ Roll Music
While Rock ‘n’ Roll’s roots come from Black music traditions, many people associate the genre with white musicians like Elvis Presley instead. What about artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard & Sister Rosetta Tharpe? They helped to create the genre’s sound & style—yet we don’t acknowledge them.
The Real Lone Ranger
Bass Reeves was one of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River. He was born into slavery in 1838 & escaped during the Civil War, later dedicating his life to law enforcement. Reeves arrested over 3,000 felons! But despite his incredible record, history books rarely mention him—even though he may have inspired the fictional Lone Ranger.
The Brave Soldiers of the 442nd Regiment
In World War II, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team became one of the most decorated units in American military history & they were made up mostly of Japanese American soldiers. They fought heroically in Europe by doing some of the most dangerous missions. Meanwhile, their own families were held in internment camps back in the U.S. Most war narratives center around white soldiers and completely forget the 442nd Regiment’s role.
The First Man at the North Pole
Matthew Henson was a Black explorer who was part of the 1909 expedition that reached the North Pole alongside Robert Peary. However, Peary got most of the credit—even though Henson was the one who planted the American flag at the pole! They never would’ve gotten there without him. Why? Because he was skilled in Arctic survival & spoke the Inuit language fluently.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.