January 26

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza was an Italian-born French explorer whose expeditions in Central Africa aimed at peaceful contact with local communities. In 1880, he explored the Congo River basin and signed treaties with indigenous leaders, paving the way for the French colonial presence. Brazza founded the city of Brazzaville, which became the capital of French Equatorial Africa. Unlike many contemporaries, he advocated for moderate colonial policies and respect for African populations. His reports and maps significantly expanded European geographic knowledge of the region. Today, he is remembered for his humane approach and role in the history of Central African exploration.

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the first African-American woman and the first Native American woman to earn a pilot's license. Denied training in the United States because of her race and gender, she traveled to France and earned her license in 1921. Upon returning to America, she performed thrilling aerial stunts at airshows, earning the nickname 'Queen Bess'. Coleman advocated for an aviation school for African Americans and encouraged women to pursue flying careers. Her courage and skill challenged racial and gender barriers and inspired future generations of pilots. Tragically, she died in a plane accident while preparing for an exhibition flight in 1926, but her legacy endures.