Henry Ossawa Tanner’s life is a story of quiet rebellion expressed through art. Born in Pittsburgh in 1859 to Reverend Benjamin Tanner and Sarah Tanner, an escaped slave who found freedom through the Underground Railroad, Henry's childhood was infused with values of faith, resilience, and perseverance. Although his father sought to steer him towards the ministry, Tanner was drawn to a different calling: the world of art.

Mansa Musa was the ninth emperor of the Mali Empire, renowned as one of the wealthiest individuals in history.