The Honorees

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a viral immunologist who co-developed the Moderna vaccine used to fight COVID-19. "The vaccine teaches the body how to fend off a virus, because it teaches the body how to look for the virus by basically just showing the body the spike protein of the virus," Corbett explained. "The body then says 'Oh, we've seen this protein before. Let's go fight against it.' That's how it works."

Corbett received her early education in rural Hurdle Mills, North Carolina and obtained her PhD in microbiology and immunology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014. Corbett’s earlier research focused on developing a universal influenza vaccine. For 15 years, she studied the dengue virus, the respiratory syncytial virus, and various coronaviruses.

The United States

About 13.6% of Americans report to be Black; about 14.9% report to be Black and some other race. According to Zippia, about 6.5 percent of all American scientist are Black. Only 16 percent of all scientists hold a doctorate degree.

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About "From These Shores"

From These Shores celebrates the accomplishments of 18 known and lesser-known Africans in the diaspora across time and geography. The 12 panels hang at the Juffureh Slavery Museum, The Gambia and online. Timbooktoo Bookstore in New Bakau, The Gambia and Mansa Musa Restaurant in Takoma Park, MD USA each display one of the panels.