1

Althea Gibson

Image: Josephine Gasser

Born in 1927, Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and a professional golfer. As a sportswoman her ability was extraordinary, but her major achievement was breaking the color barrier in tennis in the 1950s.

Althea was the first African-American woman to play the U.S. National Championships and the first black woman to win a Grand Slam in 1956.

She won 11 Grand Slams, five singles titles, five doubles, and one mixed doubles title. And she opened the door for other black sportswomen to be under the spotlight. Quite impressive, right?

2

Eleanor Roosevelt

Image: René DeAnda

If aviation or sports were controversial places for women, imagine politics! But that didn’t stop Eleanor Roosevelt, a key figure in American politics .

As Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, who presided over America from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor was the longest-serving first lady of the United States and, as such she was unwaveringly committed to the people. She redefined the concept of the first lady.

She advocated for human rights and social justice and used her position to work for women, African Americans, and the impoverished. And to top it all, she was a central figure in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3

Amelia Earhart

Image: Tomas Martinez

Even if she was born in 1897, Amelia is considered a key figure of the 20th century because she was an aviation pioneer . As such she broke several records: She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first to promote commercial air travel.

But that wasn’t all, Amelia was an activist for women’s rights and wrote best-selling books narrating her adventures as a pilot. The mysteries behind her disappearance during her flight across the Pacific only made her a bigger icon.

4

Estée Lauder

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Most of the professions held by the women in this article are accepted for women today, but not so long ago, being a woman and a successful businessperson wasn’t very common: That was the case with Estéé Lauder who launched her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband.

The brand's success never went unnoticed and it is a best-selling company in the present world. But to top her achievements, Lauder was listed as one of the 20 most influential businesspeople of the century!

5

Aretha Franklin

Image: Alberto Bigoni

During the 20th century, the music industry has seen some of the best singers and songwriters of all time. America has no shortage of talented musicians, but being named the Queen of Soul is something else altogether!

Aretha was a black singer, songwriter, and pianist, and her music gained her the Rolling Stones magazine recognition of "Greatest Singer of All Time" not once, but twice! Not to mention the 18 Grammy Awards or the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other acknowledgments.

Her music has inspired millions of people around the world and it is still a reference in music and culture today.

6

Marilyn Monroe

Image: Jarvik Joshi

Marylin doesn’t need any kind of introduction, does she? She was and still is to this day a pop culture icon. Her work as an actress had a massive impact on the entertainment industry, but her work as a model did something else to the fashion industry: She was known as the "blonde bombshell" and gave birth to a true revolution in terms of body shapes, relationships, and more.

Influential and controversial depending on who talked about her, she was living proof that there is no such thing as bad marketing: All things considered, she still was the best-paid Hollywood actress of the time.

7

Helen Keller

Image: Aaron Burden

Keller’s story is both shocking and inspiring at the same time. At only 19 months of age, Hellen lost her sight and hearing due to an illness. But having a rough childhood never stopped her. Instead, and despite her disability, she became an advocate for the rights of disabled people, a political activist, and a lecturer.

She wrote 14 books, and hundreds of speeches and fought for women’s right to vote, labor rights, and world peace. If you want to be inspired by her story, you can read her autobiography The Story of My Life .

8

Julia Child

Image: Alyson McPhee

French cuisine is exquisite and we’ve got Julia Child to thank for the fact that we Americans know about it. Child revolutionized American cooking by bringing French cuisine to America through her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show "The French Chef."

In her TV show, Child taught French cooking techniques in a way that is accessible to everyone. She was approachable and enthusiastic which made her an influential figure beyond the kitchen, she was a cultural icon.

9

Toni Morrison

Image: Olga Tutunaru

In the field of literature, Morrison is our chosen one since she was a true giant. Toni Morrison wrote novels that deeply influenced American literature and culture as well.

Her writing made her the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In her novels, like Beloved, Sula, and Song of Solomon , Morrison explores the topics of identity, race, history, and heritage. Her characters offer deep insights into the African American experience and humanity which makes her legacy an everlasting one.

10

Rosa Parks

Image: Ant Rozetsky

No article about influential women of the 20th century would be complete if we didn’t mention Rosa Parks.

In 1955, she refused to give her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her courageous act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and initiated the modern Civil Rights Movement. With a simple, but huge action, she challenged the whole system of racial segregation and inspired a nationwide movement for equality.

The bus boycott was the beginning, yet her work continued beyond that as she fought tirelessly for civil rights for the rest of her life.

1

Cioppino

Image: James Wei

A not-so-talked-about product of the Italian influence in America, cioppino is an underrated representative from San Francisco. A tomato-based seafood stew (or a soup, depending on who you ask), it started as a struggle meal made with whatever was caught that day, and it is now a beloved dish that reflects the city’s history.

2

Fry bread

Image: Immo Wegmann

When thousands of Navajo people were forcefully displaced from Arizona to New Mexico, they were provided with meager rations for the 300-mile journey: flour, water, salt, and lard. From these scarce provisions, they created a fried dough, chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Originally eaten on its own, it is nowadays paired with all kinds of toppings.

3

Poi

Image: Daniel Dan

Made from steamed and mashed taro root, this Hawaiian dish can be enjoyed in several ways. Although sweeter when freshly made, it is often paired with other savory dishes. It can also be left to ferment, which gives it a more sour taste. Highly nutritious, poi has been a staple in Hawaiian and Polynesian cuisines for centuries.

4

Étouffée

Image: Stephanie Moody

Gumbo and jambalaya might be what first come to mind when thinking about Louisiana, but étouffée (meaning ‘smothered’) should not be overlooked. Thicker than gumbo —though sharing many of its ingredients—, étouffée delivers what its name promises: a rich, gravy-like, shellfish stew that smothers the accompanying rice. Depending on whether you are having a Creole or a Cajun étouffée, it may or may not contain tomatoes.

5

Crab cakes

Image: Girish Dalvi

This dish can be found all along the Atlantic coast, but its most famous iteration is associated with Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. With a history that goes back to Native Americans, modern crab cakes can be enjoyed sautéed, baked, grilled, deep-fried, or broiled, and are most of the time made with blue crab, though other crab meats can be used.

6

Clam chowder

Image: henry perks

A New England staple, this dish draws influence from British, French, and Nova Scotian traditions. Although it was not dairy-based in its origins, modern clam chowder gets its rich texture from milk or cream, and features butter, potatoes, pork, and, of course, clams. Other famous variations differ mainly in the soup base, such as the Manhattan clam chowder (made with tomato) or the Rhode Island clam chowder (made with a clear broth).

7

Hush puppies

Image: Abhijit Biswas

A Southern classic, these cornmeal fritters became popular during the Civil War because they were affordable and versatile. Usually made plain to serve as a side dish, they can also have cheese, jalapenos, whole corn grains, and other fillings added.

8

Marionberry pie

Image: Amanda Hortiz

Oregon's signature dessert, this pie filling features marionberries, a blackberry hybrid developed in the 20th century. Compared with regular blackberries, marionberries have a deeper, more complex flavor, resulting in a sweeter and sharper pie filling. A summer staple, it is often served alongside vanilla ice cream.

9

Runza

Image: Kelsey Todd

Food from the Midwest is sometimes reduced to casserole dishes and jello salads, but it is more varied than some might think. Runza, a sandwich-hot pocket hybrid filled with beef, cabbage, and onions, is an example of how midwesterners transformed immigrant food traditions into something new. Originating in Nebraska, runzas are derived from German and Eastern European pirogs , a baked, filled dough.

10

Akutaq

Image: Adam Chang

Though this Alaskan delicacy is technically an ice cream, don’t expect it to be like the ice creams you are used to. Made from reindeer fat, seal oil, fresh snow, berries, and sometimes, ground fish, akutaq is a dessert, a snack, a spread, and a main dish all in one. Developed as a way to preserve fruits and animal fats, this nutrient-dense dish has everything you need to face the harsh Alaskan winters.

1

Tin can tab holes

Image: frame harirak

The tab on a tin can, which we use to open it, has two holes—one smaller than the other. If you turn the tab around and place the smaller hole over the can’s opening, you can slide a straw through it , keeping it in place.

2

F and J bumps on keyboards

Image: Jan Loyde Cabrera

Have you ever noticed the small bumps on the F and J keys of every computer keyboard? These bumps are tactile information that lets you know where your fingers are placed on the keyboard without having to look at them.

3

Pasta scoop holes

Image: María Sainz Cabezalí

Most people think the hole in the middle of a pasta scoop is just a strainer for draining excess water. While it does serve that purpose, it is actually designed to measure a single serving of spaghetti .

4

Oven under drawer

Image: Andrea Davis

The drawer beneath an oven is designed to keep food warm without cooking it further. In some models, it functions as a broiler drawer , it can be used for grating cheese. A heating element above the drawer allows for high-heat cooking.

5

Extra fabric

Image: PlanetCare

Some clothing items come with a small piece of extra fabric, matching the garment's material. This fabric isn’t meant as a patch for repairs but rather for testing in the washing machine , allowing you to check how it reacts to different wash cycles before laundering the entire garment.

6

Pan handle hole

Image: Mara Conan Design

The hole at the end of most pan handles is designed to hold a wooden spoon , preventing messes on the kitchen counter. Simply slide the handle of the wooden spoon into the hole, letting the spoon rest over the pan when not in use.

7

Toaster crumb tray

Image: Daniel Salgado

Hidden away at the bottom of your toaster’s side is a small removable tray designed to catch and collect crumbs . You can slide it out to dispose of the crumbs and slide it back in for easy cleanup.

8

Marker on laundry detergent’s bottle cap

Image: Julianna Arjes

Most people who do laundry know that the bottle cap on laundry detergent is used to pour the liquid into the washing machine. However, not everyone notices that these caps have markings inside to measure the correct amount of detergent for a single wash cycle.

9

Utility knife blade replacement

Image: ds_30

When your utility knife blade starts to show signs of wear, you can break off the end segment to reveal a fresh, sharp edge . To do this, remove the detachable plastic piece from the back of the knife. This piece has a small slot where you can insert the blade’s end segment and snap it off safely. Once done, simply reattach the plastic piece, and your knife is ready to use again.

10

Color thread on wheel tire

Image: Jaye Haych

Many tire manufacturers embed colored threads near the outer edge of tires to indicate when they need to be replaced. These thread lines help measure tread depth . When the tread wears down to the level of these colored lines, it signals that the tire is approaching the end of its usable life and may need to be replaced.

11

Pint glass bulge

Image: tito pixel

If you've ever wondered what the bulging part on the sides of a pint glass is for—besides aesthetics—the answer can be found in bars and pubs everywhere. When glasses are stacked, they can sometimes get stuck together . However, pint glasses with a bulging design prevent this from happening .

12

Tic Tac dispenser

Image: jarmoluk

Tic Tac containers have an oval-shaped indentation in the lid, where a single Tic Tac can fit snuggly . This design functions as a dispenser for individual servings. Instead of shaking the container like a salt shaker, simply tilt it on its side, open the lid slowly, and a single candy will appear on it.