Barbara Ann Teer was an influential playwright, director, producer, and activist in Black history. She was born on June 18, 1937, in East St. Louis, Illinois, and passed away on July 21, 2008, in Harlem, New York.

Teer was best known for founding the National Black Theatre (NBT) in Harlem in 1968. The NBT was one of the first black-owned theaters in the United States and was dedicated to showcasing the work of Black artists and providing a platform for Black voices to be heard.

Teer was a trailblazer in the theater world, pushing boundaries with her avant-garde productions and championing social justice through her art. In addition to her work at the NBT, she was a prolific playwright whose works often explored themes of race, identity, and empowerment.

Throughout her career, Teer was a fierce advocate for Black artists and dedicated her life to using the arts as a tool for social change. Her legacy continues to inspire and empower artists and activists to this day.