PAULI MURRAY
Civil rights and women’s rights activist. The first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. A co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), sat on President Kennedy’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. |
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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
The first African-American president of the United States. (2009-2017). U.S. senator (IL 2005-2008). Illinois state senator (1997-2004). |
TARANA BURKE
Founder of the ME TOO Movement to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society. |
CHARLES RICHARD DREW
American surgeon and medical researcher. Considered "the father of the modern blood bank" for his work in making possible the long-term storage of human plasma. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II. |
CORY BOOKER
American politician, attorney, and author. The first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey (elected 2013). Mayor of Newark, New Jersey (2006-2013). |
SADIE TANNER MOSSELL ALEXANDER
Economist/Attorney. The first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in economics in the US. The first Black woman student to graduate with a law degree from Penn Law School.The first Black woman to practice law in Pennsylvania. |
BARBARA JORDAN
Lawyer, Educator, Politician, Civil Rights leader. The first Black American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction. The first Southern African-American woman elected to the House of Representatives. The first African-American, and the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. |
MA RAINEY
American blues singer and early blues recording artist. Known as the "Mother of the Blues," she bridged vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers. She made over 100 recordings of her music. |
ERIN JACKSON
American speedskating Olympic champion, inline skater, and roller derby player. The First Black American Woman to win the Won the 500 meters Speedskating World Cup (2021) making her the first Black American woman to win in the World Cup. Won the gold medal in the Women's 500m speed skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (February 13, 2022). She is the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating. photo/NPR |
MARIE VAN BRITTAN BROWN
Inventor of the first home security system along with her husband, Albert Brown. She is also credited with the invention of the first closed circuit television. Her invention is the predecessor to modern home systems today. |
JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE
Revolutionary War double-agent. Born into slavery around 1760, James Armistead enlisted in the Marquis de Lafayette’s French Allied units. Dispatched as a spy, he gained access and the trust of Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. He fed them false information in the run-up to the Battle of Yorktown. After the war, LaFayette helped Armistead gain his freedom. |
TONI STONE
The first woman to play as a regular on an American big-league professional baseball team. Stone signed with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953 as a replacement for Hank Aaron. She played 50 games for the team, batting .243. Stone was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. |
MATTHEW ALEXANDER HENSON
American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on seven voyages to the Arctic over a period of nearly 23 years. He is best known for his participation in the 1908–1909 expedition that reached the geographic North Pole on April 6, 1909. Henson was the first of their party to reach the pole. |
MARY EDMONIA LEWIS
American sculptor, of mixed African-American and Native American (Mississauga Ojibwe) heritage. The first sculptor of African American and Native American descent to achieve international recognition. In addition to creating portrait heads, Lewis sculpted biblical scenes and figural works dealing with her Native American heritage and the oppression of Black people. |
ROBERT SENGSTACKE ABBOTT
American lawyer, newspaper publisher and editor. Founded 'The Chicago Defender' in 1905, which grew to have the highest circulation of any Black-owned newspaper in the country. |
ALICE BALL
American chemist who developed the "Ball Method", the most effective treatment for leprosy during the early 20th century. The first woman and first African American to receive a master's degree from the University of Hawaii. Also the university's first female and African American chemistry professor. |
JAMES BALDWIN
American writer and activist. Known as the "voice of the American civil rights movement." Famous works include 'Notes of a Native Son,' 'The Fire Next Time' and 'Go Tell It on the Mountain.' |
MARIA P. WILLIAMS
First Black woman film producer, writer, newspaper editor. Produced and acted in the silent crime drama "The Flames of Wrath" (1923). Founder, writer and editor of the newspaper, The Women's Voice (1896–1900) |
MUDDY WATERS
Father of modern Chicago Blues. Musician. Singer-songwriter. Winner, 6 Grammys; Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Grammy lifetime Achievement Award |
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ALTHEA GIBSON
The first African-American tennis player to win a Grand Slam tournament (French Championships 1956). Appeared in 19 major finals. won 11 titles. Singles: The French (1956), Wimbledon (1957, 1958). The U.S. Nationals (1957, 1958); women’s doubles: The French (1956), The Australian (1957), Wimbledon (1956, 1957, 1958); mixed doubles,: the U.S. (1957). (Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images). |
ELIZABETH FREEMAN
Midwife, healer. The first enslaved African American to file and win a freedom suit in Massachusetts. When the court upheld Walker's freedom under the state's constitution, the ruling was considered to have implicitly ended slavery in Massachusetts in 1781. |
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Shirley Chisholm
First African American woman in Congress (1968), first woman and African American to seek the nomination of President of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972) |
Geraldine McCullough
Renowned sculptor, winner of the George D Widener Gold Medal for Sculpture (1965) Pictured above: McCullough and her 1977 sculpture of Martin Luther King |
Rosa Parks Civil rights leader Catalyst for the Montgomery bus boycott, Dec 5, 1955 – Dec 20, 1956 |
John Lewis Civil Rights Leader, Statesman Politician (U.S. House of Representatives, GA, 1987-2020) |
Harriet Tubman Abolitionist, Political Activist Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and then made 13 missions to rescue over 70 enslaved people, by means of the underground railroad. |
Carter Godwin Woodson "Father of Black History." Woodson was an American Historian, author, and journalist who launched the precursor to Black History Month, in February 1926. |
Amanda Gorman Poet and activist. The first National Youth Poet Laureate. The youngest Presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. |
George Washington Carver Agricultural Scientist and Environmentalist. Inventor of more than 500 products from the peanut plant. |
Biddy Mason Philanthropist, Nurse, Landowner. Born into slavery, Mason became one of the most prominent citizens and landowners in Los Angeles (1850s-1860s). Founded the First AME Church in Los Angeles, in 1872. |
Jesse Owens American Track and Field Athlete. Four time gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic games |
Phillis Wheatley The First African-American author of a published book of poetry. The second American woman poet to be published. Originally from W. Africa, kidnapped and enslaved as a 7-year old girl and brought to colonial Boston. |
Serena Williams Athlete, Professional tennis player. Won more Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other woman during the open era. Former world number one in women's singles tennis. |
Langston Hughes Poet, Novelist, Fiction Writer, Playwright |
Audre Lorde American writer, Feminist, Womanist, Librarian, and Civil Rights Activist.Self-described "Black, Lesbian, Mother, Warrior, Poet." |
W.E.B. Du Bois Sociologist, Socialist, Historian, Civil Rights Activist, Pan-Africanist, Author, Writer, and Editor. The first African-American to earn a Doctorate degree in the United States. One of the founders of the NAACP. |
Rebecca Lee Crumpler American Physician, Nurse and Author. The first African-American woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States. |
Hiram Rhodes Revels
The first African-American to serve in the U.S. Congress |
Sojourner Truth Evangelist, Abolitionist, Women's Rights Activist, Author. She was the first Black woman to sue a white man, and win. The suit was over custody of her five-year-old son. |
Arthur Ashe Humanitarian, Tennis Player. The first Black player selected to the U.S. Davis Cup team and the only Black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open. |
Katherine Johnson One of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, NASA Group Achievement Award, and the Congressional Gold Medal. |
Buddy Bolden Cornetist. Considered the Father of American Jazz. First known musician to improvise the fusion of ragtime, Gospel music, marching band music and rural blues. |
Maya Angelou American Poet, Memoirist, Civil Rights Activist |
Dr. Guion S. Bluford Jr. U.S. Aerospace Engineer. Retired Air Force Officer. Fighter Pilot, Former NASA Astronaut, The First African American in Space. |
Bessie Coleman Aviation Pioneer. The first African American and the first Native American pilot in the world. |
Barack Obama The first African-American president of the United States. (2009-2017). U.S. Senator (IL 2005-2008). Illinois State Senator (1997-2004). |
Michelle Obama Former First Lady of the United States (2009-2017). First African-American First Lady. Lawyer. Author. Speaker. Role Model. |
Kamala Harris The First Black American and South Asian female Vice President of the United States. The highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. U.S. Senator (CA 2017 - 2021). CA Attorney General (2011-2017). |
Thank you for celebrating Black History Month!
Black History is American History |