Viola Davis first black actor to win a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy for acting. 

Sidney Poitier first black to win an Academy Award for best actor in 1967. 

Carl Stokes 1st black mayor of a major U.S. city, Cleveland, 1967. 

Roxane Gay, lesbian author and memoirist. 

Aja Brown, Compton’s youngest mayor, elected 2013. 

Lou Freeman 1st black pilot for SWA, 1980. 

Jeff Ballou 1st black male president of National Press Club.