Marshall “Major” Taylor was the 1st black person to achieve a world championship in any sport: for 1-mile track cycling, 1899.

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Mia Love 1975-2025, 1st black woman, Republican, to be elected to U.S. Congress, Utah, 2015.

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Devin and Jason McCourtney first twins to play on the same Super Bowl team, Los Angeles Rams, 2019.

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Pearl Bailey received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Reagan for her several books on higher education, acting and singing; 1988.

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William H. Gray was the first black to chair the House Budget Committee and also the first to serve as the Majority Whip for the United States House of Representatives; 1989 to 1991.

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Matthew Henson was the first black person to be made a life member of the Explorers Club, promoting scientific exploration; 1905.

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Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, which encourages young people in East St. Louis to pursue athletics and academics; 1988.

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Aaron Douglas founded the Art Department at Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee; 1944.  

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Roberta Flack is the only solo artist, of any race, to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year two consecutive years for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in 1973 and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” in 1974.

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