Republican, Kay Coles James, was the 1st black woman to be named president of the Heritage Foundation, 2017.

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Tarea Hall Pittman, civil rights activist, organized protests to force Kaiser Shipyards to hire blacks in 1941 and 1942.

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Letitia “Tish” James born 1958, a black woman is the 1st woman and person of color to be elected NY Attorney General, 2018.

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Shirley Chisholm 1st black woman to serve in the U.S. Congress, 1968.

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Dick Gregory was the 1st black comedian to successfully cross over to white audiences, appearing on television and putting out comedy record albums, 1961.

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Dr. Maulana Karenga, né Ron Karenga, is the black creator of the pan-African and African-American holiday of Kwanzaa, 1966.  

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Ira Aldridge is the only black actor among the 33 actors of the English stage honored with bronze plaques at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, 1824.

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Ayanna Pressley, 1st black woman elected to Congress from MA, 2018.

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Oscar Robertson was the 1st black person to win a major national player of the year award in college basketball; United States Basketball Writers Association, 1959.

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John Coltrane was a black jazz saxophonist and composer, who helped pioneer the use of modes and was later at the forefront of free jazz, 1950’s.

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