Mary Seacole

Mary Seacole, British-Jamaican business woman and “nurse”. She died in 1881. In 2004 she was voted the “greatest black Briton”.

Nancy Abu-Bansrah

Nancy Abu-Bansrah first black female neurosurgery resident in Johns Hopkins 30 year history, 2019.

Bernie Custis was the 1st black quarterback to become a regular starter for a professional football team; Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Canada, 1951.

The first ordained black woman minister in Canada was the Rev. Addie Aylestock, 1959.

Jackie Robinson 1st black Major League Baseball player in the modern era, 1947.

Marvel’s “Black Panther” was the first black superhero in comics, 1966.

Arthur Mitchell first black dancer with New York City Ballet, 1955.

Patricia Bath invented the first device used for laser cataract surgery, 1981.

Nadja West, first black Army Surgeon General, 2015.

Hiram Rhodes Revels was the 1st black to serve in the U.S. Congress when elected to the U.S Senate as a Republican; Mississippi, 1870-71.