Lucy Terry

Lucy Terry’s 1746 poem, “Bar’s Fight” is her only surviving poem and is considered the oldest known work of literature by a black person.

Mae C. Jemison

Mae C. Jemison was the 1st black woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program, 1987.

Elaine Welteroth was the youngest and 1st black Editor in Chief at Teen Vogue at age 29.

Rhode Island Regiment was the 1st black U.S. military regiment, 1778.

Simone Biles was the 1st black woman to receive 4 Olympic gold medals in women’s gymnastics at a single game.

Barbara Jordan and Addie L. Wyatt 1st black women named as Time magazine’s Person of the Year, 1975.

Lee Elder 1st black to play in a men’s major golf championship, 1975.

Gwendolyn Brooks 1st black to win a Pulitzer Prize, 1949.

Jack Johnson was the 1st black world heavyweight boxing champion, 1908.

Carter G. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African-American history.