Twitter has been educating people regarding all the fabulous things that women of color have achieved, been the “first” to do and more! From famous individuals to the woman that is quietly making strides in your local neighborhood, we picked a few of our favorites. Check out these historical facts about the accomplishments of our Black women.
#BlackWomenDidThat: 19 Women That Have Helped Crack The Glass Ceiling was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
1. MICHELLE OBAMA
The ONLY first lady to have graduated an Ivy League university for undergrad. She went to Princeton University.
2. TERA POOLE
The first Black Valedictorian at the world’s first school of dentistry. Go, girl!
3. WHITNEY HOUSTON
Whitney Houston was the executive producer for both The Princess Diaries AND The Cheetah Girls!
4. RUBY BRIDGES
1st African-American child to attend an all-white public elementary school.
5. DAHOMEY WARRIORS
The only female soldiers in the world who served as combat troops. (Dahomey was renamed to Benin in 1975 and is located in West Africa).
6. MATTIWILDA DOBBS
First Black woman to perform at the Teatro alla Scala Opera House, have a contract with the MET Opera and lead the San Francisco Opera.
7. BARBARA JORDAN
Barbara Jordan laid the groundwork for the impeachment of Richard Nixon.
8. ANNA HEDGEMAN
First black woman to hold a mayoral cabinet position.
9. ALYCE DIXON
One of the first black women to serve in the Army and was the oldest woman veteran at age 108.
10. JANET JACKSON
The first Black woman to win MTV’s Video Vanguard Award in 1990.
11. SARAH GOODE
The first African-American woman to receive a patent. It was for the cabinet bed.
12. JACKIE ORMES
The first and only black woman cartoonist until the 1990’s.
13. MAE JEMISON
The first African-American woman in space (1992).
14. HARRIET TUBMAN
The American abolitionist and humanitarian that led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom.
15. BIDDY MASON
Born into slavery, sued for her freedom, and became one of the richest people in Los Angeles. She was an African-American nurse and a Californian real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist. Also founder of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
16. PATRICIA ROBERTS
The first African-American woman to hold a Cabinet position (United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare). It was under the Jimmy Carter administration.
17. SIMONE BILES
First woman ever to win three straight all-around World Championships in gymnastics.