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Home · Black History Month

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts

Black history is NOW!
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Getty images
By Rachaell Davis · Updated October 27, 2020

As the world continues to turn, Black women continue to be a leading force across all industries.

While pioneers like Madame CJ Walker, Shirley Chisholm, Hattie McDaniel, Dorothy Dandridge and countless others laid the foundation, there are also plenty of women breaking barriers today.

From education and politics, to music, sports and film, Black Girl Magic continues to make history daily. 

Here’s a look at 16 Black women who have made history with their “firsts” in the last 15 years.

01
Tamron Hall

In 2014, Tamron Hall became the first Black woman to co-anchor ‘Today’ Show. “I’m a part of this for women, for Black women, for all of us,” she told ESSENCE.com.

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images
02
Lupita Nyong’o
First Black spokesperson for Lancome
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Lancome
03
Carla D. Hayden
First Black Librarian of Congress
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
google.com
04
Halle Berry
First Black woman to win an Oscar for best actress.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
MIKE NELSON/Getty Images
05
Maritza Correia
First Black woman to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Getty images
06
Misty Copeland
First Black performer to be appointed principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
CBS Photo Archive/Getty images
07
Michelle Obama
First Black woman to become First Lady of the United States
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Chip Somodevilla
08
Ava DuVernay

First Black female director to receive a Golden Globe Award

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
09
Loretta Lynch
First Black woman to become Attorney General of the United States
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Alex Wong/Getty images
10
Paulette Brown
First Black woman to be named president of the American Bar Association
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Boston Globe/Getty images
11
Mia Love
In 2017, she became the first Black female Republican to be elected to Congress.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Bill Clark/Getty images
12
Rihanna
First Black woman to be the face of Dior
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/Getty images
13
Shonda Rhimes

First Black woman to create and executive produce a top 10 network series

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Randy Holmes/Getty images
14
Gabrielle Douglas
First Black woman to become individual all-around Olympic champion
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
VALERIE MACON/Getty images
15
Beyonce
First artist ever to have 6 albums debut at Number 1 on the Billboard charts
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Larry Busacca/PW/Getty images
16
Simone Biles
First Black all-around world champion
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Harry How/Getty images
17
Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker

In 2018, she became the first Black woman mayor of Charlottesville, VA.

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts

@NikuyahWalkerCC Twitter

18
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell
She is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of New Orleans.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
LaToya Cantrell Facebook
19
Tonya Boyd
She is the first Black woman to be named Deputy Chief of the NYC Fire Department.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts

FDNY

20
Lena Waithe
In 2017, Lena became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Frazer Harrison/
21
Mia Love

‏@MiaBLove: “Hey President Obama – Yoda was right, “Do or do not, there is no try.” We need progress, not excuses. #townhalldebate #CantAfford4More” 

21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
22
Oprah
In 2018, Oprah became the first Black woman to receive the prestigious Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.
21 Modern-Day Black Women Who Made History With Their Firsts
Kevork Djansezian/NBC/Getty Images
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