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{{Short description|None}}
{{Duplicated citations|reason=] detected:<br>
* https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-5996 (refs: 137, 138, 212, 219)
* https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/ltgov/former/html/msa13921.html (refs: 293, 296)
* https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/politics/john-lewis-memorial.html (refs: 345, 352)
|date=September 2024}}
{{African American topics sidebar|right}} {{African American topics sidebar|right}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
] are a ] minority in the ]. The '''first achievements by African Americans''' in various fields historically establish a foothold, providing a precedent for more widespread cultural change. The shorthand phrase for this is "breaking the color barrier".<ref>Juguo, Zhang (2001). ''W. E. B. Du Bois: The Quest for the Abolition of the Color Line''. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-93087-1</ref><ref>Herbst, Philip H (1997). ''The Color of Words: An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Ethnic Bias in the United States''. Intercultural Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-877864-97-1</ref>
] are an ] in the United States. The first achievements by African Americans in diverse fields have historically marked footholds, often leading to more widespread cultural change. The shorthand phrase for this is "breaking the color barrier".<ref>Juguo, Zhang (2001). ''W. E. B. Du Bois: The Quest for the Abolition of the Color Line''. Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-93087-1}}.</ref><ref>Herbst, Philip H (1997). ''The Color of Words: An Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Ethnic Bias in the United States''. Intercultural Press, p. 57. {{ISBN|978-1-877864-97-1}}.</ref>


One commonly cited example is that of ], who was the ] of the modern era to become a ] player, ending 60 years of segregated leagues. Segregated ] had been established for decades.<ref>Sailes, Gary Alan (1998). "Jackie Robinson: Breaking the Color Barrier in Team Sports". ''African Americans in Sport: Contemporary Themes, Transaction Publishers''. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7658-0440-2</ref> One prominent example is ], who became the ] of the modern era to become a ] player in 1947, ending 60 years of racial segregation within the ].<ref>Sailes, Gary Alan (1998). "Jackie Robinson: Breaking the Color Barrier in Team Sports". ''African Americans in Sport: Contemporary Themes, Transaction Publishers'', p. 8. {{ISBN|978-0-7658-0440-2}}</ref>


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==18th century== == 17th century ==
*'''1760'''
::First known African-American published author: ] (poem "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries", published as a ])


=== 1600s ===
*'''1770'''
::First person shot to death during the ]: ], called the first martyr of the ].


==== 1604 ====
*'''1773'''
::First known African-American woman to publish a book: ] (''Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral'')
::First separate African American church: ], ], South Carolina<ref name=SilverBluff1>Albert J. Raboteau, (2004), , Oxford University Press, p.139. Retrieved January 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Walter H. Brooks (April 1922), "The Priority of the Silver Bluff Church and Its Promoters", ''Journal of Negro History''</ref>


*First Black person to arrive in what is now ]: explorer and interpreter ]
*'''1774'''
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/3012/page/4753/display?page=5 |title=Black Communities in Maine |last=Greene |first=Bob |date=2020 |website=State of Mind: Becoming Maine |publisher=] |access-date=February 14, 2024 |editor-last=Laskey |editor-first=Tilly Laskey |location=Portland, Maine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218144114/https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/3012/page/4753/display?page=5 |archive-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>
::First African-American Baptist congregation: ], ], Virginia


==== 1650 ====
*'''1777'''
::First known African-American church congregation: First Colored Baptist Church, renamed ], ], Georgia. This claim is contested by the ], ], Virginia (1774) and historians of the ] (1773–1775) of ], South Carolina<ref name=SilverBluff1 />


* First African American to own land in the United States July 24,1651: ]
*'''1778'''
::First African-American U.S. military regiment: the ]


=== 1670s ===
*'''1780s'''
::], popularly known as "The Father of Chicago", was the first known settler in the area which is now ].


==== 1670 ====
*'''1783'''
* First African American to own land in Boston: ]<ref name=society> '']''. ''www.masshist.org''. Retrieved January 22, 2016.</ref>
::First African American to formally practice medicine in the U.S.: ], who did not hold an M.D. degree (See also: 1847)


== 18th century ==
*'''1792'''
::First major African-American ]: 1,200 slaves who escaped to settle in ], ]


=== 1730s–1770s ===
*'''1793'''
::First ] established: ] founded ], ], ]


==== 1738 ====
*'''1794'''
* First free African-American community: Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (later named ]) in ]<ref>, National Park Service</ref>
::First African ] established: ] founded ], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


==19th century== ==== 1746 ====
* First known African American (and slave) to compose a work of literature: ] with her poem "]", composed in 1746<ref name="auto1">🖉{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/literature|title=Literature |publisher= Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> and first published in 1855 in Josiah Holland's "History of Western Massachusetts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alamo.edu/sac/english/bailey/lterry.htm |title=Lucy Terry's ' Bars Fight. ' Text from San Antonio College LitWeb |publisher=Alamo.edu |access-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719135231/http://www.alamo.edu/sac/english/bailey/lterry.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>
===1800s===
*'''1804'''
::First African American ordained as an ] priest in the U.S.: ] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


===1810s=== ==== 1760 ====
* First known African-American published author: ] (poem "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries", published as a ])<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = Oxford University Press| isbn = 978-0-19-513883-2 |editor=William L Andrews |editor2=Frances Smith Foster |editor3=Trudier Harris | last = O'Neale | first = Sondra | title = Hammon, Jupiter | encyclopedia = The Concise Oxford Companion to African American Literature | location = Oxford | year = 2002 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-9XtCY7cijMC&pg=PA185 |access-date=2015-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407042130/http://books.google.com/books?id=-9XtCY7cijMC&pg=PA185 |archive-date=2015-04-07 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*'''1816'''
::First fully independent African-American denomination established: ] founded the ] (AME) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was elected bishop. Several black congregations withdrew from the ] and created their own denomination.


===1820s=== ==== 1767 ====
* First African-American ], ], was born.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Smith|first=Jessie Carney|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578591428/page/n1/mode/2up|title=Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events|publisher=Visible Ink Press|year=2003|isbn=1-57859-142-2|edition=2nd, revised and expanded|location=Canton, Michigan|pages=591–592|oclc=51060259|url-access=registration|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
*'''1821'''
::First African American to hold a ]: ], for a ] process


==== 1768 ====
*'''1823'''
* First known African American to be elected to public office: ], town constable and Justice of the Peace in ].<ref>He was of mixed race, one-quarter African and three-quarters European, and listed in the US Census as white.</ref>
::First African American to receive a degree from an American college: ], ] (See also: 1836)


==== 1773 ====
*'''1827'''
* First known African-American woman to publish a book: ] (''Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral'')<ref name="Shields2010">{{cite book|last=Shields|first=John C.|title=Phillis Wheatley and the Romantics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_uijyUc9psC&pg=PA1|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2010|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-57233-712-1|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024618/http://books.google.com/books?id=s_uijyUc9psC&pg=PA1|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American owned-and-operated newspaper: '']''
* First separate African-American church: ], ], South Carolina<ref name=SilverBluff1>{{cite book|last=Raboteau|first=Albert J.|author-link=Albert J. Raboteau|title=Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3AQUK-6A2cC&pg=PA139|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517413-7|page=139|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024725/http://books.google.com/books?id=C3AQUK-6A2cC&pg=PA139|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.2307/2713524 | issn = 0022-2992 | volume = 7 | issue = 2 | pages = 172–196 | last = Brooks | first = Walter H. |title = The Priority of the Silver Bluff Church and its Promoters | journal = The Journal of Negro History | date=April 1, 1922 | jstor = 2713524| s2cid = 149920027 }}</ref><ref group=Note>This claim is contested by the ], ] (1774) and the First Colored Baptist Church, renamed ], ] (recognized 1788, first congregation 1773).</ref>


===1830s=== ==== 1775 ====
* First African American to join the Freemasons: ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Africans in America/Part 2/Prince Hall |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p37.html |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=]}}</ref>
*'''1836'''
::First African American elected to public office and to serve in a state legislature: ], Vermont (See also: 1823)


==== 1778 ====
*'''1837'''
* First African-American U.S. military regiment: the ]<ref name="Haverington2012">{{cite book|last=Haverington|first=Christine|title=Middletown|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oq3eOzFLP4cC&pg=PA8|access-date=May 28, 2013|year= 2012|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9248-0|page=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024758/http://books.google.com/books?id=oq3eOzFLP4cC&pg=PA8|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American doctor: Dr. ] from the ], ] (See also: 1783, 1847)


===1840s=== === 1780s–1790s ===
]]]
]]]


==== 1783 ====
*'''1845'''
* First African American to formally practice medicine: ], who did not hold an M.D. degree.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |publisher = ABC-CLIO | isbn = 978-1-85109-544-5 | volume = 2 |editor=Junius P. Rodriguez | last = Jacobs | first = Claude F. |title = James Derham (b. 1762) | encyclopedia = Slavery in the United States: a social, political, and historical encyclopedia |location = Santa Barbara, California | year = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4X44KbDBl9gC&pg=PA253 | access-date=2015-10-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407085414/http://books.google.com/books?id=4X44KbDBl9gC&pg=PA253 |archive-date=2015-04-07 | url-status=live }}</ref> (See also: 1847)
::First African American licensed to practice law in the U.S.: ] from the Boston ] <ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Long Road to Justice: The African American Experienced in the Massachusetts Courts |url=http://www.masshist.org/longroad/03participation/profiles/allen.htm |publisher=The Massachusetts Historical Society |year=1845 |accessdate=February 15, 2008}}</ref>


==== 1785 ====
*'''1847'''
* First African American ordained as a Christian minister in the United States: Rev. ]. He was ordained in the Congregational Church, which became the ]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cooley |first=Timothy Mather |title=Sketches of the Life and Character of the Rev. Lemuel Haynes, A.M., for Many Years Pastor of a Church in Rutland, Vt., and Later in Granville, New York |orig-date=1837 |location=New York |publisher=Negro Universities Press |year=1969 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5z8XAAAAYAAJ |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref>
::First African American to graduate from a U.S. medical school: Dr. ]<ref name="essort">{{cite web|url=http://ohoh.essortment.com/africanamerican_rqdo.htm |title=Essortment: "First 3 African American Physicians" |publisher=Ohoh.essortment.com |date= |accessdate=April 21, 2010}}</ref> (]) (See also: 1783, 1837)
::First independent African-American nation and first African-American president of any nation: ], ]


==== 1792 ====
*'''1849'''
* First major African-American ]: 3,000 ] slaves, who had escaped to British lines during the ] for the promise of freedom, were relocated to ] and given land. Later, 1,200 chose to migrate to West Africa and settle in the new British colony of ], which is present-day ]. {{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
::First African-American college professor: ], ]


===1850s=== ==== 1793 ====
* First ] founded: ], ], was founded by ]{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
*'''1851'''
::First African-American member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), ]. (See also: 1866, 1874)
*'''1853'''
::First novel written by an African American: '']'', by ].<ref>Because it was published in the ], the book is not the first African-American novel published in the United States. This credit goes to one of two disputed books: ]'s ''Our Nig'' (1859), brought to light by ] in 1982; or Julia C. Collins' ''The Curse of Caste; or The Slave Bride'' (1865), brought to light by William L. Andrews, an ] professor at the ], and Mitch Kachun, a history professor at ], in 2006. Andrews and Kachun document ''Our Nig'' as a novelized autobiography, and argue that ''The Curse of Caste'' is the first fully fictional novel by an African American to be published in the U.S.</ref><ref name=nytsmith>{{cite news |author=Dinitia Smith|title=A Slave Story Is Rediscovered, and a Dispute Begins |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/28/books/28slav.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |pages=B7|work=] |date=October 28, 2006 |accessdate=February 15, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Sven Birkerts|title=Emancipation Days |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/books/review/Birkerts.t.html |work=] |date=October 29, 2006 |accessdate=February 15, 2008}}</ref>


==== 1794 ====
*'''1854'''
* First African ] established: ] founded ], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
::First African-American Roman Catholic priest: ]. ''(see 1875 and 1886)''
::First institute of higher learning ]: Ashmun Institute in ], renamed ] in 1866. (See also: 1863)


==== 1799 ====
*'''1858'''
::First published play by an African American: ''The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom'' by ]
::First African-American female college instructor: ], ]


* First African American to attend college(Washington and Lee University): ], Later went on to be a preacher and educator for both black and white students.
===1860s===
*'''1861'''
::First North American military unit with African-American officers: ] of the ]
::First African-American U.S. federal government civil servant: ]


== 19th century ==
*'''1862'''
::First African-American woman to earn a B.A.: ], ]<ref>Logan, Rayford W. (2004). . ]. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-8147-0263-5</ref>
::First recognized ] African-American combat unit: ]


=== 1800s ===
*'''1863'''
]
::First college owned and operated by African Americans: ], Ohio. (Founded earlier; not fully owned and operated by African Americans until 1863) (See also: 1854)
]
::First African-American president of a college: Bishop ] (Wilberforce University)
]
]
]


==== 1804 ====
*'''1865'''
* First African American ordained as an ] priest: ] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Church Publishing, Inc. | isbn = 0-89869-783-2 | pages = 235–236 | last = Shattuck | first = Gardiner H. |author2=David Hein |title = Jones, Absalom | encyclopedia = The Episcopalians | year = 2005}}</ref>
::First African-American field officer in the ]: ]
::First African-American attorney admitted to the bar of the ]: ]
::First African American to be commissioned as captain in the Regular U.S. Army: ], known as OSB Wall


==== 1807 ====
*'''1866'''
* First African-American Presbyterian Church in America: founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by ] a former slave.<ref name="PAARP">{{cite web |title=First African Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) records |url=http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/SMREP_JGS01 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Library |access-date=13 August 2020}}</ref>
::First African American to earn a ]: Father ], S.J. (from ], Belgium). (See also 1851, 1874)
::First African-American woman enlistee in the ]: ]


=== 1810s ===
*'''1868'''
::First elected African-American ]: ] (]). (See also: 1871, May)
::First African-American mayor: ], ]<ref name=nyt> '']'', May 25, 2008, accessed Jul 7, 2008</ref>


==== 1816 ====
*'''1869'''
* Richard Allen founded the first fully independent African-American ]: ] (AME), based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic states{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
::First African-American U.S. ]: ], minister to ]
::First African-American woman ]: ] (])


===1870s=== ==== 1817 ====
* The First African Baptist Church was the first African-American church west of the ].<ref name="SHSMO FABCH" /> It had its beginnings in 1817 when ] and the former enslaved ] began holding church services for African Americans in St. Louis.<ref name="Wilbon">{{Cite news |last=Wilbon |first=Roderick |date=April 28, 2017 |title=First Baptist Church of St. Louis, oldest African-American church west of the Mississippi River, celebrates its 200th anniversary |url=http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/first-baptist-church-of-st-louis-oldest-african-american-church-west-of-the-mississippi-river/article_52102f1c-2c1a-11e7-9379-c7067d5e7f4b.html |access-date=2022-02-14}}</ref> Meachum founded the ] in 1827. Although there were ordinances preventing blacks from assembling, the congregation grew from 14 people at its founding to 220 people by 1829. Two hundred of the parishioners were slaves, who could only travel to the church and attend services with the permission of their owners.<ref name="SHSMO FABCH">{{Cite web |date=1974 |title=First African Baptist Church History (S0006) |url=https://files.shsmo.org/manuscripts/saint-louis/S0006.pdf |website=State Historical Society of Missouri}}</ref>
*'''1870'''
::First African American to vote in an election under the ], granting voting rights regardless of race: ]<ref name="npl">{{cite web|url=http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/Exhibits/aafirsts.html|title=African-American Firsts Remembered: Lest We Forget|accessdate=November 5, 2008|publisher=Newark Public Library|year=2000|author=Mary D. Teasley, Deloris Walker-Moses, Curators}}</ref>
::First African American to graduate from ]: ]
::'''''January:''''' First African American elected to either chamber of the ]: ] ] (]-])<ref>Revels, the ]'s ] representative, was elected by the U.S. Senate in January 1870 to fill an unexpired term.</ref>
::'''''May: '''''First African-American acting governor: ] of ] from May till August 9, 1871, when sitting Governor Warmoth was incapacitated and chose to recuperate in Mississippi. (See also: Douglas Wilder, 1990)
::'''''December: '''''First African American elected to ]: ] (R-])<ref>Rainey, a South Carolina state senator, was elected to fill the seat vacated by B. Franklin Whittemore. Rainey took his seat on December 12, 1870. ] was actually the first African-American elected to the House (1868) but he was denied his seat.</ref>


=== 1820s ===
*'''1872'''
::First African-American governor (non-elected): ] of ] (See also: Douglas Wilder, 1990)
::First African-American nominee for ]: ] by the ].<ref>Douglass did not seek the nomination or campaign after being nominated.</ref>


==== 1821 ====
*'''1874'''
* First African American to hold a ]: ], for a ] process<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |publisher = ABC-CLIO | isbn = 978-1-85109-769-2 | pages = 455–457 | last = Alexander | first = Leslie M. | title = Jennings, Thomas L. |encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of African American History | date = February 28, 2010 | location = Santa Barbara, California}}</ref>
::First African-American president of a major college/university: Father ], S.J. of Georgetown College. (See also: 1851, 1863, 1866)


==== 1822 ====
*'''1875'''
* First African-American captain to sail a whaleship with an all-black crew: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afroammuseum.org/bhtn_site1.htm|title= Whaling Museum and Peter Foulger Museum |publisher= Museum of African American History |access-date=2014-06-05 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140607005710/http://www.afroammuseum.org/bhtn_site1.htm | archive-date=June 7, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were six black owners of seven whaling trips before Absalom Boston's in 1822.<ref name="Finley 2020">{{cite book |last=Finley |first=Skip |title=Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy |publisher=] |publication-place=Annapolis, Maryland |date=2020 |isbn=978-1-68247-509-6 |pages= 47–51, 166–168}}</ref>
::First African-American Roman Catholic bishop: Bishop ], of Portland, Maine. (See also: 1854)


==== 1823 ====
*'''1876'''
* First African American to receive a degree from an American college: ], ]<ref name="Melish1998">{{cite book|last=Melish|first=Joanne P.|title=Disowning Slavery: Gradual Emancipation and "race" in New England, 1780–1860|url=https://archive.org/details/disowningslavery00meli/page/40|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=1998|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-0-8014-3413-6|page=}}</ref> (See also: 1836)
::First African American to earn a ] from an American university: ] (] ], ]; also first African American to graduate from Yale, 1874) (See also: 1866)


==== 1826 ====
*'''1877'''
*First African American to graduate from ]: Future governor of the ], ]<ref name="Donaldson 2006 227">{{cite book | last = Donaldson | first = Leigh | editor1-last = Price | editor1-first = H. H. | editor2-last = Talbot | editor2-first = Gerald | editor-link2 = Gerald Talbot | chapter = Writers: Early Black Authors | page = 227 | title = Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People | publisher = Tilbury House | location = Gardiner, Maine | year = 2006 | isbn = 9780884482758}}</ref>
::First African-American graduate of ] and first African-American commissioned officer in the ]: ].


==== 1827 ====
*'''1879'''
* First African-American-owned-and-operated newspaper: '']'', founded in New York City by Rev. ],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://blackpast.org/?q=aah/williams-peter-jr-1780-1840 | first = Julia | last = Larsen | title = Peter Williams Jr. (1780-1840) | website = ] | date = June 29, 2008 | access-date = February 14, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231002041208/https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/williams-peter-jr-1780-1840/ | archive-date = October 2, 2023}}</ref> ], ] and other ]<ref name="Donaldson 2006 227"/>
::First African American to graduate from a formal nursing school: ], Boston, Massachusetts


===1880s=== === 1830s ===
*'''1880'''
::First African American to command a U.S. ship: Captain ].
*'''1881'''
::First African American whose signature appeared on U.S. paper currency: ], ].


==== 1832 ====
*'''1883'''
* First governor of African descent in what is now the United States: ], an ], was the last ] before it was ceded to the U.S. Like all ], Pico automatically became a U.S. citizen in 1848.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
::First known African-American woman to graduate from one of the ] college: ] (])


==== 1836 ====
*'''1884'''
::First African American to play ] at the major-league level: ]. (See also: Jackie Robinson, 1947) * First African-American elected to serve in a state legislature: ], Vermont<ref name="Melish1998" /> (See also: 1823)
* First African American to found a town and establish a planned community: ] (])<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fennell |first=Christopher |date=2020 |title=New Philadelphia, Illinois, Historical Landscapes |publisher=University of Illinois |url=http://faculty.las.illinois.edu/cfennell/NP/ |access-date=2021-03-07}}</ref><ref name=Ledbetter>{{Cite news |last=Ledbetter |first=Christine |date=February 12, 2021 |title=Flashback: Tucked away in rural Illinois is the site of America's first town founded by a free Black man. His descendants want you to know its history. |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-flashback-new-philadelphia-frank-mcworter-20210212-udbwwjdzf5gkxd6gi2q4gijy34-story.html |access-date=2021-02-12}}</ref>
* First African-American governor of the ] or any other colony in Africa: ]<ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=Winston |title=The Struggles of John Brown Russwurm: The Life and Writings of a Pan-Africanist Pioneer, 1799–1851 |year=2010 |location=New York |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0-8147-4289-1 | page = 88}}</ref>


==== 1837 ====
*'''1885'''
* First formally trained African-American medical doctor: Dr ] of New York City, who was educated at the ], ], and returned to practice in New York.<ref name="ByrdClayton2000">{{cite book|last1=Byrd|first1=W. Michael|last2=Clayton|first2=Linda A.|title=An American Health Dilemma: A Medical History of African Americans and the Problem of Race: Beginnings to 1900|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sZPP62hXBX0C&pg=PA305|access-date=May 28, 2013|year= 2000|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-203-90410-7|page=305|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024636/http://books.google.com/books?id=sZPP62hXBX0C&pg=PA305|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 1783, 1847)
::First African-American woman to hold a patent: ], for the cabinet bed, Chicago, Illinois


=== 1840s ===
*'''1886'''
::First African-American ] priest publicly known at the time to be African-American: ], Quincy and Chicago, Illinois (See also: 1854)


===1890s=== ==== 1844 ====
* First African-American approved to practice law: ] from the ] of ]<ref>{{cite book | last = Terison | first = F. Mark | editor1-last = Price | editor1-first = H. H. | editor2-last = Talbot | editor2-first = Gerald | editor-link2 = Gerald Talbot | chapter = Lawyers: Macon Bolling Allen | pages = 276–277 | title = Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People | publisher = Tilbury House | location = Gardiner, Maine | year = 2006 | isbn = 9780884482758}}</ref>
*'''1891'''
::First African-American ] in present-day ]: ], hired by the ] Police Department prior to 1898 incorporation of the five boroughs into the City of New York.<ref name="nypd">{{cite web|url=http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/html/tour/aah/aahweb.htm |publisher=New York City Police Museum | title=A History of African Americans in the NYPD | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20081222023510/http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/html/tour/aah/aahweb.htm | archivedate = December 22, 2008}}</ref> (See also: ], 1911)


==== 1845 ====
*'''1892'''
* First African-American to practice law: ] from the Boston ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Long Road to Justice: The African American Experienced in the Massachusetts Courts |url=http://www.masshist.org/longroad/03participation/profiles/allen.htm |publisher=The Massachusetts Historical Society |year=1845 |access-date=February 15, 2008 | archive-date=August 28, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140828231158/http://www.masshist.org/longroad/03participation/profiles/allen.htm | url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to sing at ]: ]
::First African American named to a ]: ], ]


==== 1847 ====
*'''1895'''
* First African American to graduate from a U.S. medical school: Dr. ]<ref name="Ward2003">{{cite book|last=Ward|first=Thomas J.|title=Black physicians in the Jim Crow South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoMDMGoyXqsC&pg=PA47|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2003|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-072-1|page=47|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024644/http://books.google.com/books?id=QoMDMGoyXqsC&pg=PA47|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> (]) (See also: 1783, 1837)
::First African American to earn a ] (Ph.D.) from ]: ]
* First African-American president of any nation: ], ]<ref name="AnzovinPodell2001">{{cite book|last1=Anzovin|first1=Steven|last2=Podell|first2=Janet|title=Famous first facts about American politics|year=2001|publisher=H.W. Wilson|isbn=978-0-8242-0971-1|page=136}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to work for the ]: ]


==== 1849 ====
*'''1896'''
* First African-American college professor at a predominantly white institution: ], ]<ref name="JacksonJohnson2011">{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Sandra|last2=Johnson|first2=Richard Greggory|title=The black professoriat: negotiating a habitable space in the academy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SCVzkPnkQ0C&pg=PA2|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2011|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=978-1-4331-1027-6|pages=2–4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024817/http://books.google.com/books?id=8SCVzkPnkQ0C&pg=PA2|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American appointed to serve as ] Paymaster: ]


=== 1850s ===
*'''1899'''
]]]
::First African American to achieve ] in any sport: ], for 1-mile ]
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==20th century== ==== 1850 ====
===1900s===
*'''1901'''
::First African American invited to dine at the ]: ]


* First African-American woman to graduate from a college ]
*'''1902'''
::First African-American professional ] player: ] (New England Professional Basketball League) (See also: 1950)


==== 1851 ====
*'''1903'''
* First African-American member of the ] (Jesuits): ]<ref name="Potter200926" /> (See also: 1866, 1874)
::First Broadway musical written by African Americans, and the first to star African Americans: '']''
::First African-American woman to found and become president of a bank: ], St. Luke Penny Savings Bank (since 1930 the Consolidated Bank & Trust Company), Richmond, Virginia


==== 1853 ====
*'''1904'''
* First novel published by an African-American: '']'', by ], then living in London.<ref group=Note>Because it was published in the ], the book is not the first African-American novel published in the United States. This credit goes to one of two disputed books: ]'s '']'' (1859), brought to light by ] in 1982; or Julia C. Collins' ''The Curse of Caste; or The Slave Bride'' (1865), brought to light by William L. Andrews, an ] professor at the ], and Mitch Kachun, a history professor at ], in 2006. Andrews and Kachun document ''Our Nig'' as a novelized autobiography, and argue that ''The Curse of Caste'' is the first fully fictional novel by an African American to be published in the U.S.</ref><ref name=nytsmith>{{cite news |first=Dinitia |last=Smith |title=A Slave Story Is Rediscovered, and a Dispute Begins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/28/books/28slav.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |page=B7 |work=The New York Times |date=October 28, 2006 |access-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417060028/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/28/books/28slav.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Sven |last=Birkerts |title=Emancipation Days |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/books/review/Birkerts.t.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 29, 2006 |access-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417060030/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/books/review/Birkerts.t.html |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
::First Greek-letter fraternal organization established by African Americans: ]
* First African-American to build and serve as captain of his own ship: Joseph P. Taylor of ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlanticblackbox.com/2020/12/19/captain-taylor-and-captain-talbot-made-history-in-portland-maine/ |title=Captain Taylor and Captain Talbot Made History in Portland, Maine |last=DiPhilippo |first=Kathryn |date=December 19, 2020 |website=Atlantic Black Box |access-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127234405/https://atlanticblackbox.com/2020/12/19/captain-taylor-and-captain-talbot-made-history-in-portland-maine/ |archive-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
::First African American to participate in the Olympic Games, and first to win a medal: ] (two bronze medals)


==== 1854 ====
*'''1906'''
* First African-American Catholic priest: ]<ref name="Militelio1963" /> (see 1875 and 1886)
::First intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established by African Americans: ] (ΑΦΑ), at ]
* First institute of higher learning ]: Ashmun Institute in ], renamed ] in 1866. (See also firsts in 1863)


==== 1858 ====
*'''1907'''
* First published play by an African-American: '']'' by ]<ref name="Zack1995">{{cite book|last=Zack|first=Naomi|title=American mixed race: the culture of microdiversity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9vLpONQLXMC&pg=PA66|access-date=May 29, 2013|year=1995|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8476-8013-9|page=66|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024820/http://books.google.com/books?id=G9vLpONQLXMC&pg=PA66|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ] priest and missionary in America: Very Rev. Fr. ] (Robert Josias Morgan)
* First African-American woman college instructor: ], ]<ref name="FonerBranham">{{cite book |editor1-last=Foner |editor1-first=Philip Sheldon |editor1-link=Philip Sheldon Foner |editor2-last=Branham |editor2-first=Robert James |title=Lift every voice: African American oratory, 1787–1900 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hhSFxq5ZxqEC&pg=PA384 |access-date=May 29, 2013 |series=Studies in rhetoric and communication |year=1998 |publisher=University of Alabama Press |location=Tuscaloosa |isbn=978-0-8173-0906-0 |pages=384–385 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024746/http://books.google.com/books?id=hhSFxq5ZxqEC&pg=PA384 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to graduate from a medical course of study at an American university: ]
* First African-American Missionary Bishop of ]: ] of Windham, N.Y. of the Methodist Episcopal Church.<ref>{{cite book |title=Cyclopedia of Methodism |year=1878 |editor-first=Matthew |editor-last=Simpson}}{{page needed|date=December 2021}}</ref>


=== 1860s ===
*'''1908'''
::First African-American ] ] champion: ]
::First African-American Olympic gold medal winner: ] (] medley relay team). (See also: DeHart Hubbard, 1924)
::First intercollegiate Greek-letter sorority established by African Americans: ] (ΑKΑ)


==== 1861 ====
*'''1909'''
* First North American military unit with African-American officers: ] of the ]
::First African-American scholar to address the ]: ]
* First African-American ] ]: ]<ref name="Rubio2010">{{cite book|last=Rubio|first=Philip F.|title=There's Always Work at the Post Office: African American Postal Workers and the Fight for Jobs, Justice, and Equality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ak227Hia_AC&pg=PA20|access-date=May 29, 2013|year=2010|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-0-8078-9573-3|page=20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024901/http://books.google.com/books?id=-Ak227Hia_AC&pg=PA20|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>


===1910s=== ==== 1862 ====
* First African-American woman to earn a B.A.: ], ]<ref>{{cite book|last=Logan|first=Rayford W.|title=Howard University: The First Hundred Years, 1867–1967|url=https://archive.org/details/howarduniversity0000loga|url-access=registration|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=1969|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-8147-0263-5|page=}}</ref>
*'''1910'''
* First recognized ] African-American combat unit: ]
::First African-American millionaire: ]


==== 1863 ====
*'''1911'''
* First college owned and operated by African-Americans: ] in Ohio<ref name="JacksonNunn2003">{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Cynthia L.|last2=Nunn|first2=Eleanor F..|title=Historically Black Colleges and Universities: a reference handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AZbKPWSCH0C&pg=PA2|access-date=May 29, 2013|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-422-6|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024633/http://books.google.com/books?id=0AZbKPWSCH0C&pg=PA2|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group=Note>Founded earlier; not fully owned and operated by African-Americans until 1863.</ref> (See also: 1854)
::First intercollegiate Greek-letter society established by African Americans at a ]: ] (ΩΨΦ), at ]
* First African-American president of a college: Bishop ] (Wilberforce University){{sfn|Smith|2002|p=134–135}}
::First African-American ] in New York City: ], following the 1898 incorporation of the five boroughs into the City of New York, and the hiring of three African-American officers in the Brooklyn Police Department. Battle was also the ]'s first African-American ] (1926), ] (1935), and ] ] (1941).<ref name="nypd" /> (See also: Wiley Overton, 1891)


==== 1864 ====
*'''1915'''
* First African-American woman in the United States to earn an ]: ]<ref>{{cite book|first1=Vernon L.|last1=Farmer|first2=Evelyn Shepherd|last2=Wynn|title=Voices of Historical and Contemporary Black American Pioneers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AR6iOVCUri0C&pg=PA11 |access-date=May 3, 2013|year=2012|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-313-39224-5|pages=11–12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103115750/http://books.google.com/books?id=AR6iOVCUri0C&pg=PA11|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American alderman of ]: ]


==== 1865 ====
*'''1916'''
* First African-American ] in the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 978-0-19-516777-1 | volume = 2 | pages = 373–375 | editor-first = Paul | editor-last = Finkelman | last = Konhaus | first = Timothy | title = Delany, Martin Robison | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619–1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass | location = New York | year = 2006}}</ref>
::First African-] player to play in a ] game: ], ]
* First African-American attorney admitted to the bar of the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = The Lawbook Exchange | isbn = 978-1-58477-690-1 | volume = 1 | pages = 913–948 |editor=Steve Sheppard | last = Finkelman | first = Paul | title = The History of Legal Education in the United States: commentaries and primary sources | chapter = Not Only the Judges' Robes Were Black: African-American Lawyers as Social Engineers | location = Clark, New Jersey | year = 2007}}</ref>
::First African-American serviceman to become a ] in the ]: ]
* First African American to be commissioned as captain in the Regular U.S. Army: ], known as OSB Wall<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 1091-2339 | last = Sharfstein | first = Daniel J. | title = Orindatus Simon Bolivar Wall | journal = Slate | publisher = ] |access-date=2013-05-30 |date=February 22, 2011 |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history_lesson/2011/02/orindatus_simon_bolivar_wall.html |archive-date=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406231935/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history_lesson/2011/02/orindatus_simon_bolivar_wall.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
::First African-American woman to be a police officer in Los Angeles: ]<ref>Ryan Gail, , Los Angeles Women Police Officers and Associates. Retrieved February 26, 2010.</ref><ref>, Los Angeles Police Department. Retrieved February 26, 2010.</ref>


==== 1866 ====
*'''1917'''
* First African American to earn a ]: Father ] from ], Belgium<ref name="Potter200926" /> (See also 1851, 1874)
::First African-American police officer killed in the line of duty: ] officer ]
* First African-American woman enlistee in the ]: ]<ref name="Holland2007">{{cite book|last=Holland|first=Jesse J.|title=Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington|url=https://archive.org/details/blackmenbuiltcap00holl|url-access=registration|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2007|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn=978-0-7627-5192-1|page=}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to win a major sports title: ], ]
* First African-American woman to serve as a professor: ]; Xenia, Ohio's Wilberforce University hired her to teach Latin and English
]]]


===1920s=== ==== 1868 ====
* First elected African-American ]: ] (]).<ref name="Lynch2012">{{cite book|last=Lynch|first=Matthew|title=Before Obama: A Reappraisal of Black Reconstruction Era Politicians|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l0wbFAxaAAgC&pg=RA1-PA230|access-date=May 29, 2013|year=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39792-9|pages=1–2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024822/http://books.google.com/books?id=l0wbFAxaAAgC&pg=RA1-PA230|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''1920'''
* First African-American mayor: ], ]<ref name=Stodghill>{{cite news|last=Stodghill|first=Ron|title=Driving Back Into History|work=]|page=1|date=May 25, 2008|url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/travel/25trail.html |access-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122113028/http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/travel/25trail.html|archive-date=January 22, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ] ]: ] (]) and ] (])
* First African-American elected to the ]: ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://artandhistory.house.gov/highlights.aspx?action=view&intID=252 |title=John Willis Menard of Louisiana became the first African American to address the U.S. House| publisher= Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407043453/http://artandhistory.house.gov/highlights.aspx?action=view&intID=252 |archive-date=April 7, 2011}}</ref> His opponent contested his election, and opposition to his election prevented him from being seated in Congress. (See also: 1870)
::First African-American ]s of the ]: ] and ].


==== 1869 ====
*'''1921'''
* First African-American U.S. ]: ], minister to ]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = M.E. Sharpe | isbn = 0-7656-2106-1 |editor=James George Ryan |editor2=Leonard C. Schlup | last = Bartley | first = Abel A. | title = Bassett, Ebenezer Don Carlos | encyclopedia = Historical dictionary of the Gilded Age |date=January 2003 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lhRqUo9HzVwC&q=bassett&pg=PA32 |access-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024813/http://books.google.com/books?id=lhRqUo9HzVwC&lpg=PA32&vq=bassett&pg=PA32 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to become a ], first American to hold an international pilot license: ]
* First African-American woman ]: ] (])<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn = 0-313-02462-6 | pages = 220–222 |editor=Elizabeth Ann Beaulieu | last = Linda Joyce Brown | title = Coppin, Fanny Jackson |encyclopedia=Writing African American Women |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbyBKRvoot8C&q=Fanny%20Jackson%20Coppin%20first%20principal&pg=PA220 |access-date=May 29, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024843/http://books.google.com/books?id=ZbyBKRvoot8C&lpg=PA220&dq=Fanny%20Jackson%20Coppin%20first%20principal&pg=PA220#v=onepage&q=Fanny%20Jackson%20Coppin%20first%20principal&f=false |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ] ] ]: ], co-head coach, Akron Pros, while continuing to play ]
* First African American to receive a ] and become a ]: ]<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrating Black History Month: Trailblazers in dentistry |url=https://www.ada.org/en/publications/new-dentist-news/2020-archive/february/celebrating-black-history-month-trailblazers-in-dentistry |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=New Dentist News |publisher=] |date=February 24, 2020}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in the U.S.: ], Ph.D. in Economics from the ]


=== 1870s ===
*'''1924'''
::First African American to win individual ] gold medal: ] (], ]). (See also: John Taylor, 1908)


==== 1870 ====
*'''1925'''
* First African American to vote in an election under the ], granting voting rights regardless of race: ]<ref name="npl">{{cite web|url=http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/Exhibits/aafirsts.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516010101/http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/Exhibits/aafirsts.html|title=African-American Firsts Remembered: Lest We Forget|access-date=November 5, 2008|publisher=] |year=2000|first1=Mary D. |last1=Teasley | first2= Deloris, curators |last2= Walker-Moses | archive-date=May 16, 2014 }}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ]
* First African American to graduate from ]: ].<ref name="SollorsTitcomb1993">{{cite book|last1=Sollors|first1=Werner|author-link1=Werner Sollors|last2=Titcomb|first2=Caldwell|author-link2=Caldwell Titcomb|last3=Underwood|first3=Thomas A.|title=Blacks at Harvard: A Documentary History of African-american Experience at Harvard and Radcliffe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0j5rGZB9kJIC&pg=PA37|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=1993|publisher=New York University Press|isbn=978-0-8147-7973-6|page=37|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023738/http://books.google.com/books?id=0j5rGZB9kJIC&pg=PA37|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American elected to the ], and first to serve in the ]: ] (]–]).<ref name="Wasniewski2012">{{cite book|last=Wasniewski|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Wasniewski|title=Black Americans in Congress, 1870–2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-cNiPp-D260C&pg=PA54|access-date=May 27, 2013|year= 2012|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-16-086948-8|pages=54–61|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023414/http://books.google.com/books?id=-cNiPp-D260C&pg=PA54|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group=Note>Revels, the ]'s ] representative, was elected by the U.S. Senate in January 1870 to fill an unexpired term.</ref>
* First African American to serve in the ]: ] (R-]).<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Institute for Southern Studies, University of South Carolina |editor= Walter B. Edgar | last = Hine | first = William C. | title = Rainey, Joseph Hayne (1832–1887) | encyclopedia = South Carolina Encyclopedia | location = Columbia | access-date = 2013-05-28 | url = http://www.scencyclopedia.org/rainey.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131110220838/http://www.scencyclopedia.org/rainey.htm | archive-date = November 10, 2013 }}</ref><ref group=Note>Rainey, a South Carolina state senator, was elected to fill the seat vacated by B. Franklin Whittemore. Rainey took his seat on December 12, 1870. ] was actually the first African-American elected to the House (1868) but he was denied his seat.</ref>
* First African-American acting governor: ] of ] from May until August 9, 1871, when sitting Governor ] was incapacitated and chose to recuperate in Mississippi. (See also: ], 1990)


==== 1871 ====
*'''1926'''
* First African-American page in the United States House of Representatives: Alfred Q. Powell, who was appointed in 1871 by ], with recommendations from ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Colored Page Appointed|work=]|date=1871-04-06 |page=2}}</ref><ref name="Sims">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVNLDwAAQBAJ&q=%22felda+looper%22+page+%22house+of+representatives%22&pg=PA102 |title=Capitol Hill Pages: Young Witnesses to 200 Years of History – Marcie Sims – Google Books |access-date=2019-11-18|isbn=978-1-4766-3064-9 |year=2018 |last1=Sims |first1=Marcie |publisher=McFarland }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Letter from Washington|work=Baltimore Sun |date=1871-04-03 |page=4}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to receive a degree (Ph.D.) from ]: ], who had previously been the first African-American graduate of ].
<!--
*'''1927'''
::First African American to star in an international ]: ] in ''La Sirène des tropiques''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Baker | first=Josephine | coauthors=Bouillon, Joe | title=Josephine | edition=First | location=New York | publisher=Harper & Row | year=1977 | isbn=978-0-06-010212-8}}</ref>
-->
*'''1928'''
::First post-] African American elected to ]: ] (]; ])


==== 1872 ====
*'''1929'''
* First African-American ] admitted to the ]: ] (nominated by ] of ]).<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = Simon & Schuster | isbn = 978-0-684-81578-7 | last = Harley | first = Sharon | title = The timetables of African-American history: a chronology of the most important people and events in African-American history |location=New York |year=1996 |url=https://archive.org/details/timetablesofafri00harl | url-access = registration | page = |access-date=May 27, 2013 }}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ] (], ])<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |first=Bruce|last= Weber|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/sports/19maxwell.html|title=Sherman L. Maxwell, 100, Sportscaster and Writer, Dies |work= ]|date=July 19, 2008 |accessdate=August 13, 2008}}</ref>
* First African-American governor (non-elected): ] of ] (See also: Douglas Wilder, 1990)<ref name="Dray2008">{{cite book |last=Dray |first=Philip |author-link=Philip Dray|title=Capitol men: the epic story of Reconstruction through the lives of the first Black congressmen |url=https://archive.org/details/capitolmenepicst0000dray |url-access=registration |access-date=May 27, 2013 |year=2008 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |location=Boston |isbn=978-0-618-56370-8 |page= }}</ref>
* First African-American nominee for ]: ] by the ].<ref name="Deskins2010">{{cite book|last1=Deskins|first1=Donald R.|author-link1=Donald R. Deskins|last2=Walton|first2=Hanes|last3=Puckett|first3=Sherman C.|title=Presidential Elections: 1789 – 2008; County, State, and National Mapping of Election Data|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d5gKaGkXH84C&pg=PA349|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=2010|publisher=University of Michigan Press|location=Ann Arbor|isbn=978-0-472-11697-3|page=349|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023623/http://books.google.com/books?id=d5gKaGkXH84C&pg=PA349|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group=Note>Douglass did not seek the nomination or campaign after being nominated.</ref>


===1930s=== ==== 1873 ====
* First African-American speaker of the ], and of any state legislature: ]
*'''1931'''
::First African-American composer to have symphony performed by leading orchestra: ], ''Symphony No. 1'', by Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}


==== 1874 ====
*'''1932'''
* First African-American president of a major college/university: Father ], S.J. of Georgetown College.<ref name="Potter200926">{{cite book|last=Potter|first=Joan|title=African American Firsts: Famous, Little-known, and Unsung Triumphs of Blacks in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YcGvB-9FALgC&pg=PA26|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=2009|publisher=Kensingston Publishing Corporation|isbn=978-0-7582-4166-5|pages=26–27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024905/http://books.google.com/books?id=YcGvB-9FALgC&pg=PA26|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 1851, 1863, 1866)
::First African American on a presidential ticket in the 20th century: ] (], as vice-presidential candidate running with ])
* First African American to preside over the House of Representatives as ]: ]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nteu.org/BHMBios.aspx | title= NTEU Celebrates Black History Month: Joseph H. Rainey (1832–1887) | publisher = National Treasury Employees Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120307005723/http://www.nteu.org/BHMBios.aspx | archive-date=March 7, 2012}}</ref>


==== 1875 ====
*'''1934'''
* First African-American Roman Catholic bishop: Bishop ], of Portland, Maine.<ref name=Militelio1963>{{cite news | volume = 12 | issue = 11 | pages = 28‒35 | last = Militelio | first = Leo | title = The First Negro Catholic Bishop | work = Negro Digest |date=September 1963 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cDoDAAAAMBAJ&q=James+Augustine+Healy+first&pg=PA28 |access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407133846/http://books.google.com/books?id=cDoDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA28&dq=James%20Augustine%20Healy%20first&pg=PA28#v=onepage&q=James%20Augustine%20Healy%20first&f=false |archive-date=2015-04-07 | url-status = live }}</ref> (See also: 1854)
::First African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a ]: ] (Illinois)
::First ] set up for African-American ]s by ]


==== 1876 ====
*'''1935'''
* First African American to earn a ] from an American university: ] (] ], ]; also first African American to graduate from Yale, 1874).<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = World Scientific Publishing Company Inc. | isbn = 978-981-02-4909-0 | last = Mickens | first = Ronald E. | title = Edward Bouchet: The First African-American Doctorate | year = 2002}}</ref> (See also: 1866)
::First known interracial jazz group: ] (Benny Goodman, ], ])<ref>Baker, David, compiler. , Jazz in America / ] Institute of Jazz, n.d. .</ref>


==== 1877 ====
*'''1936'''
* First African-American graduate of ] and first African-American commissioned officer in the ]: ].<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = U of Nebraska Press | isbn = 0-8032-6890-4 | last = Flipper | first = Henry | title = The Colored Cadet at West Point | year = 1878}}</ref>
::First African American to conduct a major U.S. ]: ] (])
* First African-American elected to ]: ].<ref>{{cite journal |doi= 10.2307/2678933 |jstor= 2678933 |title= The Earliest Black Members of Phi Beta Kappa |last1= Titcomb |first1= Caldwell |journal= The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education |year= 2001 |issue= 33 |pages= 92–101 }}</ref>
::First movie with African-American interracial relationship: '']''{{cn|date=July 2012}}


==== 1878 ====
*'''1937'''
* First African-American police officer in Boston, Massachusetts: Sergeant ].<ref>{{cite news | title = Boston's first black officer receives his long-overdue honors | work=] | date=June 27, 2010 |first = Jack | last = Nicas | access-date=November 13, 2012 | url = https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/06/27/bostons_first_black_officer_receives_his_long_overdue_honors/ | archive-date=January 12, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150112060846/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/06/27/bostons_first_black_officer_receives_his_long_overdue_honors/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American federal magistrate: ] (later the first African-American governor of the ])
* First African-American baseball player in organized ]: ].<ref name="Hoffbeck2005">{{cite book|last=Hoffbeck|first=Steven R.|title=Swinging For The Fences: Black Baseball In Minnesota|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sxmqc5KkhykC&pg=PA14|access-date=July 4, 2013|year=2005|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|isbn=978-0-87351-517-7|page=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023743/http://books.google.com/books?id=Sxmqc5KkhykC&pg=PA14|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>


==== 1879 ====
*'''1938'''
* First African American to serve as a sheriff or chief of police in ]: ], ].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Bo |date=2021-09-15 |title=Visitors Larry and Lynn Schuyler researching family history at St. Paul's |url=https://www.saintpaulsvergennes.org/post/visitors-larry-and-lynn-schuyler-researching-family-history-at-st-paul-s |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=Saint Paul's Episcopal Church }}</ref>
::First African-American female federal agency head: ] (])
* First African American to graduate from a formal nursing school: ], Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = Infobase Publishing | isbn = 978-1-4381-0760-8 | last = Darraj | first = Susan Muaddi | title = Mary Eliza Mahoney | year = 2009}}</ref>
* First African American to play major league baseball: Possibly ]; he played as a substitute in one professional baseball game for the ] of the ], on June 21, 1879.<ref> ''Baseball-Reference''</ref> Work by the ] (SABR) suggests that he may have been the first African American to play major league baseball, predating the longer careers of ] and his brother ] by five years; and ] by 68 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=June 21, 1879: The cameo of William Edward White |first=John |last=Husman |url=http://www.sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-21-1879-cameo-william-edward-white |newspaper=The Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Baseball's Secret Pioneer: William Edward White, the first black player in major-league history |first=Peter |last=Morris |url=http://sabr.org/latest/baseballs-secret-pioneer-william-edward-white |newspaper=The Society for American Baseball Research/Slate.com |date=February 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who was the first black man to play in the major leagues? |first=Zachary |last=Malinowski |url=http://www.projo.com |newspaper=Providence Journal |date=February 15, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Black Baseball Pioneer William White's 1879 Game |first=Robert |last=Siegel |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1626450 |newspaper=National Public Radio |date=January 30, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mystery of Baseball: Was William White Game's First Black? |first=Stefan |last=Fatsis |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107541676333815810 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 30, 2004}}</ref>


===1940s=== === 1880s ===
*'''1940'''
::First African American to win an ]: ] (], '']'', 1939)
::First African American to be portrayed on a U.S. ]: ]
::First African-American ] ]: ]


==== 1880 ====
*'''1941'''
* First African American to command a U.S. ship: Captain ].<ref name="GatesHigginbotham2004">{{Cite encyclopedia | editor-last1=Gates | editor-first1=Henry Louis | editor-last2=Higginbotham | editor-first2=Evelyn Brooks | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA387 | editor-link1=Henry Louis Gates | access-date=May 29, 2013 | year=2004 | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=New York | isbn=978-0-19-988286-1 | pages=387–388 | last=O'Toole | first=James M. | title=Healy, Michael | encyclopedia=African American Lives | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023508/http://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA387 | archive-date=January 3, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to give a White House Command Performance: ]
* First African-American world champion in ], a 19th-century forerunner to ] and ]: ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Algeo|first=Matthew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uc9MvgAACAAJ|title=Pedestrianism: When Watching People Walk Was America's Favorite Spectator Sport|year=2014|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=978-1-61374-400-0|pages=177–183}}</ref>


==== 1881 ====
*'''1942'''
* First African-American whose signature appeared on U.S. paper currency: ], ].<ref name="SewellDwight2012">{{cite book|last1=Sewell|first1=George Alexander|last2=Dwight|first2=Margaret L.|title=Mississippi Black History Makers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z74vTOrw5mYC&pg=PA16|access-date=May 29, 2013|year= 2012|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-61703-428-2|pages=16–17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023634/http://books.google.com/books?id=z74vTOrw5mYC&pg=PA16|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to be awarded the ]: ]
::First African-American member of the ]: ]<ref name=psn> {{cite news|first=Janette|last=Williams|title=Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98 |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_18940389 |work=]|date=September 20, 2011 |accessdate=October 8, 2011}}</ref>


====1882====
*'''1943'''
* First fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for African-Americans: ]
::First African-American artists to have a #1 hit on the ] charts: ] ("]"), topped "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on November 6 (See also: Tommy Edwards, 1958; The Platters, 1959)


==== 1883 ====
*'''1944'''
* First known African-American woman to graduate from one of the ] colleges: ] (])<ref name="Hine2005">{{cite book|last=Hine|first=Darlene Clark|title=Black women in America|url=https://archive.org/details/blackwomeninamer0000unse/page/385|access-date=May 29, 2013|volume=1|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515677-5|page=}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Parker graduated from Mount Holyoke when it was still a seminary. |group="Note"|name="parker"}}
::First African-American ] in the ]: The "]"
* First African-American woman to earn a PhD. ] June 12, 1883, earns her doctoral degree in music from the University of Kansas one month shy of her 18th birthday.
::First African American commissioned as a ] officer from the ]: ]. Gravely was also the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship (1962), and the first promoted to the rank of admiral (1971).
::First African American to co-pastor with a white minister at the first interracial church: Dr. ] with Dr. Alfred Fisk, ], ]
::First African American to receive a contract with a major American opera company: ]
::First known comic book art by an African-American: ] for ] and ]


==== 1884 ====
*'''1945'''
* First African American to play ] at the major-league level: Possibly ], but see also ] in 1879.<ref name="DorinsonWarmund1999">{{cite book|last=Gendin|first=Sidney|editor=Joseph Dorinson|others=Joram Warmund|title=Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports, and the American Dream|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yR8-35MjEyoC&pg=PA22|year=1999|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|location=Armonk, New York |isbn=978-0-7656-3338-5|pages=22–29|chapter=Moses Fleetwood Walker: Jackie Robinson's accidental predecessor}}</ref> (See also: ], 1947)
::First African-American member of the ]: ]
* First African-American woman to hold a patent: ], for an improved dough kneader, Washington, D.C.<ref name="Sluby2004">{{cite book |last=Sluby |first=Patricia Carter |title=The Inventive Spirit of African Americans: patented ingenuity |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wz-DTSXeLRYC&pg=PA126 |access-date=May 29, 2013 |year=2004 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |location=Westport, CN |isbn=978-0-275-96674-4 |page=126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023440/http://books.google.com/books?id=Wz-DTSXeLRYC&pg=PA126 |archive-date=January 3, 2014 | url-status = live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|This was previously thought to be ] (for the cabinet bed, Chicago, Illinois).<ref name="Sluby2004"/>|group="Note"|name="goode"}}
::First African-American ] officer: ]
* First African American to enlist in the ]: ]<ref name="greenecuny">{{cite news|url=http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2007/04/16/william-h-greene-was-the-first-black-cuny-graduate-and-first-black-member-of-u-s-signal-corps-a-victor-and-a-victim/|title=William H. Greene was the First Black CUNY Graduate and First Black Member of U.S. Signal Corps, a Victor and a Victim|agency=CUNY Newswire|access-date=2018-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093927/http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2007/04/16/william-h-greene-was-the-first-black-cuny-graduate-and-first-black-member-of-u-s-signal-corps-a-victor-and-a-victim/|archive-date=May 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a350395.pdf|title=A Historic Context for the African-American Military Experience|last1=Smith|first1=Steven D.|last2=Zeidler|first2=James A.|publisher=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers|year=1998|page=113 |access-date=2018-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226232342/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a350395.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-26|url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African American to lead a political party's National Convention: ], Republican National Convention.<ref name="history.house.gov">{{cite web | url=http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/L/LYNCH,-John-Roy-(L000533)/#biography | title=Lynch, John Roy &#124; US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |access-date=2018-07-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712183546/http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/L/LYNCH,-John-Roy-(L000533)/#biography | archive-date=2018-07-12 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African American to deliver a keynote address at a political party's National Convention: ], Republican National Convention.<ref name="history.house.gov"/>


==== 1886 ====
*'''1947'''
* First ] priest publicly known at the time to be African-American: ], Quincy and Chicago, Illinois<ref>{{cite journal |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=379–388 |title=Notes and comment |journal=The Catholic Historical Review | access-date=2013-05-30 | year = 1919 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=V8htL2FcRjQC&pg=PA380 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023546/http://books.google.com/books?id=V8htL2FcRjQC&pg=PA380 |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=live }}</ref> (See also: 1854)
::First African-American ] player ]: ] (]). (See also: Moses Fleetwood Walker, 1884)
::First African-American consensus college All-American basketball player: ]
::First African-American artist to receive sole credit for a #1 hit on the ] charts: ] ("]"), topped "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on February 22 (See also: Mills Brothers, 1943; Nat King Cole, 1950; Tommy Edwards, 1958; The Platters, 1959)
::First African-American full-time faculty member at a predominantly white law school: ] (])
::First ] produced entirely by African-Americans: '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction |title=1st African-American Published Comic - All Negro #1- (1947) Comes to Auction|publisher= Metropolis Collectibles Inc. / ComicConnect Corp. ] via BlackRadioNetwork.com| date=February 2009 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110702143035/http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction | archivedate=July 2, 2011| deadurl=no|accessdate=July 1, 2011}}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ] (debut in '']'' #1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction |title=1st African-American Published Comic - All Negro #1- (1947) Comes to Auction|publisher= Metropolis Collectibles Inc. / ComicConnect Corp. ] via BlackRadioNetwork.com| date=February 2009 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110702143035/http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction | archivedate=July 2, 2011| deadurl=no|accessdate=July 1, 2011}}</ref>


=== 1890s ===
*'''1948'''
::First African-American man to receive an Academy Award: ] (] for his portrayal of "]" in '']'', 1946) (See also: ], ]
::First African-American U.S. Navy aviator: ]
::First African-American composer to have an ] performed by a major U.S. company: ] (''Troubled Island'', ])
::First African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal: ]
::First African American on an Olympic basketball team and first African-American Olympic gold medal basketball winner: ], in the ]
::First African American to design and construct a professional ]: ]
::First African American since ] to enroll at a traditionally white university of the South: Silas Hunt (])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/10830.htm |title=Silas Hunt Documentary Wins Three Awards |date=June 14, 2007 |publisher=] |accessdate=October 5, 2011 }}</ref><ref>L. Clifford Davis applied to the law school in 1946, and after several failed attempts was granted admission in September 1947, but was unable to enroll in classes. Hunt later enrolled on February 2, 1948</ref>


==== 1890 ====
*'''1949'''
* First African-American woman to earn a dental degree in the United States: ], ].<ref name="Ida">{{cite journal |url= http://www.cda.org/page/Library/cda_member/pubs/journal/jour0602/hyson.html |title=Women Dentists: The Origins|first= John M. Jr.|last=Hyson|date=June 2002 |journal= Journal of the California Dental Association|volume=30|issue=6|pages=444–53|doi=10.1080/19424396.2002.12223293 |pmid=12519054|s2cid=26571662 |access-date=2012-08-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110928181315/http://www.cda.org/page/Library/cda_member/pubs/journal/jour0602/hyson.html |archive-date=2011-09-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourweekly.com/los-angeles/black-history-fact-week-ida-gray-nelson-rollins |title=Black History Fact of the Week: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins &#124; Our Weekly – African American News &#124; Black News &#124; Black Entertainment &#124; Black America |publisher=Our Weekly |access-date=2012-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323010008/http://www.ourweekly.com/los-angeles/black-history-fact-week-ida-gray-nelson-rollins |archive-date=2012-03-23 }}</ref>
::First African-American graduate of the ]: ]
* First African American to record a best-selling phonograph record: ], "The Laughing Song" and "The Whistling Coon."<ref>Brooks, Tim (2004). Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890–1919. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. pp. 15–71</ref>
::First African American to hold rank of ]: ], ambassador, and previously minister, to ] (See also: 1869)
* First woman and African American to earn a military pension for their own military service: ].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=Ann Bradford Stokes (1830–1903)|url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/stokes-ann-bradford-1830-1903/|last=Slawson|first=Robert|date=2011-01-27|publisher=Black Past|access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref>
::First African American to have opera performed by major company: ], ''Troubled Island'', ]
::First African American to win an ] award in ]: ] (], ]) (See also: Elston Howard, 1963)


===1950s=== ==== 1891 ====
* First African-American ] in present-day New York City: Wiley Overton, hired by the ] Police Department prior to 1898 incorporation of the five boroughs into the City of New York.<ref name="nypd">{{cite web|url=http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/html/tour/aah/aahweb.htm |publisher=The New York City Police Museum | title=A History of African Americans in the NYPD | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081222023510/http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/html/tour/aah/aahweb.htm |archive-date=December 22, 2008}}</ref> (See also: ], 1911)
*'''1950'''
::First African American to win ]: ] (Book of poetry, ''Annie Allen'', 1949)
::First African American to win ]: ]
::First individual African American as subject on the cover of '']'' magazine: Jackie Robinson, May 8, 1950
::First African-American ] ]s: ] (]), ] (]), and ] (])<ref>Because of team schedules for season opening games, Lloyd was the first to play, on October 31, 1950, with Cooper debuting November 1 and Clifton November 4. Cooper was the first African American player to be ] by an NBA team, and Clifton the first to sign a contract with an NBA team.</ref> (See also: 1902)
::First African-American star of a ] ]: ], '']''
::First African-American woman to compete on the world tennis tour: ]
::First African-American solo singer to have a #1 hit on the ] charts: ] ("]"), topped "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on July 15 (See also: Mills Brothers, 1943; Count Basie, 1947; Tommy Edwards, 1958; The Platters, 1959)
::First African American nominated for a ] Award: ] (Most Promising Newcomer – Male, ''Intruder in the Dust''){{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}


==== 1892 ====
*'''1951'''
* First African American to sing at ]: ]<ref name="TardifSociety2013">{{cite book|last=Tardif|first=Elyssa|title=Providence's Benefit Street|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WHHhL4j3WQgC&pg=PA70|access-date=May 31, 2013|year=2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9923-6|page=70|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023710/http://books.google.com/books?id=WHHhL4j3WQgC&pg=PA70|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American named to the ]: ], ] (1918–1921)
* First African-American named to a ]: ], ]<ref name="Kinshasa2006">{{cite book|last=Kinshasa|first=Kwando M.|title=African American Chronology: chronologies of the American mosaic|url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericanc0000kins|url-access=registration|access-date=May 31, 2013|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33797-0|page=}}</ref>


==== 1895 ====
*'''1952'''
* First African-American woman to work for the ]: ]<ref name="Miller1995">{{cite book|first=Robert Henry|last=Miller|title=The Story of "Stagecoach" Mary Fields|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vfARAAAACAAJ|access-date=May 31, 2013|year=1995|publisher=Silver Burdett Press|isbn=978-0-382-24399-8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023527/http://books.google.com/books?id=vfARAAAACAAJ|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American woman elected to a U.S. ]: ], Democrat (])
* First African American to earn a ] (Ph.D.) from ]: ]<ref name="Moore2003">{{cite book|last=Moore|first=Jacqueline M.|title=Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, and the Struggle for Racial Uplift|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mOcDxX0rhukC&pg=PA50|access-date=May 31, 2013|series= The African American history series|year=2003|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location= Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8420-2994-0|page=50}}</ref>
::First African-American U.S. Marine Corps aviator: ]
::First African-American woman to be nominated for a national political office: ], Vice President (]) (See also: 2000)


==== 1896 ====
*'''1953'''
* First African American female dentist to graduate from ]: ].<ref name="Smith">{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Jessie Carney |last2=Phelps |first2=Shirelle |title=Notable Black American Women |date=1992 |publisher=VNR AG |isbn=978-0-8103-9177-2 |page=497 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ssMBzqrUpjwC&pg=PA497 }}</ref>
::First African-American ] player to play in the ]: Don Barksdale in the ]
::First African American named as Dean of chapel at a majority white university: Howard Thurman at Marsh Chapel, ]
::First African-American woman to be made a member of ASCAP: ]{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}
::First African-American ] to play in the ] during the modern (post-World War II) era: ] (])<ref>{{cite web|title=Thrower was first black QB to play in NFL|url=http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/2002/0221/1338084.html|date=February 22, 2002|work=]|series=]|postscript=<!--None-->|accessdate=May 16, 2010}}</ref>


==== 1898 ====
*'''1954'''
::First African-American U.S. Navy Diver: ] * First African-American appointed to serve as ] Paymaster: ]
::First African-American woman to be nominated for the ]: ] ('']'', 1954). (At that time, nominations were announced in November of the year of release, instead of early the following year.)
::First individual African-American woman as subject on the cover of '']'' magazine: Dorothy Dandridge, November 1, 1954
::First African-American page for the ], and first to be enrolled in the ]: ]


==== 1899 ====
*'''1955'''
* First African American to achieve ] in any sport: ], for 1-mile ]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=1-4381-0778-1 |page=218 |last=Aaseng |first=Nathan |title=Taylor, Marshall Walker |encyclopedia=African-American Athletes |location=New York |series=Facts on File library of American history |year=2003 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iSxylfm58foC&pg=PA218 |access-date=2015-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426223719/https://books.google.com/books?id=iSxylfm58foC&pg=PA218 | archive-date=2016-04-26 |url-status=live }}</ref>
::First African-American member of the ]: ]
::First African-American male dancer in a major ] company: ] (]; also first African-American principal dancer of a major ballet company (NYCB), 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spelman.edu/bush-hewlett/BlackPresence/bios.html |publisher=(Biographical capsule) ]|title=The Black Presence in American Dance: Arthur Mitchell|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20041214144521/http://www.spelman.edu/bush-hewlett/BlackPresence/bios.html| archivedate=December 14, 2004}}</ref> (See also: 1969)
::First African-American singer to appear in a telecast opera: ] in ]'s production of '']''
::First African-American pilot of a scheduled US airline: August Martin (cargo airline ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seaboardairlines.org/seabhist.htm|title=Seaboard World Airlines Formerly Seaboard & Western Airlines |publisher=SeaboardAirlines.org|date=undated|first=Capt. Ken, ed.| last=Kahn|archivedate=July 18, 2011|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110718205056/http://www.seaboardairlines.org/seabhist.htm|deadurl=no|quote=On November 3rd, 1955 Seaboard & Western became the first airline in the nation to hire an African-American pilot, August Martin.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avstop.com/history/blackairlines/augustmartin.htm|title=Black Airline Pilots: August Martin (1919-1968)|publisher=AvStop.com / Aviation Online|date=undated|archivedate=November 22, 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20101122035331/http://avstop.com/history/blackairlines/augustmartin.htm|deadurl=no|quote=Between 1946 and 1955, he flew only part time for such airlines as Buffalo Skylines, El Al Airlines and World Airways. ... In 1955, August Martin gained a foothold in the world of US aviation when he was hired by Seaboard World Airlines as the first Black captain of a US scheduled air carrier. During a thirteen-year period with Seaboard, Martin got a chance to pilot the ], ], ] and ].}}</ref> (See also: 1964)


== 20th century ==
*'''1956'''
::First African-American ] agent: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/charles-gittens-1st-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/09/gIQAiyOU5I_story.html | title=Charles Gittens, 1st black Secret Service agent, dies| agency= ] newspaper=] | date= August 9, 2011 | archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/60rTwuw4x| archivedate=August 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/first-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/10/gIQAFhYT7I_story.html | title= Charles L. Gittens, first black Secret Service agent, dies at 82 | work = ] | date = August 10, 2011|last= Wilber |first= Del Quentin |archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/60rU61rc4 | archivedate = August 11, 2011}}</ref>
::First African-American male star of a ] ]: ], ''The Nat King Cole Show''
::First African American to break the color barrier in a ] in the ]: ], (] in the ])<ref name=NYTGrierThamel>{{Cite news | last = Thamel | first = Pete | title = Grier Integrated a Game and Earned the World's Respect | newspaper = ] | date = January 1, 2006 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/sports/ncaafootball/01grier.html | accessdate=April 10, 2011 | postscript =}}</ref>
::First African American ] ] champion: Althea Gibson (doubles, with Englishwoman ]); also first African American to win a ] event (]). (See also: Arthur Ashe, 1968; Serena Williams, 2003)
::First African American to win the ] as the top ] in ], in the award's inaugural year: ] (])


=== 1900s ===
*'''1957'''
::First African American assistant coach in the ]: ] (See also: 1966)
::First African American to win the ] at the ]: ] ('']'')
::First African American to win ]'s ], in the award's inaugural year: ] (])<ref>While two black players won Gold Gloves that year, only Mays is African American. The other, ], is a black Cuban.</ref>


==== 1901 ====
*'''1958'''
* First African-American invited to dine at the ]: ]<ref name="Davis2013">{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Deborah|title=Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation|url=https://archive.org/details/guestofhonorbook0000davi|url-access=registration|access-date=June 1, 2013|year=2013|publisher=Atria Books|isbn=978-1-4391-6982-7}}</ref>
::First African American to reach #1 on the ]: ] ("]"), September 29 (See also: The Platters, 1959)
::First African American ]: ] (])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2005/11/16_black_fa.asp |accessdate=November 7, 2011| work=Alaska's World|title=Promoting Diversity|date=November 16, 2005|first=Don|last=Conrard|publisher=]|archivedate=March 24, 2006|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060324094852/http://www.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2005/11/16_black_fa.asp}}</ref>


==== 1902 ====
*'''1959'''
* First African-American professional ] player: ] (New England Professional Basketball League)<ref name=lew2010>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Scarecrow Press | isbn = 978-0-8108-7506-7 | last = Grasso | first = John | title = Lew, Harry Haskell "Bucky" | encyclopedia = Historical Dictionary of Basketball | year = 2010}}</ref> (See also: 1950)
::First African-American ] winners, in the award's inaugural year: ] and ] (two awards each)<ref> — list of winners for Grammy Award inaugural year, presented May 4, 1959, for recordings made in 1958</ref>
::First African American television ]: ] * First African-American professional ] player: ]
::First African American group to reach #1 on the ]: ] ("]"), January 19 (See also: Tommy Edwards, 1958) * First African-American boxing champion: ], a lightweight (See also: 1908)
::First African American to win a major national player of the year award in college basketball: ], ]<ref>In 1998, the award would be renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy after its first recipient.</ref> (in that award's inaugural year)


===1960s=== ==== 1903 ====
* First Broadway musical written by African-Americans, and the first to star African-Americans: '']''
*'''1960'''
* First African-American woman to found and become president of a bank: ], St. Luke Penny Savings Bank (since 1930 the Consolidated Bank & Trust Company), Richmond, Virginia<ref name="Marlowe2003">{{cite book|last=Marlowe|first=Gertrude Woodruff|title=A right worthy grand mission: Maggie Lena Walker and the quest for Black economic empowerment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1CQTAAAAYAAJ|access-date=June 1, 2013|year=2003|publisher=Howard University Press|isbn=978-0-88258-210-8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023640/http://books.google.com/books?id=1CQTAAAAYAAJ|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American U.S. presidential candidate: Rev. ], on the Independent Afro-American party


==== 1904 ====
*'''1961'''
* First Greek-letter fraternal organization founded by African-Americans: ]
::First African American to win the ]: ]
* First African American to participate in the Olympic Games, and first to win a medal: ] (two bronze medals)<ref name="Conner2001">{{cite book|last=Conner|first=Floyd|title=The Olympic's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of the Olympics' Gold Medal Gaffes, Improbable Triumphs, and Other Oddities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zQ48Zp5MVCsC&pg=PT58|access-date=June 1, 2013|year= 2001|publisher=Potomac Books, Inc.|isbn=978-1-59797-397-7|page=58|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023732/http://books.google.com/books?id=zQ48Zp5MVCsC&pg=PT58|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American tenor to sing leading roles for the ]: ]
*'''1962'''
::First African American to be inducted into the ]: ] (See also: Satchel Paige, 1971)
::First African-American coach in ]: ] (])
::First African-American male ] to win a ]: ] (])
::First African-American composer nominated for an ]: ] (Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture, '']''){{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}
::First African-American ] of a state: ] (]) (See also: 1966)


==== 1906 ====
*'''1963'''
* First intercollegiate Greek-letter organization founded by African-Americans: ] (ΑΦΑ), at ]
::First African-American bank examiner for the ]: ]
* First academically trained African-American forester: ] at the ]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Rachel Jones |date=Fall 2007 |title=Reviving – and Revising – the Reputation of Ralph Elwood Brock |url=https://paheritage.wpengine.com/article/reviving-revising-reputation-ralph-elwood-brock/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine }}</ref>
::First African American named as ] ]: ]<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Person of the Year: Martin Luther King Jr. |url=http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1963.html |work=Time |date=3 January 1963 |accessdate=February 17, 2008}}</ref>
::First African-American police officer of the NYPD to be named a precinct commander: ], commander of the NYPD's 28th precinct in Harlem.<ref>{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref>
::First African American to be named ] ]: ] (]) (See also: Jackie Robinson, 1949)
::First African-American ]: Walter Harris<ref name=chesslife>{{cite web|url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/historicmoments/HM_BlackChess/index.html |title=Gregory Kearse, "Historic Moments: A Legacy of Excellence", ''Chess Life'' July 1998 reprinted at |publisher=Thechessdrum.net |date= |accessdate=April 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-quiz |title="Chess Quiz" Question #43 |publisher=Chess.com |date= |accessdate=April 21, 2010}}</ref>
::First African American to appear as a series regular on a prime time dramatic television series: ], "East Side/West Side" (]).
::First African Americans inducted to the ]: ], inducted as a team. (See also: Bob Douglas, 1972; Bill Russell, 1975; Clarence Gaines, 1982)
::First African American to graduate from the ]: ].
::First African American to win a top-level ] race: ] at Speedway Park, Jacksonville, Florida


==== 1907 ====
*'''1964'''
* First African-American ] priest and missionary in America: Very Rev. Fr. ]<ref>{{Cite journal | volume = 52 | issue = 3 | pages = 464–480 | last = Manolis | first = Paul G | title = Raphael (Robert) Morgan, the First Black Orthodox Priest in America | journal = Theologia Athinai | year = 1981}}</ref>
::First African-American pilot for a major commercial airline: David Harris, ]<ref>{{cite newspaper|url= http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080228_5_E3_spanc46213|title=AA Honors First Black Airline Pilot|first= D. R.|last=Stewart|work=]|location = ]|date=February 28, 2008| archiveurl=http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080228_5_E3_spanc46213|archivedate=December 20, 2011|deadurl=no}} Harris' milestone came a year after ], who had been rejected as a ] applicant in 1957, won the ] case "Colorado Anti-Discrimination Commission v. Continental Airlines, Inc. 372 U.S. 714 no. 146" which found Green had been unlawfully discriminated against. See {{cite web|url= http://www.avstop.com/history/historyofairlines/legal/continental.html|title=Marlon Green V Continental Airlines|publisher=AvStop.com / Aviation Online|date=undated}} Note: Per the court decision, Green had not been formally hired: "His application was submitted at Continental's headquarters in ], ], and was later considered and rejected there."</ref> (See also: 1955)
::First movie with African-American interracial marriage: '']'',<ref>Hudson, David. , GreenCine.com, n.d. . Update of Hudson, , GreenCine.com, June 10, 2003. . Note: Asian-American interracial marriage had previously been portrayed.</ref> actors ] and ], written by Orville H. Hampton, Raphael Hayes, directed by ]
::First African-American man to win the ]: ] ('']'', 1963) (See also: ], ]


==== 1908 ====
*'''1965'''
* First African-American ] ] champion: ]<ref name="Jr.2010">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Charles R.|title=Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson|url=https://archive.org/details/blackjackballado0000smit|url-access=registration|access-date=June 1, 2013|year= 2010|publisher=Roaring Brook Press|isbn=978-1-59643-473-8}}</ref> (See also: 1902)
::First African-American nationally ] ]: ] ('']'')
* First African-American Olympic gold medal winner: ] (] medley relay team).{{sfn|Potter|2002|p=345–346}} (See also: DeHart Hubbard, 1924)
::First African-American title character of a ] series: ] (]).<ref name="marvel">The first Black superhero, Marvel's ], introduced in '']'' #52 (July 1966), is African, not African-American. This is also true of the first Black character to star in his own mainstream comic-book feature, Waku, Prince of the Bantu, who headlined one of four features in the multiple-character omnibus series '']'' (Sept. 1954 – Sept. 1955), from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, ].</ref> (See also: The Falcon, 1969, and Luke Cage, 1972)
* First intercollegiate Greek-letter sorority established by African-Americans: ] (ΑΚΑ) at Howard University
::First African-American star of a ] drama: ], '']'' (co-star with ])
::First African-American cast member of a daytime ]: ] who played Peggy Nolan Harris on '']'' until 1972.
::First African-American '']'' ] ]: ] (March issue)
::First African-American ] general: ] (three-star lieutenant general)
::First African-American female ]: ], ambassador to ]
::First African-American ] ]: ], field judge/head linesman
::First African-American to win a national ] championship: Frank Street, Jr. (U.S. Amateur Championship)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummajors/F_Street.html |title=NM Frank Street, Jr. |publisher=The ChessDrum.net |date= |accessdate=April 21, 2010}}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ] (See also: 1967)


=== 1910s ===
*'''1966'''
::First African-American coach in the ]: ] (])
::First African-American mayor of a U.S. city: ], (], appointed by city commission)
::First African-American model on the cover of a '']'' (British '']'') magazine: ]
::First post-] African American elected to the ] (and first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by ]): ] (]; ]) (See also: 1962)
::First African American ] secretary: ] (])
::First African-American ] ]: ]
::First African-American NFL broadcaster: Lowell W. Perry{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} (], on ] games) (See also: 1957)
::First African-American fire commissioner of a major U.S. City: ] of the ]


==== 1910 ====
*'''1967'''
* First African-American female millionaire: ]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 0-19-516777-5 | volume = 1 | pages = 121–129 |editor=Paul Finkelman | last = Susan Love Brown | title = Economic Life | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619–1895: from the colonial period to the age of Frederick Douglass | location = New York | year = 2006}}</ref>
::First African American elected mayor of a large U.S. city: ] (])
* First African-American woman to be recorded commercially: ]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Tim |title=Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890–1919 |last2=Spottswood |first2=Dick |date=2004 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-02850-2 |pages=254–258 |jstor=10.5406/j.ctt2jcc81 }}</ref>
::First African American appointed to the ]: ] (See also: 1965)
::First African American selected for astronaut training: ]
::First African American to win a ] event: ] (1967 ])
::First African American to be inducted into the ]: ]
::First African-American interracial kiss on network ]: entertainers ] (Caucasian) and ] (African American) on Sinatra's variety special '']'', airing December 11 on ]<ref name=prime>{{cite video
| people = Nancy Sinatra
| title = Movin' with Nancy
| medium = DVD Commentary Track
| publisher = Image Entertainment
| location = ], ]
| date = May 2, 2000}}</ref> (See also: 1968)


==== 1911 ====
*'''1968'''
* First intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded by African-Americans at a ]: ] (ΩΨΦ), at ]
:: First African-American interracial kiss on a network television drama: ], played by ] (African American), and ], played by ] (white Canadian): '']'': "]" (See also: 1967)
* First African-American ] in New York City: ], following the 1898 incorporation of the five boroughs into the City of New York, and the hiring of three African-American officers in the Brooklyn Police Department. Battle was also the ]'s first African-American ] (1926), ] (1935), and ] ] (1941).<ref name="nypd" /> (See also: Wiley Overton, 1891)
::First African-American woman elected to ]: ] (]; ])
* First African-American attorney admitted to the ]: ] (June 1911), ] (August 1911), and ] (October 1911)<ref name="aba">{{cite book |title=Report of the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association, Volume 37 |publisher=E.C. Markley & Son |date=1912 |pages=93–95 |chapter=Special Report of the Executive Committee Concerning the Vote by the Committee to Elect Messrs. William H. Lewis, Butler R. Wilson and William R. Morris to Membership in the Association, and the Rescission Thereof |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5nILAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackpast.org/aah/lewis-william-henry-1868-1949 |title=Lewis, William Henry (1868–1949) |first=Steven J. |last=Jager |publisher=BlackPast.org |access-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-date=January 12, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150112051816/http://www.blackpast.org/aah/lewis-william-henry-1868-1949 | url-status=live| date=2012-07-31 }}</ref>
::First African-American appointed as a ]: ]
* First African-American elected to the ]: ] (1911).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harry W. Bass |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=2722&body=H |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Pennsylvania State House Archives}}</ref>
::First African-American man to win a Grand Slam tennis event: ] (]) (See also: Althea Gibson, 1956; Serena Williams, 2003)
::First African American to start at ] in the modern era of professional ]: ] (], ])
::First African-American ] awarded the ]: ]
::First fine-arts museum devoted to African-American work: ]
::First African-American woman as Presidential candidate: ] (See also: Shirley Chisholm, 1972)
::First African-American woman reporter for '']'': ]
::First African-American coach to win NBA Championship: ]


==== 1914 ====
*'''1969'''
::First African-American graduate of ]: ] * First African-American military pilot: ]
* First African American to attend the ], earning his bachelor's degree with honors in 1918: ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Laura|date=February 2, 2015|title=Alan Thacker Busby, the university's first African-American student|url=https://blogs.lib.uconn.edu/archives/2015/02/02/alan-thacker-busby-the-universitys-first-african-american-student/|access-date=August 27, 2023|website=Archives and Special Collections Blog}}</ref>
::First African-American director of a major ] motion picture: ] ('']'')
::First African-American founder of a classical training school and company of ]: ], ] (See also: 1955)
::First African-American woman to appear on the ]: ]


===1970s=== ==== 1915 ====
* First African-American alderman of ]: ]<ref name="Sawyers2012">{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = Northwestern University Press | isbn = 978-0-8101-2649-7 |pages = 90–91 | last = Sawyers | first =June Skinner | title = Oscar De Priest | encyclopedia = Chicago Portraits: New Edition | location = Evanston, Illinois | year = 2012}}</ref>
*'''1970'''
::First African-American U.S. Navy Master Diver: ]
::First African-American member of the ]: ] <ref>Bell, Gregory S. (2002). "Joe Searles". In ''''. John Wiley and Sons. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-471-21485-4. Retrieved January 30, 2009.</ref>
::First African-American basketball player to win the ], the ], & the ] all in the same season: ] (])
::First African-American ] basketball coach: ] (])<ref>At the time, the NCAA had not yet adopted its three-division system. Illinois State was in the NCAA University Division, which became Division I in 1973. The NCAA retroactively considers University Division members to have been Division I members.</ref>


==== 1916 ====
*'''1971'''
* First African American to play in a ] game: ], ]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = Visible Ink Press | isbn = 978-1-57859-192-3 |editor=Jessie Carney Smith |editor2=Linda T. Wynn | last = Smith | first = Frederick D. | title = Pollard, Fritz | encyclopedia = Freedom Facts and Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience | date=2009}}</ref>
:: First African-American owners of a radio station: ] and ], ]-New York
* First African American to become a ] in the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news | issn = 0011-1422 | volume = 84 | issue = 5 | pages = 173‒176 | last = Heinl | first = Nancy G. | title = Col. Charles Young: Pointman | work = The Crisis | date=May 1977 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tOYtK_4g_iAC&pg=PA173 | access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160508154209/https://books.google.com/books?id=tOYtK_4g_iAC&pg=PA173 | archive-date=2016-05-08 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn = 0-275-98005-7 | last = Kilroy | first = David P. | title = For race and country: the life and career of Colonel Charles Young | location = Westport, CN | date=2003-01-01 }}</ref>
::First African-American ] to be inducted into the ]: ] (See also: Jackie Robinson, 1962)
:: First African-American president of the ]: ] * First African-American woman to become a licensed ]: ]
:: First African American to win an ] in a non-acting category, winning ]: ]


==== 1917 ====
*'''1972'''
* First African-American woman to win a major sports title: ], ]<ref name="MillerPruitt-Logan2012">{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Carroll L.|last2=Pruitt-Logan|first2=Anne S.|title=Faithful to the Task at Hand: The Life of Lucy Diggs Slowe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ax6Hq6K4N4MC&pg=PA2|access-date=June 2, 2013|year=2012|publisher=State University of New York Press|location=Albany|isbn=978-1-4384-4260-0|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023650/http://books.google.com/books?id=ax6Hq6K4N4MC&pg=PA2|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to campaign for the U.S. presidency in a major political party and to win a U.S. presidential primary/caucus: ] (], New Jersey primary) (See also: 1968)
::First African-American ] to star in own comic-book series: ], ]' ''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #1 (June 1972).<ref name="marvel" /> (See also: Lobo, 1965, and the Falcon, 1969)
::First African-American ] ]: ]
::First African-American interracial kiss in a mainstream comics magazine: "The Men Who Called Him Monster", by writer ] (See also: 1975) and artist Luis Garcia, in ]'s black-and-white ]-comics magazine '']'' #43 (Jan. 1972)
::First African-American interracial male kiss on network television: ] (African American) and ] (Caucasian) in '']''<ref>{{cite episode |title=Sammy's Visit | episodelink=List of All in the Family episodes#Season 2: 1971–1972 | series=All in the Family | serieslink=All in the Family | credits= | network=CBS | airdate=February 12, 1972 | season=2 | number=34 |accessdate=February 15, 2008}} In the comedy '']'', at the last moment as a picture is taken, Sammy Davis, Jr., playing himself, chides the ] but celebrity-fawning ] with a kiss on the cheek.</ref>
::First African-American individual inducted to the ]: Team-owner and coach ], in the category of "contributor" (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; player Bill Russell, 1975; coach Clarence Gaines, 1982)
::First African-American woman ] director: ] ('']'')
::First African-American comic-book creator to receive a "created by" cover-credit: ] ('']'' #1)


==== 1919 ====
*'''1973'''
* First African-American special agent for the ]: ]<ref name="BBC2008">{{cite book|last=Grant|first=Colin|title=Negro with a Hat: The Rise and Fall of Marcus Garvey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBlxVYgwwSMC&pg=PA220|access-date=June 2, 2013|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-970986-1|page=220|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023409/http://books.google.com/books?id=CBlxVYgwwSMC&pg=PA220|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Theoharis1999">{{cite book|editor-last=Theoharis|editor-first=Athan|editor-link=Athan Theoharis|title=The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/fbicomprehensive0000theo|url-access=registration|access-date=June 2, 2013|year=1999|publisher=Oryx Press|location=Phoenix, Arizona|isbn=978-0-89774-991-6|page=}}</ref>
::First African American elected mayor of ]: ]
* First African-American women appointed as police officers: Cora I. Parchment at the ] (NYPD)<ref name="Segrave">{{cite book|last1=Segrave|first1=Kerry|title=Policewomen: a history|date=2014|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-0-7864-7705-0|page=148|edition=Second|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wy9iAgAAQBAJ|access-date=June 25, 2017}}</ref> and ], by the ] (LAPD)<ref name="Corsianos">{{cite book|last1=Corsianos|first1=Marilyn|title=Policing and gendered justice: examining the possibilities|date=2009|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Toronto|isbn=978-0-8020-9679-1|page=29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ab4YN0w_R8YC|access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref>
::First African-American ] in a ] movie: ] (playing ]), '']''.
::First African-American ]: ], playing ], ''Live and Let Die''. * First African American to direct a ]: ] ('']'')
::First African-American woman mayor of a U.S. metropolitan city: ], ]
::First African-American ] of a professional regional theater: ] (])


=== 1920s ===
*'''1974'''
::First African-American model on the cover of American '']'' magazine: ]


==== 1920 ====
*'''1975'''
* First African-American ] football players: ] (]) and ] (])<ref name="WilsonAddams2006">{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 0-19-516777-5 | volume = 1 | pages = 234–237 |editor=Paul Finkelman | last = Wilson | first = Joseph | author2 = David Addams | title = Football | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of African American history, 1619–1895 | location = New York | year = 2006 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6gbQHxb_P0QC&pg=PA235 | access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407134122/http://books.google.com/books?id=6gbQHxb_P0QC&pg=PA235 | archive-date=2015-04-07 | url-status = live }}</ref>
::First African American elected mayor, and first mayor, of ]: ]
* First African-American bishops of the ]: ] and ].<ref name="LyghtKeaton2012">{{cite book|last1=Lyght|first1=Ernest S.|last2=Keaton|first2=Jonathan D.|author-link2=Jonathan D. Keaton|title=Our Father: Where Are the Fathers?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZ6r3Wb_xj4C&pg=PT41|access-date=June 4, 2013|year=2012|publisher=Abingdon Press|isbn=978-1-4267-4853-0|page=41|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023541/http://books.google.com/books?id=GZ6r3Wb_xj4C&pg=PT41|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American manager in ]: ] (])
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American women named as ], ]: ] and ] <ref>{{cite news |author= |title=A Dozen Who Made a Difference |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947599-5,00.html |work=Time |date=5 January 1976 |accessdate=February 14, 2008}}</ref>
::First TV-series cast with African-American interracial couple: '']'', actors ] (Caucasian) and ] (African American) as Tom & Helen Willis; series creator: ]
::First African-American model on the cover of '']'' magazine: Beverly Johnson
::First African American to win ] in ]: ] (]). Of mixed heritage, Harris was also first Italian American to win the award.
::First African-American ] host: ] (]' '']'')
::First African-American interracial kiss in a color comic book: '']'' #31 (July 1975), feature "]: Warrior of the Worlds", characters ] Scott and ], by writer ] (See also: 1972) and artist ]
::First African American inducted to the ] ]: ] (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; Bob Douglas, 1972; Clarence Gaines, 1982)
::First African American to play in a ]: ] (])


==== 1921 ====
*'''1976'''
* ]]]First African-American woman to become an aviation pilot, first American to hold an international pilot license: ]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-988286-1 |pages=182–184 |editor=Henry Louis Gates |last=Uzelac |first=Constance Porter |author-link=Constance Porter Uzelac |author2=Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham |title=Coleman, Bessie |encyclopedia=African American Lives |location=New York |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA184 |access-date=2015-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506232022/https://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA184 |archive-date=2016-05-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>
::First African-American woman elected officer of international labor union: ]
* First African-American ] football coach: ], co-head coach, Akron Pros, while continuing to play ]<ref name="WilsonAddams2006" />
* First African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in the U.S.: ], from the ] in 1921
* First African American to found a ]: ] (])


==== 1923 ====
*'''1977'''
* First African-American woman to earn a degree in library science: ].<ref>{{Cite journal | url=https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=perspectives | title=Virginia Proctor Powell Florence: A Remarkable Oberlin Alumna Librarian | journal=Library Perspectives | issue=32 | date=Spring 2005}}</ref><ref name="Black">175 Years of Black Pitt People and Notable Milestones. (2004). Blue Black and Gold 2004: Chancellor Mark A. Norenberg Reports on the Pitt African American Experience, 44. Retrieved on 2009-05-22.</ref> She earned the degree (Bachelor of Library Science) from what is now part of the ].<ref name="nwhm">{{cite web |url=http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/africanamerican/25.html |title=Claiming Their Citizenship: African American Women From 1624–2009 |publisher=Nwhm.org |access-date=2012-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227155748/http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/africanamerican/25.html |archive-date=2012-02-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Celeste |last=Kimbrough |url=http://www.news.pitt.edu/news/university-pittsburgh-honor-first-african-american-librarian-plaque-dedication-ceremony-april-2 |title=University of Pittsburgh to Honor First African American Librarian In Plaque Dedication Ceremony April 2 &#124; University of Pittsburgh News |publisher=News.pitt.edu |date=2004-03-18 |access-date=2012-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oberlin.edu/library/friends/perspectives/32.pdf |title=05-3180-Oberlin-Issue No.32 |access-date=2016-08-10}}</ref>
::First African American, and first woman, appointed director of the ]: ]
::First African-American woman in the ]: Patricia Roberts Harris, ]
::First African-American woman whose signature appeared on U.S. currency: ], the 36th ]
::First African-American publisher of mainstream gay publication: Alan Bell ('']'')<ref>Seabaugh, Cathy (February 1994). "BLK: Focused Coverage for African-American Gays & Lesbians". Chicago ''Outlines''.</ref><ref>Chestnut, Mark (June 1992). "BLK: Getting Glossy". ''Island Lifestyle''.</ref>
::First African-American woman to join the ]: Karen Batchelor<ref>{{cite news| url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B11FA3D5A167493CAAB1789D95F438785F9 | work=The New York Times | title=A Detroit Black Woman's Roots Lead to a Welcome in the D.A.R.; Black Woman's Roots Lead to a Welcome in D.A.R | first=William K. | last=Stevens | date=December 28, 1977}}</ref>
::First African-American ] ]: ] (])


==== 1924 ====
*'''1978'''
* First African American to win individual ] gold medal: ] (], ]).<ref>{{cite news | issn = 0021-5996 | volume = 90 | issue = 10 | pages = 60–61 | title = William Dehart Hubbard First Black to Win Gold in an Individual Event | work = Jet | date=1996-07-22 | publisher = Johnson Publishing Company | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wDsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60 | access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407090407/http://books.google.com/books?id=wDsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60 | archive-date=2015-04-07 | url-status = live }}</ref> (See also: John Taylor, 1908)
::First African-American broadcast network news anchor: ]


==== 1925 ====
*'''1979'''
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite news | issn = 0021-5996 | volume = 78 | issue = 5 | page = 16 | title = Clifton R. Wharton Sr. Dies; Foreign Service Pioneer, 90 |work=Jet |date=May 14, 1990 | publisher = Johnson Publishing Company | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3K8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407090155/http://books.google.com/books?id=3K8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16 |archive-date=April 7, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref>
::First African American and first person to win the ]: ]
::First African-American U.S. Marine Corps general officer: ]
::First African-American to win a ] for lead actor in a ]: ] (] in '']'')
::First African-American head football coach in Division I-A: ]


===1980s=== ==== 1927 ====
* First African American to become an officer in the ] in New York City: ].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Clash of New York's Irish and Italians, and the City's First Black Firefighter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/nyregion/the-clash-of-new-yorks-irish-and-italians-and-the-citys-first-black-firefighter.html |quote=Wesley Williams, who was inspired by Battle, enlisting as a firefighter in 1919. ... |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 7, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906045319/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/nyregion/the-clash-of-new-yorks-irish-and-italians-and-the-citys-first-black-firefighter.html |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*'''1980'''
* First African-American woman to star in a foreign ]: ] in '']''.<ref>{{cite book| last=Baker | first=Josephine | author2=Bouillon, Joe | title=Josephine | edition=First | location=New York | publisher=Harper & Row | year=1977 | isbn=978-0-06-010212-8 | url=https://archive.org/details/josephine00bake}}</ref>
:: First African-American television channel{{Clarify|date=March 2011}} ]{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
*'''1981'''
::First African American to play in the ]: ] (])<ref>The NHL had fielded black players for more than 20 years, with the first being ] in 1958, but all previous black players were ] and not African American.</ref>


==== 1928 ====
*'''1982'''
* First post-] African-American elected to ]: ] (]; ])<ref>{{cite book | publisher = U.S. Government Printing Office | isbn = 978-0-16-080194-5 | pages = 278–285 |editor=Matthew Wasniewski | author1 = Committee on House Administration | author-link1= United States House Committee on House Administration| author2 = Office of History and Preservation | author-link2 = Clerk of the United States House of Representatives| title = Black Americans in Congress, 1870–2007 | chapter = Oscar Stanton De Priest, 1871–1951 | location = Washington, D.C. | year = 2008}}</ref>
::First African-American male to win the ]: ]
* First African-American woman to serve in a state legislature: ], ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvpublic.org/post/may-15-1886-west-virginias-first-african-american-female-legislator-born-putnam-co |title=May 15, 1886: West Virginia's First African-American Female Legislator Born in Putnam Co. |date=May 15, 2017 |publisher=] |access-date=February 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201172055/http://www.wvpublic.org/post/may-15-1886-west-virginias-first-african-american-female-legislator-born-putnam-co |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to receive the ]: ] for '']''
::First African American inducted to the ] ]: ] (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; Bob Douglas, 1972; Bill Russell, 1975)
::First African-American ] ]: ]


==== 1929 ====
*'''1983'''
*First African-American ]: ] (], ])<ref name=ShermanMaxwell>{{cite news|first=Bruce|last=Weber|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/sports/19maxwell.html|title=Sherman L. Maxwell, 100, Sportscaster and Writer, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 19, 2008|access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411170343/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/sports/19maxwell.html|archive-date=April 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American astronaut: ] (] mission ]).<ref>Cuban ] ] was the first person of African descent in space, in 1980.</ref>
::First African-American ] of ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American owners of a major metropolitan newspaper: ] and ], ('']'')
::First African-American ]: ] (partnered with ], a ]) (See also: Doom, 1990; Men on a Mission, 1994)


=== 1930s ===
*'''1984'''
==== 1930 ====
::First African American to win a delegate-awarding U.S. presidential primary/caucus: ] (Louisiana, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Virginia and one of two separate Mississippi contests).
::First African-American coach to win the ]: ] (]) * First African American to win a state high school basketball championship: ], star center on an integrated Washington, Indiana team.
::First African-American New York City Police Commissioner: ]


==== 1931 ====
*'''1985'''
* First African-American composer to have their symphony performed by a leading orchestra: ], ''Symphony No. 1'', by Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of World Biography|publisher=Gale|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7876-9124-0|location=Detroit|pages=455–456}}</ref>
::First African American to become a member of the ]'s ] precision flying team: ]. Also first African American to command the team (1994).
* ]]]First African-American woman to graduate from Yale Law School: ]


==== 1932 ====
*'''1986'''
* First African-American on a presidential ticket in the 20th century: ] (], as vice-presidential candidate running with ])<ref name="Howard2008">{{cite book|last=Howard|first=Walter T.|title=Black Communists Speak on Scottsboro: A Documentary History|url=https://archive.org/details/blackcommunistss00howa|url-access=registration|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=2008|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=978-1-59213-599-8|page=}}</ref>
::First African-American ] ] driver: ]<ref>] became the first black Formula One racer in 2006, but he is a British citizen of ]n ancestry, and not an African American. ] did not compete in a race, but drove a Formula One car professionally in January 1986 as a tester for the ]-] at ], ].</ref> (See also: Ribbs, 1991)
* First African-American Ph.D. in anthropology: ]<ref name="Harrison and Harrison, 19992">Harrison and Harrison, 1999. African-American Pioneers in Anthropology. New York: University of Illinois Press.</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite journal|last=Rankin-Hill and Blakey|date=1994|title=W. Montague Cobb (1904–1990): Physical Anthropologist, Anatomist, and Activist|journal=American Anthropological Association|volume=96|pages=74–96|doi=10.1525/aa.1994.96.1.02a00040|via=Wiley Online}}</ref>
::First African-American musicians inducted into the ], in the inaugural class: ], ], ], ], ], and ]
::First African-American to die in spaceflight: ]
::First African-American wrestling manager: ]


=== 1933 ===
*'''1987'''
::First African-American woman, and first woman, inducted into the ]: ] * First African-American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology: ]


==== 1934 ====
*'''1988'''
* First African-American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a ]: ] (Illinois)<ref name="Nordin1997">{{cite book|last=Nordin|first=Dennis S.|title=The New Deal's Black Congressman: A Life of Arthur Wergs Mitchell|url=https://archive.org/details/newdealsblackcon00nord/page/87|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=1997|publisher=University of Missouri Press|location=Columbia|isbn=978-0-8262-1102-6|page=}}</ref>
::First African-American woman elected to a U.S. ]ship, and first appointed to a ]: ]
* First ] set up for African-American ]s by ]{{Relevance inline|sentence|x|date=June 2013}}
::First African-American candidate for President of the United States to obtain ballot access in all 50 states: ]
::First African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics (a bronze in figure skating): ]
::First African-American quarterback to start (and win) in the Super Bowl: ]
::First African-American ] referee: ]


==== 1936 ====
*'''1989'''
* First African American to conduct a major U.S. ]: ] (])<ref name="StrunkTreitler1998">{{cite book|last1=Strunk|first1=William Oliver|last2=Treitler|first2=Leo|author-link2=Leo Treitler|title=Source Readings in Music History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtCYwFm2mTwC&pg=PA1421|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=1998|publisher=Norton|isbn=978-0-393-03752-4|page=1421|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023701/http://books.google.com/books?id=ZtCYwFm2mTwC&pg=PA1421|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ] coach of the modern era: ], ]
* First African-American women selected for the Olympic Games: ] and Louise Stokes.<ref>{{cite news| url =https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/11/23/tidye-ann-phillips-olympian-and-principal/| title=Tidye Ann Phillips, Olympian And Principal| work=]| date=November 23, 1986|first= Kenan |last=Heise |access-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 25, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125215515/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-11-23/news/8603270982_1_mrs-phillips-united-states-olympic-team-auditorium| url-status=live}}</ref> Stokes did not compete; Picket competed in the ]<ref name="hymans">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field |last=Hymans |first=Richard |publisher=] |year=2008 |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120620000346/http://usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |archive-date=June 20, 2012| url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|86}}
::First African-American mayor of ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African American, and first woman, ordained bishop in the ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]


===1990s=== ==== 1937 ====
* First African-American federal magistrate: ] (later the first African-American governor of the ])<ref>{{cite conference | publisher = Tennessee State University Library | conference = Annual Local Conference on Afro-American Culture and History |editor=Linda T. Wynn |editor2=Gayle Brinkley-Johnson | last = Wynn | first = Linda T. |author2=Bobby L. Lovett |title = William Henry Hastie (1904–1976) | book-title = A Profile of African Americans in Tennessee History | location = Nashville | access-date=2013-03-01 | date=December 14, 1995 | url = http://ww2.tnstate.edu/library/digital/hastie.htm | archive-date=November 10, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110214838/http://ww2.tnstate.edu/library/digital/hastie.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>
*'''1990'''
::First elected African-American ]: ] (]; ]) (See also: Oscar Dunn, 1871; P. B. S. Pinchback, 1872)
::First African American elected president of the '']'': ]<ref>{{Cite news|title=First Black Elected to Head Harvard's Law Review|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html?pagewanted=2|date=February 6, 1990|first=Fox|last=Butterfield|authorlink=Fox Butterfield|work=]|separator=,|postscript=|accessdate=May 2, 2011}}</ref> (See also: 2008, 2009)
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American '']'' ]: ]
::First all African-American band to win the ]: ] for "]"
::First African American tag team to win the ]: ] (] and ]) (See also: Tony Atlas, 1983; Men on a Mission, 1994)


==== 1938 ====
*'''1991'''
* First African-American woman federal agency head: ] (])<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Norton|editor-first=Mary Beth|editor-link=Mary Beth Norton|title=A People and a Nation: since 1865|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vq0ROs8GVfAC&pg=PA694|access-date=June 5, 2013|edition=7th|year=2005|publisher=Cengage Learning|location=Boston|isbn=978-0-618-39177-6|page=694|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023510/http://books.google.com/books?id=vq0ROs8GVfAC&pg=PA694|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American nominated for a Best Director Academy Award. ] for '']''
::First African American to qualify for the ] ]: ] (See also: Ribbs, 1986) * First African-American woman elected to a state legislature: ] (])
::First African-American woman mayor of ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ] (])


==== 1939 ====
*'''1992'''
* First African American to star in their own television program: ], '']'', on ]<ref name=Bogle2001>{{Cite book|title=Primetime Blues|url=https://archive.org/details/primetimebluesaf00bogl/page/9|isbn=978-0-374-23720-2|first=Donald|last=Bogle|author-link=Donald Bogle|year=2001|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|location=New York|pages=|access-date=October 10, 2013}}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American woman astronaut: Dr. ] (])
::First African-American woman elected to ]: ] (]; ])
::First African American ] ] to reach (and win) the ]: ] (]) ]
::First African-American woman to moderate a ] : ] (second debate of 1992 campaign)


=== 1940s ===
*'''1993'''
::First African-American woman appointed ]: ]
::First African American to win the ]: ]
::First African-American woman named ]: ]; also the youngest person named to that position
::First African American appointed Surgeon General of the United States: ]
::First African American appointed Director of the National Drug Control Policy: ]
:: First African-American United States Secretary of Commerce: ]
*'''1994'''
::First African-American woman director of a major-studio movie: ] (]' '']'')
::First African American to win the ]: ]<ref name="Tiger" />
::First tag team made up of two African Americans to win the ]: ] (], aka Mabel, and ], aka Mo) (See also: Tony Atlas, 1983; Doom, 1990)


==== 1940 ====
*'''1995'''
]]]
::First African-American inductee to the ]: ]
* First African American woman to win an ]: ] (], '']'', 1939)<ref name="Jackson1993">{{cite book|first=Carlton|last=Jackson|title=Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E9XIE6TAZwwC|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=1993|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-56833-004-4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023445/http://books.google.com/books?id=E9XIE6TAZwwC|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ]
* First African American to be portrayed on a U.S. ]: ]<ref name="Smock2009">{{cite book|last=Smock|first=Raymond W.|author-link=Raymond W. Smock|title=Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow|url=https://archive.org/details/bookertwashingto00smoc|url-access=registration|access-date=June 5, 2013|date=2009|publisher=Ivan R. Dee|location=Chicago|isbn=978-1-61578-007-5|page=}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ] ], ]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | publisher = M.E. Sharpe | isbn = 0-7656-2107-X |editor=James Gilbert Ryan |editor2=Leonard C. Schlup |last=Whitten | first = David O. | title = Davis, Benjamin Oliver Sr. | encyclopedia = Historical Dictionary of The 1940s |date=January 1, 2006 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-t3Hx4ASLKUC&pg=PA98 |access-date=October 27, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160503121156/https://books.google.com/books?id=-t3Hx4ASLKUC&pg=PA98 |archive-date=May 3, 2016 | url-status = live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|His son, ], was the first African-American general in the United States Air Force.|group="Note"|name="Davis Jr."}}
* First African American to earn a doctorate in library science: ], from the ]<ref name="Jardins2004">{{cite book|first=Julie |last=Des Jardins|title=Women and the Historical Enterprise in America: Gender, Race and the Politics of Memory: Gender, Race, and the Politics of Memory, 1880–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTzqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT172|year=2004|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-0-8078-6152-3|pages=172–}}</ref>


==== 1941 ====
*'''1996'''
* First African American to give a White House Command Performance: ]<ref name="Epstein2010">{{cite book|last=Epstein|first=Lawrence Jeffrey|author-link=Lawrence Jeffrey Epstein|title=Political Folk Music in America from Its Origins to Bob Dylan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xlu-lidpKeMC&pg=PA94|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5601-7|page=94|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023536/http://books.google.com/books?id=Xlu-lidpKeMC&pg=PA94|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American mayor of San Francisco: ] (also first African-American Speaker of the California Assembly, 1980)
::First African-American U.S. Navy ]: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb1998/n02191998_9802198.html |title=Reason Is Navy's First Black Four-Star Admiral |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |date=February 19, 1998 |accessdate=October 30, 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061027080316/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb1998/n02191998_9802198.html |archivedate = October 27, 2006}}</ref>
::First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), 1996 World Series


==== 1942 ====
*'''1997'''
] ] the {{SS|Booker T. Washington}}, the first large oceangoing ship named for an African American.]]
::First African American to win a ]: ] (])<ref name="Tiger">Woods' mixed ancestry — ¼ ], ¼ ], ¼ African-American, ⅛ ], and ⅛ ] — also makes him the first ] to achieve this feat. He is also the first of only four golfers of primarily non-European descent to win a men's major, with the others being ] (an ]), ] (a ] from New Zealand), and ] (]n).</ref>
::First African-American model to appear on the cover of '']'': ] * First African American to be awarded the ]: ]
* First African-American member of the ]: ]<ref name=psn>{{cite news|first=Janette |last=Williams |title=Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98 |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_18940389 |work=] |location=Pasadena, California |date=September 20, 2011 |access-date=October 8, 2011 |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112111738/http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/general-news/20110920/political-activist-isabell-masters-whose-presidential-ambitions-started-in-pasadena-dies-at-98 }}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American inadvertently commissioned in the ] as a ] ]: ]<ref name=USN>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/1990/1998/jan-feb/holmes.pdf |title=Oscar Holmes: A Place in Naval Aviation |first=Robert J. Jr. |last=Schneller |date=January–February 1998 |magazine=Naval Aviation News |publisher=United States Navy}}</ref>
::First African-American actor to star in the lead role in a comic-book adaptation movie ('']''): ]
* First African American to captain a ] ship, the {{SS|Booker T. Washington}}: ]<ref name="time">{{Cite magazine|title=First Negro Skipper |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,773722,00.html |url-status=live |magazine=] |date=1942-10-05 |access-date=2007-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014143340/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,773722,00.html |archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref>
::First African-American Director of the ]: ]<ref>Historic Listing of National Park Service Officials, USDI, NPS, May 1, 1991, by Harold Danz. Updates after publication by Public Affairs.</ref>


==== 1943 ====
*'''1998'''
* ], first African American to become a member of the Trial Bureau of the ], was sworn in on May 31, 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/owi2001029109/PP/|title=Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog image caption|publisher=] | location = Washington, D.C. | archive-date=October 18, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141018005037/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/owi2001029109/PP/ | url-status=live|year=1943}}</ref>
::First African American appointed ]: ]
* First African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics: ], from ]<ref name="buffalo">{{cite web|url=http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/PEEPS/haynes.euphemia.lofton.html|title=Euphemia Lofton Haynes, first African American female mathematician|publisher=math.buffalo.edu|access-date=2014-01-25}}</ref>
::First African-American woman to hold the rank of ] in the ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American mayor of Houston: ]
::First African American to play in the ]: ]<ref name="Tiger" />
::First African American to win the ]: ]
::First African American to win the ]: ]


==== 1944 ====
*'''1999'''
* First African-American ] ]s in the ]: The "]"<ref name="Stillwell2003">{{cite book|last=Stillwell|first=Paul|title=The Golden Thirteen: Recollections of the First Black Naval Officers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D4cEZs2rRawC&pg=PR8|access-date=June 8, 2013|year=2003|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-61251-162-7|page=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023424/http://books.google.com/books?id=D4cEZs2rRawC&pg=PR8|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to be awarded the ] title in ]: ]
* First African-American commissioned as a ] officer from the ]: ]<ref name="GravelyStillwell2010">{{cite book|last1=Gravely|first1=Samuel Lee|author-link1=Samuel L. Gravely Jr.|last2=Stillwell|first2=Paul|title=Trailblazer: the U.S. Navy's first Black admiral|year= 2010|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-59114-338-3}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Gravely was also the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship (1962), and the first promoted to the rank of admiral (1971).|group="Note"|name="gravely"}}
::First African American ]: ]
* First female African-American commissioned Navy officers: ] and ]<ref name="navy3">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/special%20highlights/women/timeline1.htm|title=Milestones of Women in the US Navy|publisher=history.navy.mil|access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref>
::First African-American CEO of a ] company: ] of ]<ref>{{Cite journal
* First African American to receive a contract with a major U.S. opera company: ]<ref name="Olsen1994">{{cite book|last=Olsen|first=Kirstin|title=Chronology of Women's History|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780313288036/page/263|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=1994|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-28803-6|page=}}</ref>
| last = Farmer
* First known African-American ] artist: ] in ''Jumbo Comics'' #69 for ]<ref name=gcd> at the ]. from the original on April 24, 2015. Artist credits were not routinely given in comic books in the 1940s, so comprehensive credits are very difficult if not impossible to ascertain.</ref>
| first = Paula
* First African-American reporter to attend a U.S. presidential news conference: ]<ref name=Root20170813>{{cite web |url=http://journalisms.theroot.com/black-journalists-the-world-needs-you-1797797490 |title=Black Journalists, 'The World Needs You' |first=Richard |last=Prince |date=August 13, 2017 |work=] |access-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814023335/http://journalisms.theroot.com/black-journalists-the-world-needs-you-1797797490 |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| title = The First African American To Head A Fortune 500 Company, Franklin D. Raines Takes Over Fannie Mae
| journal = The Black Collegian
| date = August
| year = 1999
| url = http://www.black-collegian.com/issues/1999-08/fdraines.shtml
| accessdate = November 7, 2008}}</ref>


==== 1945 ====
*'''2000'''
* First African-American member of the ]: ]{{Relevance inline|sentence|date=June 2013}}
::First African American nominated for ] by a ]-recognized and federally funded political party: ] (See also: 1952; FEC established 1975)
* First African-American ] officer: ]<ref name="Walton2012">{{cite book|last=Walton|first=Ben L.|title=Great Black War Fighters: Profiles in Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBfvpigKudsC&pg=PA13|access-date=June 5, 2013|year=2012|publisher=Strategic Book Publishing|isbn=978-1-61897-108-1|page=13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023717/http://books.google.com/books?id=jBfvpigKudsC&pg=PA13|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ]]]First African-American was sworn in as a Navy nurse: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nww2m.com/2012/03/phyllis-mae-dailey-first-black-navy-nurse/|title=Phyllis Mae Dailey: First Black Navy Nurse|date=March 8, 2012}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to enter the Coast Guard: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-46332474 |title=Olivia Hooker: 1921 Tulsa race riot survivor dies aged 103 |date=November 25, 2018 |publisher=Bbc.com – BBC News|access-date=2019-06-24}}</ref>


==21st century== ==== 1946 ====
* First African American to sign a contract with an NFL team in the modern (post-World War II) era: ]
===2000s===
*'''2001'''
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American president of the ]: ]
::First African-American president of the ]: Rev. ]
::First African-American president of an ] university: ] at ], also the first permanent female president of Brown.
::First African-American woman to win the ] Pop Music Songwriter of the Year award: ]
::First African-American woman to be appointed ]: ] (See also: 2005)
::First ]: ], founder of ] (see also 2002)
::First African-American female billionaire: ]


==== 1947 ====
*'''2002'''
* ]]]First African-American ] player ]: ] (]).<ref name="BrownStentiford2008">{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Nikki L. M.|last2=Stentiford|first2=Barry M.|title=The Jim Crow Encyclopedia: Greenwood Milestones in African American History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLjYbzkGWk8C&pg=PA693|access-date=June 8, 2013|year=2008|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-34181-6|page=693|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023442/http://books.google.com/books?id=oLjYbzkGWk8C&pg=PA693|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: ], 1879; ], 1884)
::First African-American woman to win the ]: ] ('']'', 2001)
* First African-American ] ] in the ]: ] (]).
::First African-American ] gold medal winner: ] (two-woman bobsleigh). (See also: Shani Davis, 2006)
* First African-American consensus college All-American basketball player: ]<ref name="ParksBradley2012">{{cite book|last1=Parks|first1=Gregory|last2=Bradley|first2=Stefan M.|title=Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, The Demands of Transcendence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7LMpbMeHlhoC&pg=PA361|access-date=June 8, 2013|year=2002|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington|isbn=978-0-8131-3421-5|page=361|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023426/http://books.google.com/books?id=7LMpbMeHlhoC&pg=PA361|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to become majority owner of a ] team: ] (], ])<ref>Announced as Bobcats' owner in December 2002, although team did not begin play until {{nbay|2004|start}}.</ref> (see also 2001)
* First ] produced entirely by African-Americans: '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction |title=1st African-American Published Comic – All Negro #1 – (1947) Comes to Auction|publisher= Metropolis Collectibles Inc. / ComicConnect Corp. ] via BlackRadioNetwork.com| date=February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702143035/http://www.blackradionetwork.com/rare_1st_africanamerican_published_comic_book__all_negro_1_1947_comes_to_auction | archive-date=July 2, 2011| url-status=live|access-date=July 1, 2011}}</ref>
::First African-American female combat pilot in the ]: Captain ], USMC
::First African American to hold the #1 rank in tennis: ], February 25, 2002. * First African-American full-time faculty member at a predominantly white law school: ] (])<ref name="JacksonJohnson2011" />
::First African American to hold the year-end #1 rank in tennis: ] * First African-American female member of the U.S. House and Senate ]: ] (See also: 1948)
::First African American to be named ]: ]
::First African-American ] head coach to win ]: ] (]), ]
::First African-American ] in the ]: ] (])


==== 1948 ====
*'''2003'''
* First African-American man to receive an ]: ] (] for his portrayal of "]" in Disney's '']'', 1946)<ref name="Sperb2012">{{cite book|last=Sperb|first=Jason|title=Disney's Most Notorious Film: Race, Convergence, and the Hidden Histories of Song of the South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DljESN41YSAC&pg=PA96|access-date=June 24, 2013|year=2012|publisher=University of Texas Press|location=Austin|isbn=978-0-292-74981-8|page=96|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013033128/http://books.google.com/books?id=DljESN41YSAC&pg=PA96|archive-date=October 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: ], 1964)
::First African American to win a Career ] in tennis: ] (See also: Althea Gibson, 1956; Arthur Ashe, 1968)
* First African-American on an Olympic basketball team and first African-American Olympic gold medal basketball winner: ], in the ]
* First African-Americans to play in the ]: ] and Dennis Hoggard<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Donnie |title=Penn State's Cotton Bowl history short on games, long on significance |url=https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/sports/college/psu/football/2019/12/26/penn-states-cotton-bowl-history-short-games-long-significance/2749186001/ |website=York Dispatch |date=December 26, 2019|access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
* First African American to design and construct a professional ]: ]
* First African-American knowingly trained and commissioned as a ]: ]<ref name="Hardesty2008">{{cite book|last=Hardesty|first=Von|title=Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History|url=https://archive.org/details/blackwingscourag00hard/page/130|access-date=June 24, 2013|year=2008|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-126138-1|page=}}</ref>
* First African-American composer to have an ] performed by a major U.S. company: ] (''Troubled Island'', ])<ref name="Smith2008">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Catherine Parsons|title=William Grant Still|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e2fARj362kcC|access-date=June 24, 2013|series=American composers|year=2008|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Urbana|isbn=978-0-252-03322-3|page=68|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013030057/http://books.google.com/books?id=e2fARj362kcC|archive-date=October 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal: ]{{sfn|Smith|2002|p=700}}
* First African-American since ] to enroll at a traditionally white university of the ]: Silas Hunt (])<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = ] | first = Richard A. |last=Buckelew | title = Silas Herbert Hunt (1922–1949) |encyclopedia=] |location=Little Rock |access-date=2013-06-24 |date=October 3, 2012 |url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1676 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406121713/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1676 | archive-date=April 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|L. Clifford Davis applied to the law school in 1946, and after several failed attempts was granted admission in September 1947, but was unable to enroll in classes. Hunt later enrolled on February 2, 1948.<ref>{{cite journal |volume=68 |issue=2 |pages=123–156 |last=Kilpatrick |first=Judith |title=Desegregating the University of Arkansas School of Law: L. Clifford Davis and the Six Pioneers |journal = ] |access-date=2013-05-28 |year=2009 |url=http://arkansasblacklawyers.uark.edu/articles/ahq68-2.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611065229/http://arkansasblacklawyers.uark.edu/articles/ahq68-2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>|group=Note}}
* First known African-American star of a regularly scheduled ] series: ], ''The Bob Howard Show''<ref name=Bogle2001 /><ref name="Hill1986">{{cite book|last=Hill|first=George H.|title=Ebony Images: Black Americans and Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=brhkAAAAMAAJ&q=bob+howard|access-date=June 24, 2013|year=1986|publisher=Daystar Publishing Company|location=Carson, California|isbn=978-0-933650-01-5|page=24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023619/http://books.google.com/books?id=brhkAAAAMAAJ&q=bob+howard|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/one-first-tv-shows-hosted-black-man | title = One of the first TV shows hosted by a black man | publisher = African American Registry |access-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-date=December 23, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141223164719/http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/one-first-tv-shows-hosted-black-man }}</ref><ref group=Note>While considered a network for regulatory reasons, CBS TV was viewable only locally in 1948. By 1956, CBS and other networks were viewable nationwide.</ref> (See also: 1956)
* ] ]]First African-American man to graduate from ]: ]<ref>{{cite web |title = Oregon State to name new residence hall after pioneering student |url=http://kval.com/news/local/oregon-state-to-name-new-residence-hall-after-pioneering-student|website = KVAL |access-date=2016-01-30 |first=Sinclair Broadcast |last=Group |date=May 29, 2014}}</ref>
* First African-American female reporter to travel with a U.S. president (]'s ]): ]<ref name=Root20170813/> (See also: 1947)


==== 1949 ====
*'''2004'''
* First African-American graduate of the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = New York University Press | isbn = 0-8147-4013-8 | last = Schneller | first = Robert John | title = Breaking the color barrier: the U.S. Naval Academy's first black midshipmen and the struggle for racial equality | location = New York | year = 2005}}</ref>
::First African American General Manager for ]: ]
* First African American to chair a committee of the United States Congress: Representative ] (D-IL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawson, William Levi |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/D/DAWSON,-William-Levi-(D000158)/ |access-date=2020-08-16 |publisher=US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives }}</ref>
::First African American to win ]'s ] for Best Actress in a Play: ]
* First African American to hold the rank of ]: ], ambassador, and previously minister, to ]<ref name="Lusane2006">{{cite book|last=Lusane|first=Clarence|author-link=Clarence Lusane|title=Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice: Foreign Policy, Race, and the New American Century|url=https://archive.org/details/colinpowellcondo00lusa_0/page/18|access-date=June 24, 2013|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=Westport, CN|isbn=978-0-275-98309-3|page=}}</ref> (See also: 1869)
::First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), 2004 NBA Finals
* First African American to win an ] award in ]: ] (], ])<ref name="Rosenberg2013">{{cite book|last=Rosenberg|first=Aaron|title=42: The Jackie Robinson Story: The Movie Novel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zSMqk72sc3cC&pg=PT133|access-date=June 24, 2013|year=2013|publisher=Scholastic Inc.|isbn=978-0-545-54113-8|page=133|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023551/http://books.google.com/books?id=zSMqk72sc3cC&pg=PT133|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: Elston Howard, 1963)
::First African-American ] head coach to reach (and win) the ]: ] (]), ]
* First African-American-owned and -operated radio station: ], established October 3, 1949, in Atlanta, Georgia by Jesse B. Blayton Sr.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/blayton-sr-jesse-b-1879-1977 |title=Blayton, Jesse B., Sr. (1879–1977) |first=Nick |last=Manos|publisher=] |access-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110011410/http://www.blackpast.org/aah/blayton-sr-jesse-b-1879-1977 |archive-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=live|date=2009-02-03 }}</ref>
* First African-American woman president of an ] chapter nationwide: ] of Boston's NAACP chapter.<ref>{{cite news|date=1991-06-29|title=Florence Lesueur, ex-president, director of NAACP branch; at 93|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7666720.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219210614/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7666720.html|archive-date=2018-02-19|newspaper=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
* First African-American women to earn a ] degree: ] and ]{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
* First African-American to sing at a U.S. presidential inauguration: ]


=== 1950s ===
*'''2005'''
::First African-American woman appointed ]: ] (See also: 2001)
::First African-American woman ] aviator: ]


==== 1950 ====
*'''2006'''
* ]]]First African American to win a ]: ] (], '']'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theroot.com/photos/2011/06/black_tony_award_winners_over_the_years.html |title=The Great Black Way? Black Tony Award Winners |date=June 9, 2011 |first=Joshua R. |last=Weaver |publisher=] |archive-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222032006/http://www.theroot.com/photos/2011/06/black_tony_award_winners_over_the_years.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 }}</ref>
::First African-American individual ] gold medal winner: ] (men's 1,000 meter speed skating) (See also: Vonetta Flowers, 2002)
* First African American to win a ]: ] (book of poetry, '']'', 1949)<ref>{{cite book |publisher = Oryx Press | isbn = 978-1-57356-111-2 | editor-last1 = Clarage | editor-first1 = Elizabeth C | editor2 = Elizabeth A Brennan | title = Who's who of Pulitzer Prize winners | location = Phoenix, Arizona | year = 1999 | url = https://archive.org/details/whoswhoofpulitze00bren/page/522 | page = }}</ref>
::First African-American ] champion: ]<ref>] never had an African American singles champion during its tenure as an ]. The original ECW went bankrupt and folded in 2001. ] purchased its assets in 2003, and relaunched ECW as a ] in June 2006. The ECW brand was phased out in 2010.</ref>
* ]]]First African American to win the ]: ]<ref name="Henry1999">{{cite book|last=Henry|first=Charles P.|title=Ralph Bunche: Model Negro Or American Other?|year=1999|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=978-0-8147-3582-4}}</ref>
::First African American to command a ] division: ]
* First African American to receive a "]" appointment as federal judge: ], U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit<ref name="judiciary">{{cite web | url = http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/judges_milestones.html | title= History of the Federal Judiciary > Milestones of Judicial Service > First African American Judges | publisher = ] | location = Washington, D.C. |archive-date=March 10, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150310215728/http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/judges_milestones.html | url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to reach the peak of ]: ]
* First African-American woman to compete on the world tennis tour: ]<ref>{{cite book| publisher = Ivan R. Dee | isbn = 978-1-56663-714-5 | last = Harris | first = Cecil | title = Charging the net: a history of Blacks in tennis from Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe to the Williams sisters | location = Chicago | year = 2007 | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781566637145}}</ref>
* First African-American solo singer to have a #1 hit on the '']'' charts: ] ("]"), topped "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on July 15 (See also: Mills Brothers, 1943; Count Basie, 1947; Tommy Edwards, 1958; The Platters, 1959){{citation needed|date=June 2013}}
* ]]]First African-American delegate to the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | last = Cook | first = Joan | title = Edith Sampson, 1st Black Woman Elected to Bench in Illinois, Is Dead; Advised to Become Lawyer | work = The New York Times | access-date=2013-06-24 |date=October 11, 1979| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50613FE3E5C11728DDDA80994D8415B898BF1D3 | archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131110214813/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50613FE3E5C11728DDDA80994D8415B898BF1D3| url-status=live }}</ref> (See also: 1961)
* First African-American ] ]: ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]).<ref name="NBA.com 1950 Color Line">{{cite web|title=1950–51 Season Overview: NBA's Color Line is Broken|url=http://www.nba.com/history/season/19501951.html|publisher=]|access-date=March 9, 2013|archive-date=March 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320095356/http://www.nba.com/history/season/19501951.html}}</ref> Note: ] was the first to sign an NBA contract, signing with the ] on April 26, 1950.<ref>{{cite news | last = Howell | first = Dave | title = Six Who Paved the Way | publisher = National Basketball Association | url = http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/bhm_sixwhopavedtheway.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311141423/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/bhm_sixwhopavedtheway.html|archive-date=March 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wagner|first=Jeremy|title=9. Firsts For African-Americans|publisher=] |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100117/daily-dime|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110215952/http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100117/daily-dime|archive-date=November 10, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he was cut from the team during training camp and did not play professionally.<ref name=kcstar>{{cite news | first = Sam | last = McDowell | title = Sumner grad Harold Hunter, first African American to sign with NBA team, dies at 86 | url = http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/08/4109211/sumner-grad-harold-hunter-first.html | work = ] | location = Kansas City, Missouri | date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=2013-03-30 | archive-date=March 12, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130312014711/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/08/4109211/sumner-grad-harold-hunter-first.html}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Clifton was the first to sign an NBA contract and subsequently play, Cooper was the first to be ] by an NBA team, and Lloyd was the first to play in an NBA regular-season game because his team's opening game was one day before the others.|group=Note}} (See also: 1902)


==== 1951 ====
*'''2007'''
::First African-American ]: ] * First African-American named to the ]: ], ] (1918–1921){{sfn|Smith|2003|p=676}}
* First African-American ] to become a regular starter for a ] team: ] (])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/argos/2011/08/12/meet_bernie_custis_footballs_first_africanamerican_quarterback.html |title=Meet Bernie Custis, football's first African-American quarterback |work=] |date=August 12, 2011 |access-date=2015-04-12 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144249/http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/argos/2011/08/12/meet_bernie_custis_footballs_first_africanamerican_quarterback.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
::First African-American ] head coaches to reach the ]: ] and ], ]<ref>Smith and Dungy both reached this milestone on the same day, although Smith was technically the first due solely to scheduling. The ] and ]s are always held on the same day. In the ], the NFC game was played first.</ref>
::First African-American ] head coach to win the ]: ] (]), Super Bowl XLI
::First known African-American woman to reach the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news |author=Meghan Barr |title=Cancer Survivor, 75, Skis to North Pole |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003696398_northpole07.html |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 6, 2007|accessdate=February 17, 2008}}</ref>
::First African-American female professional wrestler to win the ]: ]


==== 1952 ====
*'''2008'''
* ]First African-American driver in NASCAR: ] (See also: 2015)
::First African American to be nominated as a major-party U.S. presidential candidate: ], ]
* First African-American woman elected to a U.S. ]: ] (])<ref name="Smith1996">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Jessie Carney|title=Notable Black American Women|url=https://archive.org/details/notableblackamer00jess/page/63|access-date=June 25, 2013|volume=II|year=1996|publisher=VNR AG|isbn=978-0-8103-9177-2|page=}}</ref>
::First African American to referee a ] game: ] (])
* First African-American U.S. Marine Corps aviator: ]<ref name="Peterson2012">{{cite book|last1=Petersen|first1=Frank E.|author-link1=Frank E. Petersen|last2=Phelps|first2=J. Alfred|title=Into the Tiger's Jaw: America's First Black Marine Aviator|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOueMQEACAAJ|access-date=June 25, 2013|series=Leatherneck Classics|year=2012|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|isbn=978-1-61251-190-0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023512/http://books.google.com/books?id=YOueMQEACAAJ|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), Super Bowl XLII
* First African-American woman to be nominated for a national political office: ], Vice President (]) (See also: 2000, 2020)<ref name="GatesHigginbotham2004c">{{cite book|last1=Gates|first1=Henry Louis|author-link1=Henry Louis Gates|last2=Higginbotham|first2=Evelyn Brooks|title=African American Lives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA56|access-date=June 25, 2013|year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-988286-1|page=56|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023529/http://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA56|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American woman elected Speaker of a ]: ] ]
* First African-American baseball player to appear in or win a ]: ]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lester |first1=Larry |title=Black Baseball's National Showcase: The East-West All-Star Game, 1933–1953 |year= 2001 |publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0-8032-8000-7 |page=379 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hyOlfFqihAoC&pg=PA379 |access-date=23 September 2022 }}</ref>
::First African-American governor of ]: ] (elected as lieutenant governor, succeeded on resignation of ])
::First African American elected ]: ]
::First African American to be appointed to the ] by a state governor: ]
::First African-American female combat pilot in the ]: Major ]


==== 1953 ====
*'''2009'''
::First African-American ]: ] * First African-American ] player to play in the ]: Don Barksdale in the ]<ref name="ParksBradley2012" />
* First African-American ] to play in the ] during the modern (post-World War II) era: ] (])<ref>{{cite web|title=Thrower was first black QB to play in NFL|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/obit/s/2002/0221/1338084.html|date=February 22, 2002|publisher=]|series=]|access-date=May 16, 2010| archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110214501/http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/2002/0221/1338084.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American chair of the ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American woman ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American woman ]: ]
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African American to appear by himself on a circulating U.S. coin: ] (]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/24/duke.ellington.coin/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |title=Duke Ellington becomes first African American on U.S. coin |publisher=CNN.com |date=February 24, 2009 |accessdate=April 21, 2010}}</ref>
::First African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for History: ], '']''
::First African-American ]: ]
::First African-American woman ]: ]
::First African-American woman ] of an S&P 100 Company: ], ].
::First African-American doubles team to be named ]: ] and ]
::First African American to win an ] for an Adapted screenplay (Push by Sapphire) ]
::First African-American ]: ]


===2010s=== ==== 1954 ====
* First African-American U.S. Navy Diver: ]<ref name=roofbrashear>{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = Facts On File | isbn = 978-1-4381-3096-5 | pages = 40–42 |editor=Catherine Reef | title = Brashear, Carl Maxie | encyclopedia = African Americans in the Military | location = New York | series = A to Z of African Americans | access-date=2013-06-27 | year = 2010 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bq8dVn_W2XQC&pg=PT61 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023519/http://books.google.com/books?id=bq8dVn_W2XQC&pg=PT61 | archive-date=2014-01-03 | url-status = live }}</ref>
* First individual African-American woman as subject on the cover of '']'' magazine: ], November 1, 1954<ref name="Otfinoski2010">{{cite book|last=Otfinoski|first=Steven|title=African Americans in the Performing Arts|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnXQSqTx2h0C&pg=PT59|access-date=June 26, 2013|edition=Revised|series=A to Z of African Americans|year=2010|publisher=Facts On File|location = New York |isbn=978-1-4381-2855-9|pages=51–52|chapter=Dandridge, Dorothy}}</ref>
* First African-American page for the ], and first to be enrolled in the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news | issn = 0021-5996 | volume = 16 | issue = 10 | page = 8 | title = Charles Bush, First Negro Air Force Cadet | work = Jet | date=July 1959 | publisher = Johnson Publishing Company | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HEIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8 | access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160427035256/https://books.google.com/books?id=HEIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8 | archive-date=2016-04-27 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==== 1955 ====
*'''2010'''
* First African-American member of the ]: ]<ref name="Keiler2002">{{cite book|last=Keiler|first=Allan|title=Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NVi0eYa8GZgC |access-date=July 29, 2013|year=2002|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-07067-9|page=274|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023636/http://books.google.com/books?id=NVi0eYa8GZgC|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
::First African American to win the ]: ]
* First African-American male dancer in a major ] company: ] (]); also first African-American principal dancer of a major ballet company (NYCB), 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spelman.edu/bush-hewlett/BlackPresence/bios.html |publisher=(Biographical capsule) ]|title=The Black Presence in American Dance: Arthur Mitchell|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041214144521/http://www.spelman.edu/bush-hewlett/BlackPresence/bios.html| archive-date=December 14, 2004}}</ref> (See also: 1969)
::First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American pilot of a scheduled US airline: August Martin (cargo airline ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seaboardairlines.org/seabhist.htm|title=Seaboard World Airlines Formerly Seaboard & Western Airlines|publisher=SeaboardAirlines.org|date=n.d.|editor-first=Ken|editor-last=Kahn|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718205056/http://www.seaboardairlines.org/seabhist.htm|quote=On November 3rd, 1955 Seaboard & Western became the first airline in the nation to hire an African-American pilot, August Martin.|access-date=December 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avstop.com/history/blackairlines/augustmartin.htm|title=Black Airline Pilots: August Martin (1919–1968)|publisher=AvStop.com / Aviation Online|date=n.d.|archive-date=November 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122035331/http://avstop.com/history/blackairlines/augustmartin.htm|url-status=live|quote=Between 1946 and 1955, he flew only part-time for such airlines as Buffalo Skylines, El Al Airlines, and World Airways. ... In 1955, August Martin gained a foothold in the world of US aviation when he was hired by Seaboard World Airlines as the first Black captain of a US scheduled air carrier. During a thirteen-year period with Seaboard, Martin got a chance to pilot the ], ], ] and ].}}</ref> (See also: 1964)
* ]]]First African American to serve as a presidential executive assistant: ], appointed by President Eisenhower as Administrative Officer for Special Projects.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/21/obituaries/e-frederic-morrow-88-aide-in-eisenhower-administration.html | work=The New York Times | title=E. Frederic Morrow, 88, Aide In Eisenhower Administration | date=July 21, 1994 | access-date=March 6, 2014 | last=Saxon | first=Wolfgang | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318125305/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/21/obituaries/e-frederic-morrow-88-aide-in-eisenhower-administration.html | archive-date=March 18, 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>


==== 1956 ====
*'''2012'''
::First African-American ]: ] * First African-American star of a nationwide network TV show: ] of The Nat King Cole Show, ] (See also: 1948)
* First African American to break the color barrier in a ] in the ]: ] (] in the ])<ref name=NYTGrierThamel>{{Cite news | last = Thamel | first = Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel | title = Grier Integrated a Game and Earned the World's Respect | newspaper = The New York Times | date = January 1, 2006 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/sports/ncaafootball/01grier.html | access-date=April 10, 2011 }}</ref>
* First African-American ] ] champion: ] (doubles, with Englishwoman ]); also first African American to win a ] event (]).<ref name="gibson-obit">{{Cite news | issn = 0021-5996 | volume = 104 | issue = 16 | pages = 51–52 | title = First Black Tennis Champion Althea Gibson Dies in East Orange, Nj, at 76 | work = ] | date = 2003-10-13 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TrQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51 }}</ref>
* First African-American ] agent: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/charles-gittens-1st-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/09/gIQAiyOU5I_story.html | title=Charles Gittens, 1st black Secret Service agent, dies| agency= ] |newspaper=] | date=August 9, 2011 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20110811160127/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/charles-gittens-1st-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/09/gIQAiyOU5I_story.html| archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/first-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/10/gIQAFhYT7I_story.html | title= Charles L. Gittens, first black Secret Service agent, dies at 82 | newspaper = ] |date=August 10, 2011|last= Wilber |first= Del Quentin |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811143337/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/first-black-secret-service-agent-dies/2011/08/10/gIQAFhYT7I_story.html |url-status=live |archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref>
* First African American to win the ] as the top ] in ], in the award's inaugural year: ] (])<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn = 978-0-313-33851-9 | pages = 99–108 | first = Lew | last = Freedman | author-link = Lew Freedman | title = Don Newcombe | encyclopedia = African American Pioneers of Baseball: A Biographical Encyclopedia | year = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iIWWgB0G0YUC&pg=PA99 | access-date=2015-10-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407143703/http://books.google.com/books?id=iIWWgB0G0YUC&pg=PA99 | archive-date=2015-04-07 | url-status = live }}</ref>
* First African-American woman to become president of a four-year, fully accredited liberal arts college: ] (])<ref>{{cite book|first=Linda Beatrice |last=Brown|title=The Long Walk: The Story of the Presidency of Willa B. Player at Bennett College|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6_LPAAACAAJ|year=1998|publisher=Bennett College}}</ref>


==See also== ==== 1957 ====
* First African-American female Wimbledon Tennis Champion: ]
{{Portal|African American}}
* First African-American assistant coach in the ]: ] (See also: 1966)<ref name=LowellNYTObit>{{cite news|title=Lowell Perry, 69, Football Star and Ford Aide|first=Richard|last=Goldstein|date=January 11, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/11/sports/lowell-perry-69-football-star-and-ford-aide.html|access-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627093008/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/11/sports/lowell-perry-69-football-star-and-ford-aide.html|archive-date=June 27, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
*First African-American player in the ] (Made his debut with the Bruins on January 18):]]]]First African American to win ]'s ], in the award's inaugural year: ] (])<ref name="Heaphy2006">{{cite book|last=Heaphy|first=Leslie A.|title=Black Baseball and Chicago: Essays on the Players, Teams, and Games of the Negro Leagues' Most Important City|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jH043iKJlF8C&pg=PA200|year=2006|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-2674-4|page=200|access-date=October 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507133737/https://books.google.com/books?id=jH043iKJlF8C&pg=PA200|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group=Note>While two black players won Gold Gloves that year, only Mays is African-American. The other, ], is ].</ref>
* First African American to work as a botanist at the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thiele |first=Amber |date=2006 |title=Roland Maurice Jefferson Collection |url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/collections/special-collections/roland-maurice-jefferson-collection |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=United States National Agricultural Library}}</ref>

==== 1958 ====
* First African-American ]: ] (])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2005/11/16_black_fa.asp |access-date=November 7, 2011| work=Alaska's World|title=Promoting Diversity|date=November 16, 2005|first=Don|last=Conrard|publisher=]|archive-date=March 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324094852/http://www.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2005/11/16_black_fa.asp}}</ref>
* First African American to reach number-one on the ]: ] ("]")

==== 1959 ====
* First African-American ] winners, in the award's inaugural year: ] and ] (two awards each)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=1958&genre=All | title= Winners – 1958: First Annual Grammy Awards | publisher= ] |access-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-date=April 24, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424184338/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=1958&genre=All | url-status=live}} Presented May 4, 1959, for recordings made in 1958.</ref>
* ]]]]]]First African-American television journalist: ]
* First African American to win a major national player of the year award in college basketball: ], ]<ref group=Note>In 1998, the award would be renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy after its first recipient.</ref> (in that award's inaugural year)

=== 1960s ===
* First African American to win the ]: ]
* First African American to serve on a U.S. district court: ], appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
* First African-American delegate to the ]: ] (See also: 1950)
* First African American to go over Niagara Falls: ] a.k.a. William FitzGerald
* First African American to join the PGA Tour: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/26/sports/golf/charlie-sifford-is-given-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html?_r=0|title=A Pioneer's Tribute Is Both a Reward and a Reminder: Charlie Sifford Is Given the Presidential Medal of Freedom|work=The New York Times |date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=2017-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707192850/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/26/sports/golf/charlie-sifford-is-given-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2017-07-07|url-status=live |last1=Rhoden |first1=William C. }}</ref>

==== 1962 ====
* ]]]First African American to be inducted into the ]: ] (See also: Satchel Paige, 1971)
* First African-American coach in ]: ] (])
* First African-American ] of a state: ] (]) (See also: 1966)
* First African-American student admitted to the University of Mississippi: ]<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|work=]|title=James Meredith talks about vandals|first=Paresh|last=Dave|date=February 18, 2014|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-james-meredith-statue-ole-miss-noose-race-20140218,0,2847383.story#axzz2tjX78AKS}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=First African American Navy Seal to Receive 2023 Lone Sailor Award |url=https://www.navymemorial.org/press-room-1/goines |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=United States Navy Memorial }}</ref>

==== 1963 ====
* First African-American bank examiner for the ]: ]
* First African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi: ]<ref name="HarrisTerborg-Penn2008">{{cite book|author1=Robert L. Harris|author2=Rosalyn Terborg-Penn|title=The Columbia Guide to African American History Since 1939|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6yuwT54mA0C&pg=PA298|year=2008|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-13811-6|pages=298–}}</ref>
* First African-American named as ] ]: ]<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Person of the Year: Martin Luther King Jr. |url=http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1963.html |magazine=] |date=January 3, 1963 |access-date=February 17, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101125021508/http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1963.html| archive-date=November 25, 2010}}</ref>
* First African American to win a ] ] event: ]
* First African-American police officer of the NYPD to be named a precinct commander: ], commander of the NYPD's 28th Precinct in Harlem.<ref name="nypd" />
* ]]]First African American to be named ] ]: ] (]) (See also: Jackie Robinson, 1949)
* First African-American ]: Walter Harris<ref name=chesslife>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/historicmoments/HM_BlackChess/index.html |first=Gregory |last=Kearse |title=Historic Moments: A Legacy of Excellence |magazine=] |via=TheChessDrum.net |date=July 1998 |access-date=April 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111104203/http://www.thechessdrum.net/historicmoments/HM_BlackChess/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-quiz |title=Chess Quiz |publisher=Chess.com |access-date=April 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112060651/http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-quiz |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African American to appear as a series regular on a primetime dramatic television series: ], '']'' (]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Cicely Tyson Biography (1924–2021)|url=https://www.biography.com/actor/cicely-tyson| access-date= February 28, 2019 |publisher= ]|quote=In 1963 Tyson became the first African American star of a TV drama in the series ''East Side/West Side''...}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite news|last1=Cosham|first1=Ralph H.|date=November 25, 1963 |title= Negro Comes to Television; Sponsors Happy|page=29|work=Nashville Banner|agency=United Press International |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68828054/article-on-cicely-tyson-and-east-side/|access-date=January 29, 2021|via=]|quote= …only one dramatic program features a Negro as a regular member of the cast. She is Cicely Tyson, who portrays a social worker in the new CBS series ''East Side, West Side''.}}</ref>
* First African American to be nominated for a ]: ], for ], for the episode "A Horse Has a Big Head, Let Him Worry" of '']'' (See also: 1968)
* First African-Americans inducted to the ]: ], inducted as a team. (See also: Bob Douglas, 1972; Bill Russell, 1975; Clarence Gaines, 1982)
* First African American to graduate from the ]: ].

==== 1964 ====
* First African American to join the ]: ]
* First African-American pilot for a major commercial airline: ], ]<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080228_5_E3_spanc46213|title=AA Honors First Black Airline Pilot|first= D. R.|last=Stewart|work=]|location = Tulsa, Oklahoma|date=February 28, 2008| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913163014/http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080228_5_E3_spanc46213 |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Harris's milestone came a year after ], who had been rejected as a ] applicant in 1957, won the ] case "Colorado Anti-Discrimination Commission v. Continental Airlines, Inc. 372 U.S. 714 no. 146", which found Green had been unlawfully discriminated against.<ref>{{Cite court
| vol = 372
| pinpoint = 714
| reporter = U.S.
| court = Supreme Court
| litigants = Colorado Anti-Discrimination Comm'n v. Continental Air Lines, Inc.
| date = 1963-04-22
| url = https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2245319904809963785
| access-date = 2013-05-27
}}</ref>|group="Note"|name="airline"}} (See also: 1955 and ])
* First African-American man to win an ]: ] (Best Actor, '']'', 1963)
* First movie with African-American interracial marriage: '']'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=David |url=http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/black-1.jsp |title=Black Cinema |publisher=GreenCine.com |date=n.d. |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5zzGrcfON?url=http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/black-1.jsp |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }} Update of {{cite web |author=Hudson |url=http://www.greencine.com/article?action=view&articleID=76 |title=SFBFF: Experience and Empowerment |date=June 10, 2003 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5zzGyGfDq?url=http://www.greencine.com/article?action=view&articleID=76 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=July 7, 2011 }} Note: Asian-American interracial marriage had previously been portrayed.</ref> actors ] and ], written by ], Raphael Hayes, directed by ]
* First African-American baseball player to be named the ] World Series MVP: ], St. Louis Cardinals<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/postmvp.shtml|title=Postseason World Series MVP Awards & All-Star Game MVP Award Winners| publisher= Baseball-Reference.com| archive-date=March 15, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150315125838/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/postmvp.shtml | url-status=live}}</ref>
* ]]]First African American to graduate from the ]: Dr. Mary Edna Davidson

==== 1965 ====
* First African-American nationally ] ]: ] ('']'')
* First African-American title character of a ] series: ] (]).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Duncan|first1=Randy|last2=Smith|first2=Matthew J.|title=Icons of the American Comic Book: From Captain America to Wonder Woman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_bRZ_et8BIC&pg=PA83|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39924-4|page=83|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023721/http://books.google.com/books?id=M_bRZ_et8BIC&pg=PA83|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group=Note name="marvel group=Note">The first Black superhero, Marvel's ], introduced in '']'' #52 (July 1966), is African, not African-American. This is also true of the first Black character to star in his own mainstream comic-book feature, Waku, Prince of the Bantu, who headlined one of four features in the multiple-character omnibus series '']'' (September 1954 – September 1955), from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, ].</ref> (See also: The Falcon, 1969, and Luke Cage, 1972)
* First African-American star of a ] drama: ], '']'' (co-star with ])
* First African-American cast member of a daytime ]: ] who played Peggy Nolan Harris on '']'' until 1972.
* First African-American '']'' ] ]: ] (March issue)
* First African-American ] General: ] (Three-star General)
* ]]]First African-American woman ]: ], ambassador to ]
* First African-American ] ]: ], field judge/head linesman
* First African American to win a national ] championship: Frank Street Jr. (U.S. Amateur Championship)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummajors/F_Street.html |title=NM Frank Street Jr. |publisher=The ChessDrum.net |access-date=April 21, 2010 | archive-date=February 25, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120225045227/http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummajors/F_Street.html | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ] (See also: 1967)
* First African American woman to receive a ] degree from ]: ]
]

==== 1966 ====
* First African-American man to be nominated for a ] and first African American to win a Primetime Emmy Award: ], '']''
* First team with five African-American starters to win the ]: ]
* First African-American coach in the ]: ] (])
* First African-American (mixed-race) model on the cover of a '']'' (British '']'') magazine: ]
* First post-] African-American elected to the ] (and first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate by ]): ] (]; ]) (See also: 1962)
* First African-American ] secretary: ] (])
* First African-American ] ]: ]
* First African-American NFL broadcaster: ]{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} (], on ] games) (See also: 1957)
* ]]]First African-American fire commissioner of a major U.S. city: ] of the ]
* First African-American mayor in Ohio: ] of ].

==== 1967 ====
* First African American to win a ] event: ] (1967 ])
* First African-American elected mayor of a large U.S. city: ] (])
* First African-American appointed to the ]: ] (See also: 1965)
* First African-American selected for astronaut training: ]
* First African American to be inducted into the ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American interracial kiss on network ]: entertainers ] (Italian-American) and ] (African-American) on Sinatra's variety special '']'', airing December 11 on ]<ref name=prime>{{cite video
| people = Nancy Sinatra
| title = Movin' with Nancy
| medium = DVD Commentary Track
| publisher = Image Entertainment
| location = Chatsworth, California
| date = May 2, 2000}}</ref> (See also: 1968)

==== 1968 ====
* First African-American interracial kiss on a network television drama: ], played by ] (African-American) and ], played by ] (Jewish-Canadian): '']'': "]" (See also: 1967)
* First African-American man to win a Grand Slam tennis event: ] (]) (See also: Althea Gibson, 1956; Serena Williams, 2003)
* First African-American coach to win an NBA Championship: ]
* First African-American to serve as an executive of the ]: ]
* First African-American woman elected to ]: ] (New York)
* First African-American appointed as a ]: ]
* First African American to start at ] in the modern era of professional ]: ] (], ])
* First African-American ] awarded the ]: ]
* First fine-arts museum devoted to African-American work: ]
* First African-American actress to star in her own television series where she did not play a domestic worker: ] in '']'' (see also: 1963)
* First African-American woman as a presidential candidate: ] (See also: Shirley Chisholm, 1972)
* First African-American woman reporter for '']'': ]
* First African-American starring character of a comic strip: Danny Raven in '']'' by ] and John Saunders.<ref name=nytimesobit>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/25/obituaries/a-s-mcwilliams-77-comic-strip-cartoonist.html | title = A. S. McWilliams, 77, Comic Strip Cartoonist | work = The New York Times |date=March 25, 1993 |access-date=2014-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417101543/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/25/obituaries/a-s-mcwilliams-77-comic-strip-cartoonist.html |archive-date=April 17, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="horn">{{cite book | editor-last=Horn | editor-first= Maurice|editor-link=Maurice Horn |title=100 Years of American Newspaper Comics |publisher=] |location= New York| year= 1996 | pages = 91–92 | isbn= 0-517-12447-5}}</ref>

==== 1969 ====
* First African-American ]: The ], ]' '']'' #117 (September 1969).<ref name="Boyd2008">{{cite book|last=Boyd|first=Todd|author-link=Todd Boyd|title=African Americans and Popular Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Evxm9Wd6P6EC&pg=RA2-PA162 |access-date=May 27, 2013 |year=2008|publisher=Praeger|location=Westport, CN|isbn=978-0-313-06408-1|page=162|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023714/http://books.google.com/books?id=Evxm9Wd6P6EC&pg=RA2-PA162|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group="Note" name="marvel group=Note" /> (See also: Lobo, 1965 and Luke Cage, 1972)
* First African-American graduate of ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American director of a major ] motion picture: ] ('']'')
* First African-American founder of a classical training school and the company of ]: ], ] (See also: 1955)
* First African-American woman to appear on the ]: ]
* First African American to own a commercial airliner: Warren Wheeler (])<ref>{{cite magazine|last= Weston|first= Martin|date=April 1976|title= First Black Airline Gets Off The Ground|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-YDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44|magazine= ] |access-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180929155512/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-YDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1970s ===

==== 1970 ====
* First African American to head an ] diocese: ], ] of ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diomass.org/about/history-diocese |title=History of the Diocese |publisher=Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts |access-date=February 12, 2013| archive-date=April 21, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150421074746/http://www.diomass.org/about/history-diocese | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American U.S. Navy Master Diver: ] (See also: 1954; 1968)
* First African-American member of the ]: ]<ref>Bell, Gregory S. (2002). "Joe Searles". In '' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729082926/https://books.google.com/books?id=u0ZjUFT5AfQC&client=firefox-ahttps%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DSp3VOOzRGesC&pg=PA143&sig=A_1wg6yUqWhMJlKoSkxWyy3UTwQ |date=2016}}''. John Wiley and Sons. p. 143. {{ISBN|978-0-471-21485-4}}. Retrieved January 30, 2009.</ref>
* First African-American ] basketball coach: ] (])<ref group="Note">At the time, the NCAA had not yet adopted its three-division system. Illinois State was in the NCAA University Division, which became Division I in 1973. The NCAA retroactively considers University Division members to have been Division I members.</ref>
* First African-American contestant in the ] pageant: ] (])
* First African-American woman (and first woman) to become a ]: ]
* First African-American actress to win a ]: ] for '']'' (see also: 1971)
* First African-American basketball player to win the ], the ], and the ] all in the same season: ] (])
* First African American to initiate the concept of free agency. He refused to accept a trade following the 1969 season, ultimately appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The trend of free agency expanded across the entire landscape of professional sports for all races and all cultures: ] (])<ref group="Note">Although Flood's legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency.</ref>
* First African American to become director of a major library system in America: ], as director of the ]<ref name="ClaraStantonJones">{{Cite web|url=https://diversity.umich.edu/news-features/news/trailblazing-librarian-u-m-alumna-clara-stanton-jones-elected-to-michigan-womens-hall-of-fame/|title=Trailblazing librarian, U-M alumna Clara Stanton Jones elected to Michigan Women's Hall of Fame &#124; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion &#124; the University of Michigan|first=Sheryl James &#124; University of Michigan School of|last=Information|date=July 25, 2018 }}</ref>
* First African American to perform at a ]: ] (])

==== 1971 ====
* First African-American ] to be inducted into the ]: ] (See also: Jackie Robinson, 1962)
* First African-American president of the ]: ]
* First African American to win a ]: ] for '']'' (see also: 1970)
* First African-American female ] in the United States: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://andscape.com/features/cheryl-white-first-black-female-jockey-in-the-united-states/ |title=Cheryl White was first out of the gate |first=Rhiannon |last=Walker |date=May 3, 2018 |publisher=] |access-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085626/https://theundefeated.com/features/cheryl-white-first-black-female-jockey-in-the-united-states/ |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African American to appear by herself on the cover of '']'': ] (October issue)
* First African American to become president of the ]: ]<ref name=":62">{{cite book|title=The 21st-Century Black Librarian in America: Issues and Challenges|last=Orange|first=Satia Marshall|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-8108-8245-4|editor1-last=Jackson|editor1-first=Andrew P.|location=Lanham, Maryland|page=253|chapter=Pay It Forward for Effie Lee Morris: A Tribute|editor-last2=Jefferson Jr.|editor-first2=Julius C.|editor-last3=Nosakhere|editor-first3=Akilah S.}}</ref>*1971 DAV Scholarship First African American to receive scholarship to Art Institute of Chicago Mary J. Weatherspoon

==== 1972 ====
* First African American to campaign for the U.S. presidency in a major political party and to win a U.S. presidential primary/caucus: ] (], New Jersey primary) (See also: 1968)
*First African-American ] to star in own comic-book series: ], ]' ''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #1 (June 1972).<ref name="BouldButler2009">{{cite book|last1=Bould|first1=Mark|last2=Butler|first2=Andrew M.|author-link2=Andrew M. Butler|last3=Roberts|first3=Adam|author-link3=Adam Roberts (British writer)|author4=Sherryl Vint|title=The Routledge Companion to Science Fiction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nciFCJ7Z5ygC&pg=PA131|access-date=May 28, 2013|year=2009|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-203-87131-7|page=131|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103023806/http://books.google.com/books?id=nciFCJ7Z5ygC&pg=PA131|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group="Note" name="marvel group=Note" /> (See also: Lobo, 1965, and the Falcon, 1969)
* First African-American ] ]: ]
* First African-American interracial romantic kiss in a mainstream comics magazine: "The Men Who Called Him Monster", by writer ] (See also: 1975) and artist Luis Garcia, in ]'s black-and-white ]-comics magazine '']'' #43 (Jan. 1972) (See also: 1975)<ref>The earliest known humorous interracial kiss was in the story "Home Cooking" in Premier Magazine's satirical comic book ''Nuts'' #1 (March 1954), per at the Grand Comics Database. from the original on October 12, 2013.</ref>
* First African-American interracial male kiss on network television: ] (mixed-race) and ] (Caucasian) in '']''<ref>{{cite episode |title=Sammy's Visit | episode-link=List of All in the Family episodes#Season 2: 1971–1972 | series=All in the Family | series-link=All in the Family |network=CBS | air-date=February 12, 1972 | season=2 | number=34}} In the comedy '']'', at the last moment as a picture is taken, Sammy Davis Jr., playing himself, chides the ] but celebrity-fawning ] with a humorous kiss on the cheek.</ref>
* First African-American inducted to the ]: Team-owner and coach ], in the category of "contributor" (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; player Bill Russell, 1975; coach Clarence Gaines, 1982)
* First African-American female ] director: ] ('']'')
* First African-American comic-book creator to receive a "created by" cover-credit: ] ('']'' #1)

==== 1973 ====
* First African-American ] of a professional regional theater: ] (])
* First African-American ] in a ] movie: ], playing ], ''Live and Let Die''.
* First African-American ] in a James Bond movie: ] (playing ]), '']''.
* First African-American elected mayor of Los Angeles: ]
* First African-American ] in the ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American woman mayor of a U.S. metropolitan city: ], ]
* First African-American woman ], Desiree West.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/102730471737525/posts/desiree-west-august-25-1954-was-the-first-black-female-adult-film-star-she-was-i/103759061634666/ |title=Desiree West (August 25, 1954) was the first black female adult film star. She was Inducted into the X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) Hall of Fame in the mid-'90s, after she had retired from the adult-film industry. After retiring, she got married and moved to North Carolina. |publisher=] |date=December 19, 2020}}</ref>

==== 1974 ====
* First African-American model on the cover of U.S. '']'' magazine: ]
* First African-American ]: ] (])
* First African-American woman to serve as a ] agent: ]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Langer |first=Emily |date=2023-02-24 |title=Zandra Flemister, first Black woman in Secret Service, dies at 71 |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/02/24/zandra-flemister-secret-service-dead/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

==== 1975 ====
* ]]]First African-American elected mayor, and first mayor, of Washington, D.C.: ]
* First African-American ] host: ] (]' '']'')
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American inducted to the ] ]: ] (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; Bob Douglas, 1972; Clarence Gaines, 1982)
* First African-American interracial couple in a TV-show cast: '']'', actors ] (Caucasian) and ] (African-American) as Tom and Helen Willis, respectively; the show's creator: ]
* First African-American interracial romantic kiss in a full-color comic book: '']'' #31 (July 1975), feature "]: Warrior of the Worlds", characters ] Scott and ], by writer ] and artist ]<ref>{{cite book| chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=hnuQBQAAQBAJ&q=%22Killraven%22+%22%2B%22amazing+adventures%22&pg=PA666 | title=Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas| editor-first= M. Keith |editor-last=Booker|publisher= ] | year=2014| page= 666| chapter=Killraven| isbn= 978-0-313-39750-9|first=Mark|last=O'English}}</ref> (See also: 1972)
* First African-American manager in ]: ] (])
* First African-American model on the cover of '']'' magazine: ]
* First African-American ] in the ]: ]
* First African American to play in a ]: ] (])
* First African American to be named ] in ]: ] (]). Of mixed ancestry, Harris was also the first Italian-American to win the award.
* ]]]]]]First African-American women named as '']'' magazine's ]: ] and ]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=A Dozen Who Made a Difference |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947599-5,00.html |magazine=Time |date=January 5, 1976 |access-date=February 14, 2008 |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222110742/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C947599-5%2C00.html }}</ref>

==== 1976 ====
* First African-American female elected officer of an international labor union: ]
* First African American to become president of the ]: ], who served as its acting president from April 11 to July 22 in 1976 and then its president from July 22, 1976, to 1977<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/aboutala/history/past |title=ALA's Past Presidents &#124; About ALA |date=November 20, 2007 |publisher=Ala.org |access-date=2015-10-28}}</ref>
* First African American to win a major party nomination for statewide office in the ] since the ]: ]<ref name= Anderson>{{cite news| last = Anderson| first = Rudy| title = Black Rep. Promises New Life| newspaper = Winston-Salem Chronicle| pages = 1–2| date = October 23, 1976| url = https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn85042324/1976-10-23/ed-1/seq-1/|volume= III|issue=8}}</ref>
* First ] lawyer from the ] to be appointed to the federal judiciary – the United States Military Court of Appeals (now the ]) in Washington, D.C.: ]

==== 1977 ====
* First African-American (and first woman), appointed director of the ]: ]
* First African-American drafted to play professional basketball, first woman to dunk in a professional women's game: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/basketball/aces-wnba/pioneers-cardte-hicks-musiette-mckinney-embrace-las-vegas-aces/|title=Pioneers Cardte Hicks, Musiette McKinney embrace Las Vegas Aces|newspaper=]|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225939/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/basketball/aces-wnba/pioneers-cardte-hicks-musiette-mckinney-embrace-las-vegas-aces/|archive-date=April 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman in the ]: ], ]
* First African-American woman whose signature appeared on U.S. currency: ], the 36th ]
* First African-American publisher of mainstream gay publication: Alan Bell ('']'')<ref>Seabaugh, Cathy (February 1994). "BLK: Focused Coverage for African-American Gays & Lesbians". Chicago ''Outlines''.</ref><ref>Chestnut, Mark (June 1992). "BLK: Getting Glossy". ''Island Lifestyle''.</ref>
* First African-American woman to join the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/28/archives/a-detroit-black-womans-roots-lead-to-a-welcome-in-the-dar-black.html | work=The New York Times | title=A Detroit Black Woman's Roots Lead to a Welcome in the D.A.R.; Black Woman's Roots Lead to a Welcome in D.A.R | first=William K. | last=Stevens | date=December 28, 1977 |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723093744/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/28/archives/a-detroit-black-womans-roots-lead-to-a-welcome-in-the-dar-black.html | archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ] ]: ] (])
* First African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest: ].<ref>{{cite web | title =Pauli Murray.biography | work =bio.: People | publisher =A+E Networks | url =http://www.biography.com/people/pauli-murray-214111 | access-date =October 17, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131018031453/http://www.biography.com/people/pauli-murray-214111 | archive-date =October 18, 2013 }}</ref>
* First African-American (half-Latin) woman to work as a registrar for a major scientific museum: ].{{sfn|Smith|2003|p=615}}

==== 1978 ====
*First African-American broadcast network news anchor: ]
* First African-American woman pilot for a major commercial airline: ], ]<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/distinguishedafr00gube/page/42 |pages= |chapter= Jill E. Brown |title= Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science |first1= Betty Kaplan |last1= Gubert |first2= Miriam |last2= Sawyer |publisher= Greenwood |year= 2001 |isbn= 978-1-57356-246-1}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to advance to the rank of captain in the Navy: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/music/explore/photography/diversity/African-Americans/1970s.html|title=1970s|publisher=NHHC}}</ref>

==== 1979 ====
* First African-American U.S. Marine Corps general officer: ]
* First African American to win a ] for lead actor in a ]: ] (] in '']'')
* First African-American woman ordained in the ] (LCA), the largest of three denominations that later combined to form the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Maureen|title=Rev. Earlean Miller, first African-American woman ordained a Lutheran pastor, dead at 78 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/31617537-418/rev-earlean-miller-first-african-american-woman-ordained-a-lutheran-pastor-dead-at-78.html|work=]|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203901/http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/31617537-418/rev-earlean-miller-first-african-american-woman-ordained-a-lutheran-pastor-dead-at-78.html#.VTqXxWRViko}}</ref>
* ]]]First African-American head coach of an NCAA Division I-A football program: ] (]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Willie Jeffries Hall of Fame Profile |url=https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/willie-jeffries |publisher=Black College Football Hall of Fame}}</ref>
*First African American to play professional basketball behind the "Iron Curtain", ] played for KS Start Lublin, Poland.
]]]

=== 1980s ===

==== 1980 ====
* First African-American woman to graduate from (and to attend) the ]: ], graduated in 1980<ref name="Black Past">{{cite web|last1=Cabiao|first1=Howard|title=Mines, Janie L. (1958– )|date=December 2010|url=http://www.blackpast.org/aah/mines-janie-l-1958|publisher=BlackPast.org|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="DoD">Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Equal Opportunity and Safety Policy {{cite book|title=Black Americans in defense of our nation|date=1985|publisher=US Department of Defense|page=159|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951d006579432;view=1up;seq=161|access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="MIT">{{cite book|last1=Mines|first1=Janie L.|title=Integrated change management|date=June 1988|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|url=https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/60755/40827484-MIT.pdf?sequence=2|access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to join the cast of NBC's '']'': ]
* First African-American-oriented cable television network: ]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mitchell|first=Gail|date=October 29, 2005|title=From One Man's Vision To An Empire: BET|magazine=Billboard |volume=117|issue=44|page=24|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhUEAAAAMBAJ&q=bet+1981+first+network&pg=PA24}}</ref>

==== 1981 ====
* First African American to play in the ]: ] (])<ref group=Note>The NHL had fielded black players for more than 20 years, with the first being ] in 1958, but all past black players were ] and not African-Americans. In 1996, ] (]) became the first to have been both born and exclusively trained in the U.S., per {{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-01-14-cover-oree_N.htm |title=Willie O'Ree still blazing way in NHL 50 years later |first=Kevin |last=Allen |newspaper=] |date=January 14, 2008 |access-date=June 23, 2014| archive-date=October 26, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026114016/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-01-14-cover-oree_N.htm | url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1982 ====
* First African-American inducted to the ] ]: ] (See also: New York Renaissance, 1963; Bob Douglas, 1972; Bill Russell, 1975)
* First African-American ] ]: ]

==== 1983 ====
* First African-American astronaut: ] (] mission ]).<ref name="JonesTripp1998">{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Stanley P.|last2=Tripp|first2=L. Octavia|last3=Amram|first3=Fred|title=African-American Astronauts|url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericana00jone/page/13|access-date=May 27, 2013|year=1998|publisher=Capstone|isbn=978-1-56065-695-1|page=}}</ref><ref group=Note>] ] was the first person of African descent in space, in 1980.</ref>
* First African-American ] of ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American ]: ] (A few weeks before the end of her reign as Miss America, Williams learned that Penthouse magazine would be publishing unauthorized nude photographs of her in an upcoming issue. Amid growing media controversy and scrutiny, Williams resigned as Miss America in July 1984 (under pressure from the Miss America Organization) and was replaced by first runner-up Miss New Jersey ], who was also African-American.)
* First African-American owners of a major metropolitan newspaper: ] and ] ('']'')
*First African-American admitted on the national level as a member-at-large of the Daughters of the American Revolution: ]
* First African-American artist to have a music video shown in heavy rotation on ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/06/28/michael.jackson.black.community/index.html|title=Michael Jackson broke down racial barriers|first=Debra|last=Alban|publisher=]|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=November 19, 2019| archive-date=November 11, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191111080204/https://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/06/28/michael.jackson.black.community/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1984 ====
* First African American to win a delegate-awarding U.S. presidential primary/caucus: ] (Louisiana, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Virginia, and one of two separate Mississippi contests).
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American coach to win the ]: ] (])

==== 1985 ====
* First African American to become a member of the ]'s ] precision flying team: ]. Also first African American to command the team (1994).
* First African-American (mixed-race) female general: ]

==== 1986 ====
* ]]]First African-American ] ] driver: ]<ref group=Note>] became the first black Formula One racer in 2006, but he is a British citizen of ]n ancestry, and not an African-American. ] did not compete in a race, but drove a Formula One car professionally in January 1986 as a tester for the ]–] at ], Portugal.</ref> (See also: Ribbs, 1991)
* First African-American musicians inducted into the ], in the inaugural class: ], ], ], ], ], and ]
* First African-American woman (Shirley A. Ajayi) was given a part for 6 months on a TV show as a psychic in 1986 in Chicago, Illinois. Shirley had to audition with other psychics to get the part. She then was taught marketing at the John Hancock center by her boss who ran the TV show. For safety reasons she was renamed as "Aura!". Bio available-book: "Aura The Ebony Princess."
*

==== 1987 ====
*First African-American woman, and first woman, inducted into the ]: ]
* First African-American Radio City Music Hall Rockette: ]
* First African-American man to sail around the world solo: ]
* First African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company: ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The first Black Fortune 500 CEOs – The Bay State Banner |url=https://baystatebanner.com/2021/08/11/the-first-black-fortune-500-ceos/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=baystatebanner.com}}</ref>
* First African-American woman, and first woman, to have an album debut at number one on the ]: ]

==== 1988 ====
* First African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics (a bronze in figure skating): ]
* First African-American woman elected to a U.S. ]ship, and first appointed to a ]: ]
* First African-American candidate for President of the United States to obtain ballot access in all 50 states: ]
* First African-American ] referee: ]
* First African-American ] to start (and to win) a Super Bowl: ] (])

==== 1989 ====
* First African-American ] coach of the modern era: ], ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* ]First African-American woman (and first woman), ordained bishop in the ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=E. J. Dionne |date=1989-02-11 |title=First Black Chosen by Democrats To Head the National Committee |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/11/us/first-black-chosen-by-democrats-to-head-the-national-committee.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== 1990s ===

==== 1990 ====
* First elected African-American ]: ] (]) (See also: P. B. S. Pinchback, 1872)
* First African-American elected president of the '']'': ]<ref>{{Cite news|title=First Black Elected to Head Harvard's Law Review|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html?pagewanted=2|date=February 6, 1990|first=Fox|last=Butterfield|author-link=Fox Butterfield|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528102959/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/06/us/first-black-elected-to-head-harvard-s-law-review.html?pagewanted=2|archive-date=May 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 2008, 2009)
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American '']'' ]: ]

==== 1991 ====
* First African American to qualify for the ] ]: ] (See also: Ribbs, 1986)
* First African-American female ]: ]

==== 1992 ====
* First African-American female astronaut: Dr. ] (])
* First African-American woman elected to ]: ] (])
* First African-American woman to moderate a ]: ] (second debate of 1992 campaign)
* First African American to sail solo around the world following the ] route around the southern tips of South America (]) and Africa (]), avoiding the ] and ] Canals: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/10/us/sailor-makes-solo-voyage-around-globe.html|title=Sailor Makes Solo Voyage Around Globe|last=Richman|first=Evan|date=June 10, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>
* First African-American ] ] to reach (and win) the ]: ] (]) ]
* First African American to direct an ]: ] ('']'')

==== 1993 ====
* First African-American ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American woman (and first woman), appointed as ]: ]
* First African American to win the ]: ]
* First African-American woman named ]: ]; also the youngest person named to that position
* First African-American appointed ]: ]
* First African-American Director of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=President, and Fellows of Harvard College|url=https://perspectivesofchange.hms.harvard.edu/node/190 |title=David Satcher, MD, Ph.D. (First African American Named to Head the CDC, and First African American Man Named Surgeon General, HHS)|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American appointed ]: ]
* First African American to serve as home plate umpire for World Series game: ] for Game 4 of the ]
* ]]]First African American to be inducted as a ] of the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Thompson|first=Gayle|date=2020-01-07|title=53 Years Ago: Charley Pride Becomes the First Black Singer to Perform at the Grand Ole Opry|url=https://theboot.com/charley-pride-first-african-american-grand-ole-opry-singer/|access-date=2020-12-04|magazine=The Boot}}</ref>

==== 1994 ====
* First African-American female director of a major-studio movie: ] (]' '']'')
* First African-American (mixed-race) to win the ]: ]<ref group=Note name="Tiger"/>
* First African-American male In 1994, ] was elected as the first African American to serve on the Stephens City Town Council. Watson served for one term, from 1994

==== 1995 ====
* First African-American inductee to the ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American personal diarist to a U.S. president (Bill Clinton): ]<ref>Janis F. Kearney, ''My Life: Bill Clinton; Something to Write Home About: Memories from a Presidential Diarist''.</ref>

==== 1996 ====
* ]]]First African-American U.S. Navy ]: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb1998/n02191998_9802198.html |title=Reason Is Navy's First Black Four-Star Admiral |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |date=February 19, 1998 |access-date=October 30, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061027080316/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb1998/n02191998_9802198.html |archive-date=October 27, 2006}}</ref>
* First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), ]

==== 1997 ====
* First African-American (mixed-race) to win a ]: ] (])<ref group=Note name="Tiger"/>
* First African-American model to appear on the cover of '']'': ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American Director of the ]: ]<ref>Historic Listing of National Park Service Officials, USDI, NPS, May 1, 1991, by Harold Danz. Updates after publication by Public Affairs.</ref>

==== 1998 ====
* First African-American appointed ]: ]\]First African-American female ] in the ]: ]
* ]]]First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American (mixed-race) to play in the ]: ]<ref group=Note name="Tiger">Woods' mixed ancestry – ¼ Chinese, ¼ ], ¼ African-American, ⅛ ], and ⅛ ] – also makes him the first ] to achieve this feat. He is also the first of only four golfers of primarily non-European descent to win a men's major, with the others being ] (an ]), ] (a ] from New Zealand), and ] (]n).</ref>
* First African American to ] at the ]: ]<ref>Slides 13–14 at: {{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/local/amp-stories/from-john-mccain-to-abraham-lincoln-lying-in-state/|title=Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Michael Gibson|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200524064226/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/local/amp-stories/from-john-mccain-to-abraham-lincoln-lying-in-state/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lying in Honor">Note: Individuals ] have five guards of honor, representing the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Individuals ] have the ] as civilian guards of honor. {{cite news|url= https://www.wyff4.com/article/lying-in-state-versus-lying-in-honor/18659120|title=Lying in State Versus Lying in Honor|first=Carla|last= Field |publisher=]|location= Greenville, South Carolina|date=n.d.| access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180703091143/http://www.wyff4.com/article/lying-in-state-versus-lying-in-honor/18659120|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 2005, 2019)
* First African-American Space Shuttle Commander ]

==== 1999 ====
* First African American to be awarded the ] title in ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackhistory.com/2020/02/maurice-ashley-first-african-american-chess-grandmaster.html|title=Meet the First African American to Become a Chess Grandmaster|date=n.d.|publisher=Black History|archive-date=February 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208153334/https://www.blackhistory.com/2020/02/maurice-ashley-first-african-american-chess-grandmaster.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2020}}
* First African-American ]: ]]]]First African-American female university president: ] at ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rpi.edu/president/profile.html |title=Profile of Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D.|publisher=] |date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2014 | archive-date=April 7, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407124823/http://www.rpi.edu/president/profile.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

== 21st century ==

=== 2000s ===

==== 2000 ====
* First African-American nominated for ] by a ]-recognized and federally funded political party: ] (See also: 1952, 2020; FEC established in 1975)
* First African American to be inducted into the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of African American music|date=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO |editor=Price, Emmett George |editor2=Kernodle, Tammy L. |editor3=Maxile, Horace Joseph|isbn=978-0-313-34200-4|location=Santa Barbara, California|oclc=699474764}}</ref>
* First African American to be elected Republican state party chair in the United States: ]<ref name="msa.maryland.gov">{{Cite web |title=Michael S. Steele, Maryland Lt. Governor |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/ltgov/former/html/msa13921.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref>

==== 2001 ====
], 2001]]
* First African-American (mixed-race) ]: ]
* First African-American president of the ]: The Most Reverend ] (see also: 2020)
* First African-American president of the ]: Rev. ]
* First African-American president of an ] university: ] at ]
* First African-American woman and first woman ]: ] (See also: 2005)
* First ]: ], founder of ] (See also: 2002)
* First African-American woman billionaire: ]

==== 2002 ====
* First African American to become majority owner of a ] team: ] (], ])<ref group=Note>Announced as Bobcats owner in December 2002, although the team did not begin to play until {{nbay|2004|start}}.</ref> (See also: 2001)
* First African-American ] gold medal winner: ] (two-woman bobsleigh)
* First African-American woman combat pilot in the ]: Captain ], USMC (See also: 2008)
* First African-American (half-Caucasian) to win an Oscar: ] (Best Lead Actress, '']'', 2001)
* First African-American to receive the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Jason|url=https://www.thewrap.com/black-egot-winners-list-whoopi-goldberg-john-legend-jennifer-hudson/|title=7 Black EGOT Winners, From Whoopi to Quincy, Plus Others Who Could Soon Join the Club|work=]|date=February 3, 2023|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to be ranked #1 in tennis: ]
* First African American to be named ]: ]
* First African-American ] head coach to win ]: ] (]), ]
* ]]]First African-American ] in the ]: ] (])

==== 2003 ====
* First African American to win a Career ] in tennis: ] (See also: Althea Gibson, 1956; Arthur Ashe, 1968)
* First African-American ] president: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.news.ku.edu/2004/04N/FebNews/Feb16/archerlawschool.html |title=First black American Bar Association president to visit KU Feb. 18 |publisher=Archive.news.ku.edu |date=2004-02-16 |access-date=2015-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516014331/http://archive.news.ku.edu/2004/04N/FebNews/Feb16/archerlawschool.html |archive-date=2015-05-16 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ]]]First African American elected to statewide office in Maryland. ( Lt. Governor): ]<ref name="msa.maryland.gov"/>

==== 2004 ====
* First African-American inducted into the ]: ]
* First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), 2004 NBA Finals
* First African-American ] head coach to reach (and win) the ]: ] (]), ]

==== 2005 ====
* First African-American woman ]: ] (See also: 2001)
* First African-American women to lead a major ] agency in the U.S. serving on the ]: ] and Lynette Sweet<ref name="BART Archives">{{cite news|publisher=] Archives |date= December 16, 2005 |title=BART 1st major transit agency in U.S. history to be led by two African American women 'Women assume BART's two top posts & pay tribute to Rosa Parks'|url=http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2005/news20051215}}</ref>
* ]First African-American woman ] aviator: ]
* First African-American woman (and first woman), to ] at the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35713|title=The Honoring of Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks|publisher=]|date=n.d.|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-date=January 4, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130104004247/http://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/35713|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="Lying in Honor" /> (See also: 1998, 2019)

==== 2006 ====
* First African American to command a ] division: ]
* First African-American individual ] gold medal winner: ] (men's 1,000-meter speed skating)
* First African American to reach the peak of ]: ]
* First African-American woman to receive Dharma transmission in Zen Buddhism: ]<ref name="Ford2006">{{cite book|first=James Ishmael |last=Ford|title=Zen Master Who?: A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen|url=https://archive.org/details/zenmasterwhoguid00jame/page/166|access-date=October 15, 2013|year=2006|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0-86171-509-1|pages=}}</ref>
* First African-American quarterback inducted into the ]: ]
* First African-American Lady of Turks and Caicos Islands: ]

==== 2007 ====
* First known African-American woman to reach the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news |first=Meghan|last= Barr |title=Cancer Survivor, 75, Skis to North Pole |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003696398_northpole07.html |work=] | location = Seattle, WA |date=May 6, 2007|access-date=February 17, 2008 | archive-date=April 24, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150424194053/http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/75-year-old-cancer-survivor-skis-to-north-pole/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imdiversity.com/featured-article/rear-admiral-stephen-rochon-1st-african-american-chief-usher-at-the-white-house-2/ |title=Rear Admiral Stephen Rochon 1st African American Chief Usher at the White House |publisher=IMDiversity |date=2013-09-16 |access-date=2015-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032033/http://imdiversity.com/featured-article/rear-admiral-stephen-rochon-1st-african-american-chief-usher-at-the-white-house-2/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African-American ] head coaches to reach the ]: ] and ], ]<ref group=Note>Smith and Dungy both reached this milestone on the same day, although Smith was technically the first due solely to scheduling. The ] and ]s are always held on the same day. In the ], the NFC game was played first.</ref>
* ]]]First African-American NFL coach to win a Super Bowl: ] (])

==== 2008 ====
* First African American to be nominated as a major-party U.S. presidential candidate: ], ]<ref name="npr1409">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 |title= Obama To Accept Nomination at Mile High Stadium |publisher=] |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |last1=Liasson| first1= Mara| last2= Norris| first2=Michele |archive-date=March 16, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150316164750/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92301409 | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American elected ]: ]<ref name="votes">{{cite news |publisher=] |access-date=February 20, 2009 |date=November 4, 2008 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27531033 |title=Barack Obama elected 44th president |last=Johnson |first=Alex}}</ref>
* First African American First Lady: ]
* First African American to referee a ] game: ] (])
* First African-American woman elected Speaker of a ]: ] ]
* First African American to be appointed to the ] by a state governor: ]
* First African-American woman combat pilot in the United States Air Force: Major ] (See also: 2002)
* ]]]First African-American ] general manager to win the ]: ] (]), Super Bowl XLII

==== 2009 ====
], 2009]]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American chair of the ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American woman ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American woman ]: ]
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African American to appear by himself on a circulating U.S. coin: ] (]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/24/duke.ellington.coin/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |title=Duke Ellington becomes first African American on U.S. coin |publisher=CNN |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2010 | archive-date=December 23, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141223172556/http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/24/duke.ellington.coin/index.html?iref=mpstoryview | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]
* First African-American woman ]: ]<ref name=Kaufman>{{cite magazine|last=Kaufman |first=David |title=Introducing America's First Black, Female Rabbi |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903245,00.html |magazine=] |date=June 6, 2009 |access-date=June 6, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611145842/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1903245%2C00.html |archive-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Whitaker>{{cite web |last=Whitaker |first=Carrie |title=First Black Female Jewish Rabbi Ordained |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090606/NEWS01/906070350/First+black+female+rabbi+ordained |work=] |date=June 6, 2009 |access-date=June 6, 2009 }}</ref>
* First African-American woman ] of a ] company: ], ].
* First African-American doubles team to be named ]: ] ] ]

=== 2010s ===

==== 2010 ====
* First African-American female to be elected state ] in the United States: ] (]) (See also: 2020 and 2021)
* First African American to win the ]: ] with the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regalmag.com/black-hockey-player-helps-chicago-win-stanley-cup-a-490.html|title=Black Hockey Player Helps Chicago Win Stanley Cup|date=February 13, 2013|publisher=regalmag.com |access-date=2016-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302215218/http://www.regalmag.com/black-hockey-player-helps-chicago-win-stanley-cup-a-490.html|archive-date=2016-03-02|url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2011 ====
* First African-American Director of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/about/agency/bio_dir.jsp|title=Charles E. Samuels Jr.|publisher=] |access-date=2014-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915003445/http://www.bop.gov/about/agency/bio_dir.jsp|archive-date=2014-09-15|url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African-American admitted to the ]: ]<ref name="lawson">{{cite web|url=https://whyy.org/articles/rabbi-is-latest-of-many-titles-for-philly-woman/|title=Rabbi is latest of many titles for Philly woman|publisher=]|access-date=2019-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507172845/https://whyy.org/articles/rabbi-is-latest-of-many-titles-for-philly-woman/|archive-date=2019-05-07|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="apbspeakers1">{{cite web |url=https://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/sandra-lawson/ |title=Book Sandra Lawson for Speaking, Events and Appearances |publisher=APB Speakers |access-date=2019-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603185110/https://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/sandra-lawson/ |archive-date=2019-06-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African-American woman to serve as acting chair of the ]: ]

==== 2012 ====
* First African American to be re-elected ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Robert|title=Obama reelected as president|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html|newspaper=] |date=November 6, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162701/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html | archive-date=April 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American Combatant Commander of ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15719 |title=Secretary Panetta Statement on Intent to Nominate CENTCOM Commander |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415112849/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15719 |archive-date=April 15, 2013}}</ref>
* First African-American elected president of the ] (SBC): ]<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nola.com/religion/index.ssf/2012/06/the_rev_fred_luter_is_unoppose.html |title = Spirit of change: An influential local preacher is set to become the first black leader of the Southern Baptist Convention |first = Bruce |last = Nolan |date=2012-06-17 |access-date=2012-06-18 |newspaper = ] |location = New Orleans |issue = Metro Edition |pages = A1, A10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120618121839/http://www.nola.com/religion/index.ssf/2012/06/the_rev_fred_luter_is_unoppose.html |archive-date=2012-06-18 |url-status = live }} ''Cf''. {{cite news|first = Dayne|last = Sherman |date=2012-06-24|title = Southern Baptist Convention in black, white|url = http://hammondstar.com/articles/2012/06/26/opinion/columnists/8231.txt|newspaper = Sunday Star|location = Hammond|pages = 4A, 5A |access-date=2012-06-24 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130125090835/http://hammondstar.com/articles/2012/06/26/opinion/columnists/8231.txt|archive-date=2013-01-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/southern-baptists-fred-luter_n_1592507.html |first = Travis |last = Oller |work = The Huffington Post |title = Rev. Fred Luter Jr. to be Southern Baptists first black president |date=2012-06-13 |access-date=2012-06-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120618184736/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/southern-baptists-fred-luter_n_1592507.html |archive-date=2012-06-18 |url-status = live }}</ref>
* First African-American woman to take command of a navy missile destroyer: Monika Washington Stoker<ref name="myfox8">{{cite web|url=http://myfox8.com/2012/02/24/first-black-woman-to-command-navy-missile-destroyer-is-from-greensboro/|title=First black woman to command navy missile destroyer is from Greensboro &#124; MyFOX8.com|date=February 25, 2012|publisher=myfox8.com|access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref>

==== 2013 ====
* First African-American U.S. senator from the former ] since ]: ]<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 0099-9660 | last = Moore | first = Stephen | title = Tim Scott: Meet the New Senator From South Carolina | work =] | access-date=2013-05-29 |date=December 21, 2012 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323777204578193322865708896 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112134123/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323777204578193322865708896 |archive-date=January 12, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African-American president of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/cheryl-boone-isaacs-elected-president-of-academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-1200569440/ |title=Cheryl Boone Isaacs Elected President of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |work=] | date=July 30, 2013 | first=Jon |last= Weisman | archive-date=April 24, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150424200710/http://variety.com/2013/film/awards/cheryl-boone-isaacs-elected-president-of-academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-1200569440/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeh-johnson-confirmed-as-secretary-of-homeland-security/2013/12/16/deb5d64c-669d-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html|title=Jeh Johnson confirmed as secretary of homeland security |first=Paul |last=Kane |date=December 16, 2013 | newspaper=] |access-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-date=April 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415075322/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeh-johnson-confirmed-as-secretary-of-homeland-security/2013/12/16/deb5d64c-669d-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American to receive a full-length statue in the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosa Parks Statue {{!}} Architect of the Capitol |url=https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/rosa-parks-statue |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.aoc.gov}}</ref>

==== 2014 ====
* First African-American woman ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/07/01/adm-michelle-howard-becomes-first-four-star-woman-in-navy-history/|title= Adm. Michelle Howard becomes first four-star woman in Navy history|last1=Lamothe|first1=Dan|date=July 1, 2014|newspaper=] |access-date=July 6, 2014 | archive-date=April 24, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150424153826/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/07/01/adm-michelle-howard-becomes-first-four-star-woman-in-navy-history/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American senator to be elected in the South since ]: ], elected in South Carolina<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/11/05/historical-firsts-from-the-election/18523511/|title=Political firsts: How history was made this midterm election|first=Lindsay |last=Deutsch| work=] |date=November 5, 2014|access-date=November 7, 2014 | archive-date=January 13, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150113131431/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/11/05/historical-firsts-from-the-election/18523511/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American player named to the USA ] Team: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gostanford.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208166637|title=Mariah Stackhouse|work=gostanford.com – Stanford University}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://golfweek.com/news/2014/jun/04/mariah-stackhouse-curtis-cup-2014-stanford-women/|title=Stanford's Mariah Stackhouse keeps breaking barriers as Curtis Cup begins|first=Beth Ann |last=Nichols|work=Golfweek.com|date=June 4, 2014}}</ref>
* First African-American transgender woman to appear on the cover of ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-18 |title=These 21 Black women changed history forever |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/celebrate-black-history-4/black-women-in-history-rcna12963 |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=TODAY.com }}</ref>

==== 2015 ====
* First African American to lead a major intelligence agency: ], ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/562290/marine-corps-officer-takes-defense-intelligence-agency-reins.aspx |title=Marine Corps officer takes Defense Intelligence Agency reins| first= Terri Moon|last= Cronk| publisher= ] |date=January 26, 2015 |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226142652/http://www.marines.mil/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/3258/Article/562290/marine-corps-officer-takes-defense-intelligence-agency-reins.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American commissioner of a ]: ], ]<ref name="Rush">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/03/17/cfl-to-name-new-commissioner-today.html|title=CFL names Jeffrey Orridge as new commissioner|last=Rush|first=Curtis|date=March 17, 2015|work=]|access-date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318054026/http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/03/17/cfl-to-name-new-commissioner-today.html|archive-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0423/Loretta-Lynch-makes-history-as-first-black-woman-to-become-attorney-general-video |title=Loretta Lynch makes history as first black woman to become attorney general (+video)| first=Francine |last=Kiefer |work=] |date=April 23, 2015 |access-date=2015-04-24 | archive-date=April 24, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150424075038/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0423/Loretta-Lynch-makes-history-as-first-black-woman-to-become-attorney-general-video | url-status=live }}</ref>
* ]]]First African-American female principal dancer for the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/arts/dance/misty-copeland-is-promoted-to-principal-dancer-at-american-ballet-theater.html |title=Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theater | first=Michael | last=Cooper |work=] |date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=2021-03-24 }}</ref>
* First African American to be inducted into the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/remembering-wendell-scott-s-lone-nascar-win-51-years-later-120114|title= Remembering Wendell Scott's lone NASCAR win 51 years later| first= Jay |last=Pennell |date=January 2, 2015|work=] | archive-date=April 24, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150424203128/http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/remembering-wendell-scott-s-lone-nascar-win-51-years-later-120114 |url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 1952)
* First African-American sole anchor of a network evening newscast: ]<ref>{{cite news|agency=]|date=June 18, 2015|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20150618/ENTERTAINMENT/801247507 |title=NBC's new anchor Lester Holt rose steadily to top|newspaper=]|location=Jacksonville, Florida|access-date= February 2, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American elected as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church: ]<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://wivb.com/2015/06/30/wny-native-becomes-first-black-leader-of-episcopal-church/ |title=WNY native becomes first black leader of Episcopal Church |publisher=wivb.com |access-date=2015-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701234935/http://wivb.com/2015/06/30/wny-native-becomes-first-black-leader-of-episcopal-church/ |archive-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* First African-American female ] president: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=554 |title=Paulette Brown, first African-American female American Bar Association President |publisher=MCCA |access-date=2015-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909205029/http://www.mcca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=554 |archive-date=2015-09-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
* First African-American president of a major broadcast TV network: ]
* First African-American ]: Dr. ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/9/14/12916522/carla-hayden-librarian-of-congress |title=Carla Hayden is officially sworn in as the first woman and African-American librarian of Congress |website=]| first= Victoria M. |last=Massie |date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=2016-09-14 |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921040511/http://www.vox.com/2016/9/14/12916522/carla-hayden-librarian-of-congress |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2017====
* First African-American CEO of a Major League Baseball team: ]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tvone.tv/63239/derek-jeter-becomes-first-black-ceo-of-major-league-baseball-team-is-okay-with-players-kneeling/|title=Derek Jeter becomes first African-American CEO of a Major league Baseball team|work=www.tvone.tv|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226112722/https://tvone.tv/63239/derek-jeter-becomes-first-black-ceo-of-major-league-baseball-team-is-okay-with-players-kneeling/|archive-date=February 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American to win the ] ] Book Prize: ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-13 |title=Doing Social Good through Preservation Activism with Catherine Fleming Bruce |url=https://www.preservecast.org/2020/07/13/preservation-activism-with-catherine-fleming-bruce/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=PreserveCast }}</ref>

==== 2018 ====
* ]]]First African-American woman to headline ]: ], giving rise to the nickname ]
* First African American to play for Team USA Hockey in the Olympic Games: ]
* First African-American artist commissioned for U.S. president portrait to be displayed in the Smithsonian: ]
* First African-American artist commissioned for U.S. first lady portrait to be displayed in the Smithsonian: ]
* First African-American elected to a state office of the Maryland Society Daughters of the American Revolution: ]
* First African American to be the artistic or creative director of a French fashion house: ]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/business/louis-vuitton-virgil-abloh.html|title=Louis Vuitton Names Virgil Abloh as Its New Men's Wear Designer|last1=Friedman |first1=Vanessa |date=March 26, 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2018|last2=Paton|first2=Elizabeth|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/news/american-psychiatric-association-first-african-american-president-dr-altha-stewart/article/767281/|title=New APA President Takes Office as the First African American to Lead the Organization|date=May 21, 2018|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524004159/https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/news/american-psychiatric-association-first-african-american-president-dr-altha-stewart/article/767281/|archive-date=May 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to be major party nominee for state governor: ]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|title=Stacey Abrams wins Democratic primary in Georgia. She could become the nation's first black woman governor.|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/22/politics/georgia-governor-race-stacey-abrams/index.html|access-date=May 23, 2018|work=CNN|date=May 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523023546/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/22/politics/georgia-governor-race-stacey-abrams/index.html|archive-date=May 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Maldonado|first1=Samantha|title=West Point appoints Darryl A. Williams as first black superintendent|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/us/west-point-darryl-a-williams-first-black-superintendent/index.html|access-date=July 3, 2018|work=CNN|date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702222919/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/us/west-point-darryl-a-williams-first-black-superintendent/index.html|archive-date=July 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* First African-American woman U.S. Marine Corps general officer: ]
* ]]]First African-American winner of the Academy Award for Screenwriting: ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-05 |title=Oscars 2018: Jordan Peele makes history as first black writer to win best original screenplay for "Get Out" - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscars-2018-jordan-peele-makes-history-first-black-writer-win-get-out-best-original-screenplay/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.cbsnews.com }}</ref>

==== 2019 ====
* First African-American woman to be the director of the ]: Dr. ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/02/18/black-history-makers-dr-ngozi-ezike-illinois-health-covid-pandemic/|title=Celebrating Black History Makers: Dr. Ngozi Ezike Has Been Illinois' Guide During The COVID-19 Pandemic|work=CBS Chicago|date=February 18, 2021|last=Tucker|first=Dorothy}}</ref>
* First African-American general authority of ]: ]
* First African-American (and first historian) secretary of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite press release|date=May 28, 2019|url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-regents-name-lonnie-bunch-14th-smithsonian-secretary |title=Smithsonian Regents Name Lonnie Bunch 14th Smithsonian Secretary|publisher=] |access-date=February 13, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American female director of an ]-accredited institution: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/meet-the-la-zoos-new-director|title=Meet the LA Zoo's new director, Denise Verret|website=]|date=July 7, 2019}}</ref>
* First African-American elected official to lie in state at the ]: Representative ]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/24/cummings-lie-in-state-capitol-056170|title=Elijah Cummings is first African American lawmaker to lie in state at Capitol|first1=Sarah|last1=Ferris|first2=John|last2= Bresnahan|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=July 27, 2020|magazine=]|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200716120738/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/24/cummings-lie-in-state-capitol-056170|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Note: Cummings was honored in the ]'s ]. In 2020, Representative ] became the first African-American elected official to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol ]: {{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/politics/john-lewis-memorial.html|title=John Lewis Is the First Black Lawmaker to Lie in State in the Capitol Rotunda|first=Luke| last=Broadwater|date=July 27, 2020|access-date=July 27, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=July 27, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727141531/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/politics/john-lewis-memorial.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 1998, 2005)
*First African-American elected to the National Board of Management of the Daughters of the American Revolution: ]

=== 2020s ===

==== 2020 ====
], 2021]]
* First African-American (and Asian-American) to be nominated as a major party U.S. vice-presidential candidate: ], ] (See also: 2010 and 2021)<ref name="APSelects">{{Cite news|date=August 11, 2020|title=Joe Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation-world/2020/08/11/biden-selects-california-sen-kamala-harris-as-running-mate/|quote=selecting the first African American woman and South Asian American to compete on a major party's presidential ticket}}</ref><ref name="APResonate">{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2020|title=Kamala Harris's selection as VP resonates with Black women|work=Associated Press News|url=https://apnews.com/46ef207f32a089b2b54ed35d57c9413f|quote=making her the first Black woman on a major party's presidential ticket ... It also marks the first time a person of Asian descent is on the presidential ticket.}}</ref>
* First African-American and first female elected ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/07/us/politics/biden-election.html|title=Biden Wins Presidency, Ending Four Tumultuous Years Under Trump|newspaper= The New York Times| date=November 7, 2020|access-date=November 7, 2020|first1=Jonathan|last1= Martin |first2= Alexander|last2= Burns}}</ref>
* First African American to be appointed as a military Chief of Staff and first African American to lead any branch of the United States Armed Forces: ]
* First African-American woman elected to the ]: ]
* First African-American president of an NFL team: ] (])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2020/08/17/source-sports-washington-football-team-names-jason-wright-first-african-american-team-president-in-nfl/|title=Washington Football Team Names Jason Wright First African American Team President in NFL|first=Jason|last=Cordner|date=August 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name="WrightWashington">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-football-team-appoints-jason-wright-as-president|title=Washington Football Team Appoints Jason Wright as President|publisher=Washington Football|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818182638/https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/washington-football-team-appoints-jason-wright-as-president|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* First African-American Professor of Poetry, first African-American woman Professor and first Distinguished Visiting Poetry Professor of the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet-books/2020/08/tracie-morris-to-join-iowa-writers-workshop-faculty|title = Tracie Morris Joins Iowa Writers' Workshop Permanent Faculty by Harriet Staff|date = October 12, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American elected official to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/politics/john-lewis-memorial.html|title=John Lewis Is the First Black Lawmaker to Lie in State in the Capitol Rotunda|first=Luke| last=Broadwater|date=July 27, 2020|access-date=July 27, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=July 27, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727141531/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/politics/john-lewis-memorial.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (See also: 1998, 2005)
* ]|169x169px]]First African-American Catholic cardinal: ]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/25/us/pope-francis-cardinal-gregory.html|title=Pope Francis Appoints First African-American Cardinal|newspaper=The New York Times|first1=Elizabeth|last1= Dias |first2= Jason|last2= Horowitz|date= October 25, 2020|access-date= October 25, 2020}}</ref> (see also: 2001)
]]]

==== 2021 ====
* First African-American (and Asian-American) and first female ]: ] (See also: 2010 and 2020)
* First African-American (and Asian-American) and first female ]: ]
* First African-American (and Asian-American) and first female to serve as ]: ]
* First ] to represent a former ] in the United States Senate: ], elected in Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|title= African American Senators |url= https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |publisher=United States Senate|access-date= January 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702035451/https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Thebault|first1=Reis|last2=Scherer|first2=Michael|last3=Wootson| first3=Cleve R. Jr. |date=2021-01-05|title=Raphael Warnock wins Georgia runoff election against Sen. Loeffler, lifting Democratic hopes of claiming Senate majority|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perdue-ossoff-loeffler-warnock-georgia-senate/2021/01/05/7d7b5afe-4f5d-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106141547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perdue-ossoff-loeffler-warnock-georgia-senate/2021/01/05/7d7b5afe-4f5d-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html|archive-date=January 6, 2021|access-date=2021-01-06|newspaper=]}}: "Warnock will be the first African American Democratic senator from a former Confederate state"</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |last2=Fausset |first1=Jonathan |first2=Richard |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Warnock Beats Loeffler in Georgia Senate Race |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/warnock-loeffler-ossoff-perdue-georgia-senate.html |work=The New York Times|access-date=January 6, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/01/22/lloyd-austin-sworn-in-as-first-black-defense-secretary-in-us-history/?sh=5a035ddc19cc|title=Lloyd Austin Sworn In As First Black Defense Secretary In U.S. History|work=]|first=Tommy|last=Beer|date=January 22, 2021|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>
* First full-time female African-American NFL coach: ] (Washington Commanders).<ref>{{cite news|first=Kelly|last=McCarthy|date=January 27, 2021|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/1st-full-time-black-female-nfl-head-coach/story?id=75510397|title=Washington Football Team makes NFL history with 1st full-time Black woman coach|publisher=]|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>
* First African-American president of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|agency=]|date=February 1, 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/aclu-for-first-time-elects-black-person-as-its-president-rights-aclu-justice-donald-trump-archer-b1795889.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/aclu-for-first-time-elects-black-person-as-its-president-rights-aclu-justice-donald-trump-archer-b1795889.html |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= ACLU, for first time, elects Black person as its president|newspaper=]|location=UK|access-date=February 1, 2021}}.</ref>
* First African-American woman to serve on the ]: ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article251653058.html |title=Parson appoints Robin Ransom, first Black woman to serve on Missouri Supreme Court |date=May 24, 2021 |last=Kuang |first=Jeanne |website=] |access-date=May 25, 2021}}</ref>
* ]]]First African-American woman to appear on the ] magazine and became "Sexiest Woman Alive": ]
* First African American to win the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trotta |first1=Daniel |title=First African American wins U.S. spelling bee, conquering with 'Murraya' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/zaila-avant-garde-14-wins-spelling-bee-with-murraya-2021-07-09/ |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=Reuters|date=9 July 2021 }}</ref>
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|date=October 7, 2021|title=For the First Time in 232 Years, a Black Prosecutor Leads a Storied Office|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/nyregion/damian-williams-us-attorney.html|access-date=October 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* First African-American ] coach: ]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Norbeck |first1=Nancy |title=5 Questions with Kelsey Koelzer '17 |url=https://alumni.princeton.edu/stories/kelsey-koelzer-hockey-coach |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=Princeton Alumni |date=June 25, 2021 }}</ref> <!-- She was hired in 2019 but will become the first coach when the program actually played its first game on October 30. -->
* First African-American ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pazniokas|first=Mark|date=2021-12-10|title=Natalie Braswell to be named comptroller after Lembo steps down|url=http://ctmirror.org/2021/12/10/natalie-braswell-to-be-named-comptroller/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=CT Mirror}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to be elected as ]: ]
* First African-American to be elected as ]: ]
* First African-American to serve as Second Lady of North Carolina: ]
* In June 2021, President ] signed a bill making ] a national holiday

==== 2022 ====
* First ] woman elected ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://queenseagle.com/all/2022/1/5/adams-elected-speaker-of-the-city-council|title=Adams elected speaker of the City Council|first=Jacob|last=Kaye|date=January 5, 2022|website=Queens Daily Eagle}}</ref>
* First African-American woman and first woman to be the police commissioner of the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/keechant-sewell-sworn-nypds-first-female-police-commissioner-rcna10572|title=Keechant Sewell sworn in as NYPD's first female police commissioner|work=NBC News|date=January 1, 2022|last=Kwan|first=Rhoda}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to appear on U.S. currency (a ]): ]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/politics/maya-angelou-quarter-issued/index.html|title= Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to appear on US quarter as Treasury begins distribution|work=CNN|last1=Fortinsky|first1=Sara|last2=Cole|first2=Devan}}</ref>
* First African-American woman nominated, confirmed to, and sworn into the ]: ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/07/politics/ketanji-brown-jackson-senate-vote-latest/index.html|title=Senate confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court|work=CNN|last=Foran|first=Clare|date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
* First African-American represented in the ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/07/13/mary-mcleod-bethune-statue-capitol/|title=Capitol statue collection gets first Black American, replacing Confederate|first=Gillian|last=Brockell|newspaper= washingtonpost|date=July 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/07/13/mary-bethune-statue-unveiled-at-u-s-capitol-first-of-african-american/|title=Mary Bethune statue unveiled at U.S. Capitol, first of African American – P.M. News}}</ref>
* First African-American Marine Corps four-star general: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kktv.com/2022/08/07/first-african-american-marine-promoted-4-star-general/|title=A first: African American Marine promoted to 4-star general|agency=Associated Press|date=August 7, 2022 }}</ref>
* First African-American elected governor of the U.S. state of Maryland: ]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Moore, a Democrat, Will Become Maryland's First Black Governor |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/08/us/politics/maryland-governor-wes-moore.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* First African-American elected Attorney General of the U.S. state of Maryland: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jamaicans.com/marylands-first-black-attorney-general-has-jamaican-connection/|title=Maryland's First Black Attorney General Has Jamaican Connection|author=Staff Writer|date=November 19, 2022|website=Jamaicans.com}}</ref>
* First African-American chosen to lead a party caucus in either chamber of Congress: ] (D-NY)<ref name="Hakeem:0">{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Eliza Collins and Siobhan |title=House Democrats Pick Hakeem Jeffries to Lead Party |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-democrats-set-to-pick-hakeem-jeffries-to-lead-party-11669806001 |access-date=2022-11-30 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=November 30, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="Hakeem:1">{{cite web |last1=Vazquez|first1=Maegan|last2=Vogt|first2=Adrienne|last3=Chowdhury|first3=Maureen|last4=Hammond|first4=Elise|last5=Meyer|first5=Matt|date=2022-11-17 |title=Live updates: Nancy Pelosi announces she will not run for leadership post |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/nancy-pelosi-announcement-house-democrats/index.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=CNN }}</ref>
* First African-American female ] in the ]: ]<ref name="2star">{{cite web |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2022/12/16/for-the-1st-time-a-black-female-marine-is-set-to-be-a-2-star-general/|title =For the 1st time, a Black female Marine is set to be a 2-star general|date =December 16, 2022|publisher=Marine Corps Times|access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5237828/first-african-american-woman-general/|title=This Is the Woman President Trump Wants to Be the First Female African-American Marine General|first=Flora|last=Carr|magazine=Time|date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>
* First African-American woman to join the Arkansas Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution: ]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bet.com/article/zsin3s/arkansas-daughters-of-the-american-revolution-chapter-inducts-first-black-member | title=Arkansas Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter Inducts First Black Member | website=] }}</ref>
* First African-American transgender woman model for ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nylon.com/beauty/xoxoemira-emira-dspain-victorias-secret-beauty-tips-tiktok|title=Meet Emira D'Spain, The First Black Transgender Model To Work With Victoria's Secret|first=Sam|last=Neibart|date=March 7, 2022|website=Nylon}}</ref>
* First African-American woman elected mayor of ]: ]<ref> {{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-02f20ef45e3cbbfc94e2eb073e1e860d| title=LA elects US Rep Karen Bass mayor, first Black woman in post |last=Blood |first=Michael R.| date=November 16, 2022| website=Associated Press| access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref>
* ] becomes the First African-American woman to win 32 ]

==== 2023 ====

* ]]]First openly ] African-American to serve in the United States Senate: ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yildirim |first=Ece |date=2023-10-03 |title=Laphonza Butler makes history as first Black openly lesbian U.S. senator |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/03/laphonza-butler-sworn-in-makes-history-as-first-black-openly-lesbian-us-senator.html |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=CNBC }}</ref>
* First African-American woman elected ]: ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGoldrick |first=Gillian |date=2023-02-28 |title=Philly's Joanna McClinton elected Pa.'s first female and second Black speaker of the House |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/mark-rozzi-resigns-pa-house-speaker-joanna-mcclinton-20230228.html |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=] }}</ref>

===== 2024 =====

* ] at the ], 2024]]First African-American (and Asian-American) woman to be nominated as a major party U.S. presidential candidate: ], ]<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Oren |last1=Oppenheim |first2=Brittany |last2=Shepherd |first3=Isabella |last3=Murray |date=August 6, 2024 |title=Kamala Harris certified as Democratic presidential nominee after earning majority of roll call votes |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kamala-harris-nominee-DNC-majority-democratic-roll-call-votes/story?id=112580918 |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=ABC News }}</ref>
*First African-American descendent of Colonel ] admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution and first African-American member of the NSDAR Greenlee Chapter: ]

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]


==References== == Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Reflist|group=Note|colwidth=30em}}


==External links== == References ==
* – full video by ''MSNBC''
*Weiner, David *", '']'', August 4, 2009
*Mance, Ajuan ", Blackoncampus.com, November 5, 2009


=== Footnotes ===
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of African-American Firsts}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
]
]


=== Bibliography ===
]
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
|last=Smith
|first=Jessie Carney
|title=Black Firsts
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pR9jS-rtonQC
|access-date=May 29, 2013
|edition=2
|year=2002
|publisher=Visible Ink Press
|location=Detroit
|isbn=978-1-57859-258-6
}}
* {{cite book
| edition = Rev. and expanded
| publisher = Dafina Books
| isbn = 0-7582-0243-1
| last = Potter
| first = Joan
| title = African-American Firsts: famous, little-known and unsung triumphs of Blacks in America
| location = New York
| year = 2002
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dfbxF9dKhoAC
| access-date = May 30, 2013
}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |url=http://blackoncampus.com/timeline/ |title=Timeline: Black Firsts in Higher Education |first=Ajuan |last=Mance |date=November 5, 2009 |publisher=Blackoncampus.com}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/opinion/sunday/president-obama-martin-luther-king-racial-barrier.html |title=No Racial Barrier Left to Break (Except All of Them) |first=Khalil Gibran |last=Muhammad |author-link=Khalil Gibran Muhammad |date=January 15, 2017 |work=The New York Times}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001/vp/31951708 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131025653/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001/vp/31951708 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Remarks by the President to the NAACP Centennial Convention |first=Barack |last=Obama |author-link=Barack Obama |date=July 16, 2009 |publisher=] |format=Video}}
* {{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-naacp-centennial-convention-07162009 |title=Remarks by the President to the NAACP Centennial Convention |first=Barack |last=Obama |via=] |work=] |date=July 16, 2009 }}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/life-after-the-first/2016/04/29/f6ba5fa4-d0d8-11e5-b2bc-988409ee911b_story.html |title=Obama Legacy: Life After the First |first=William |last=Wan |date=April 29, 2016 |newspaper=]}} – Interviews with six African-American "firsts", including the first black governor, the first black billionaire, and the first black Ivy League president.
* {{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/04/african-american-firsts-i_n_251130.html |title=African-American Firsts in New York |first=David |last=Weiner |author-link=David Weiner (editor) |date=May 25, 2011 |orig-date=Originally posted September 3, 2009 |work=]}}

{{African American topics}}

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Part of a series on
African Americans
History
Periods
Aspects
Migrations
Culture
Lifeways
Schools
Academic study
Celebrations
Economic class
Symbols and ideas
Religion
Institutions
Theologies
Non-Christian groups
Politics
Organizations
Ideologies
Civic/economic groups
Organizations
Sports
Athletic associations and conferences
Sub-communities
Multiethnic
Specific ancestries
Sexual orientation
Dialects and languages
English dialects
Languages and other dialects
Population
US states
US cities
Historic places
Population count
Diaspora
Prejudice
Racism
Stereotypes and media depictions

African Americans are an ethnic group in the United States. The first achievements by African Americans in diverse fields have historically marked footholds, often leading to more widespread cultural change. The shorthand phrase for this is "breaking the color barrier".

One prominent example is Jackie Robinson, who became the first African American of the modern era to become a Major League Baseball player in 1947, ending 60 years of racial segregation within the Negro leagues.

Contents

17th century: 1670s
18th century: 1730s–1770s1780s–1790s
19th century: 1800s1810s1820s1830s1840s1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s
20th century: 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s
21st century: 2000s2010s2020s
See alsoNotesReferencesExternal links

17th century

1600s

1604

1650

1670s

1670

18th century

1730s–1770s

1738

1746

  • First known African American (and slave) to compose a work of literature: Lucy Terry with her poem "Bars Fight", composed in 1746 and first published in 1855 in Josiah Holland's "History of Western Massachusetts

1760

  • First known African-American published author: Jupiter Hammon (poem "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries", published as a broadside)

1767

1768

1773

1775

  • First African American to join the Freemasons: Prince Hall

1778

1780s–1790s

Phillis Wheatley
Lemuel Haynes

1783

  • First African American to formally practice medicine: James Derham, who did not hold an M.D. degree. (See also: 1847)

1785

  • First African American ordained as a Christian minister in the United States: Rev. Lemuel Haynes. He was ordained in the Congregational Church, which became the United Church of Christ

1792

1793

1794

1799

  • First African American to attend college(Washington and Lee University): John Chavis, Later went on to be a preacher and educator for both black and white students.

19th century

1800s

Absalom Jones
John Gloucester
Absalom Boston
Alexander Twilight
James McCune Smith

1804

1807

1810s

1816

1817

  • The First African Baptist Church was the first African-American church west of the Mississippi River. It had its beginnings in 1817 when John Mason Peck and the former enslaved John Berry Meachum began holding church services for African Americans in St. Louis. Meachum founded the First African Baptist Church in 1827. Although there were ordinances preventing blacks from assembling, the congregation grew from 14 people at its founding to 220 people by 1829. Two hundred of the parishioners were slaves, who could only travel to the church and attend services with the permission of their owners.

1820s

1821

1822

  • First African-American captain to sail a whaleship with an all-black crew: Absalom Boston There were six black owners of seven whaling trips before Absalom Boston's in 1822.

1823

1826

1827

1830s

1832

1836

1837

1840s

1844

1845

1847

1849

1850s

Joseph Jenkins Roberts
Charles L. Reason
Patrick Francis Healy
William Wells Brown
Daniel Alexander Payne
Martin R. Delany
Hiram Revels
Joseph Rainey
John Stewart Rock
Cathay Williams
Ebenezer Bassett
Fanny Jackson Coppin
Mary Eliza Mahoney
Michael A. Healy
Blanche K. Bruce
Moses Fleetwood Walker
Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones
William H. Lewis
W. E. B. Du Bois
Mary Fields
Augustine Tolton
Madam C. J. Walker
Butler R. Wilson

1850

  • First African-American woman to graduate from a college Lucy Stanton

1851

1853

1854

1858

1860s

1861

1862

1863

  • First college owned and operated by African-Americans: Wilberforce University in Ohio (See also: 1854)
  • First African-American president of a college: Bishop Daniel Payne (Wilberforce University)

1864

1865

1866

Sarah Jane Woodson Early

1868

1869

1870s

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

  • First African-American Roman Catholic bishop: Bishop James Augustine Healy, of Portland, Maine. (See also: 1854)

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880s

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1886

1890s

1890

1891

  • First African-American police officer in present-day New York City: Wiley Overton, hired by the Brooklyn Police Department prior to 1898 incorporation of the five boroughs into the City of New York. (See also: Samuel J. Battle, 1911)

1892

1895

1896

1898

1899

20th century

1900s

1901

1902

1903

  • First Broadway musical written by African-Americans, and the first to star African-Americans: In Dahomey
  • First African-American woman to found and become president of a bank: Maggie L. Walker, St. Luke Penny Savings Bank (since 1930 the Consolidated Bank & Trust Company), Richmond, Virginia

1904

  • First Greek-letter fraternal organization founded by African-Americans: Sigma Pi Phi
  • First African American to participate in the Olympic Games, and first to win a medal: George Poage (two bronze medals)

1906

1907

1908

1910s

1910

1911

1914

1915

1916

1917

1919

1920s

1920

1921

1923

1924

1925

1927

1928

1929

1930s

1930

  • First African American to win a state high school basketball championship: David "Big Dave" DeJernett, star center on an integrated Washington, Indiana team.

1931

1932

1933

  • First African-American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology: Inez Prosser

1934

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940s

1940

Hattie McDaniel

1941

  • First African American to give a White House Command Performance: Josh White

1942

Marian Anderson christens the SS Booker T. Washington, the first large oceangoing ship named for an African American.

1943

1944

1945

1946

  • First African American to sign a contract with an NFL team in the modern (post-World War II) era: Kenny Washington

1947

1948

1949

1950s

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960s

1962

1963

1964

1965

Pauli Murray

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970s

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

Guion Bluford

1980s

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

21st century

2000s

2000

2001

Official portrait of Colin Powell, 2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Official portrait of Barack Obama, 2009

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020s

2020

Official portrait of Kamala Harris, 2021
General Charles Q. Brown Jr.

2021

2022

2023

2024

See also

Notes

  1. This claim is contested by the First Baptist Church, Petersburg, Virginia (1774) and the First Colored Baptist Church, renamed First African Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia (recognized 1788, first congregation 1773).
  2. Because it was published in the U.K., the book is not the first African-American novel published in the United States. This credit goes to one of two disputed books: Harriet Wilson's Our Nig (1859), brought to light by Henry Louis Gates Jr. in 1982; or Julia C. Collins' The Curse of Caste; or The Slave Bride (1865), brought to light by William L. Andrews, an English literature professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Mitch Kachun, a history professor at Western Michigan University, in 2006. Andrews and Kachun document Our Nig as a novelized autobiography, and argue that The Curse of Caste is the first fully fictional novel by an African American to be published in the U.S.
  3. Founded earlier; not fully owned and operated by African-Americans until 1863.
  4. Revels, the Mississippi State Senate's Adams County representative, was elected by the U.S. Senate in January 1870 to fill an unexpired term.
  5. Rainey, a South Carolina state senator, was elected to fill the seat vacated by B. Franklin Whittemore. Rainey took his seat on December 12, 1870. John Willis Menard was actually the first African-American elected to the House (1868) but he was denied his seat.
  6. Douglass did not seek the nomination or campaign after being nominated.
  7. Parker graduated from Mount Holyoke when it was still a seminary.
  8. This was previously thought to be Sarah E. Goode (for the cabinet bed, Chicago, Illinois).
  9. His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., was the first African-American general in the United States Air Force.
  10. Gravely was also the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship (1962), and the first promoted to the rank of admiral (1971).
  11. L. Clifford Davis applied to the law school in 1946, and after several failed attempts was granted admission in September 1947, but was unable to enroll in classes. Hunt later enrolled on February 2, 1948.
  12. While considered a network for regulatory reasons, CBS TV was viewable only locally in 1948. By 1956, CBS and other networks were viewable nationwide.
  13. Clifton was the first to sign an NBA contract and subsequently play, Cooper was the first to be drafted by an NBA team, and Lloyd was the first to play in an NBA regular-season game because his team's opening game was one day before the others.
  14. While two black players won Gold Gloves that year, only Mays is African-American. The other, Minnie Miñoso, is Afro-Cuban.
  15. In 1998, the award would be renamed the Oscar Robertson Trophy after its first recipient.
  16. Harris's milestone came a year after Marlon Green, who had been rejected as a Continental Airlines applicant in 1957, won the United States Supreme Court case "Colorado Anti-Discrimination Commission v. Continental Airlines, Inc. 372 U.S. 714 no. 146", which found Green had been unlawfully discriminated against.
  17. ^ The first Black superhero, Marvel's Black Panther, introduced in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966), is African, not African-American. This is also true of the first Black character to star in his own mainstream comic-book feature, Waku, Prince of the Bantu, who headlined one of four features in the multiple-character omnibus series Jungle Tales (September 1954 – September 1955), from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics.
  18. At the time, the NCAA had not yet adopted its three-division system. Illinois State was in the NCAA University Division, which became Division I in 1973. The NCAA retroactively considers University Division members to have been Division I members.
  19. Although Flood's legal challenge was unsuccessful, it brought about additional solidarity among players as they fought against baseball's reserve clause and sought free agency.
  20. The NHL had fielded black players for more than 20 years, with the first being Willie O'Ree in 1958, but all past black players were Black Canadians and not African-Americans. In 1996, Mike Grier (Edmonton Oilers) became the first to have been both born and exclusively trained in the U.S., per Allen, Kevin (January 14, 2008). "Willie O'Ree still blazing way in NHL 50 years later". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  21. Cosmonaut Arnaldo Mendez was the first person of African descent in space, in 1980.
  22. Lewis Hamilton became the first black Formula One racer in 2006, but he is a British citizen of Grenadan ancestry, and not an African-American. Ribbs did not compete in a race, but drove a Formula One car professionally in January 1986 as a tester for the BrabhamBMW at Estoril, Portugal.
  23. ^ Woods' mixed ancestry – ¼ Chinese, ¼ Thai, ¼ African-American, ⅛ white, and ⅛ Native American – also makes him the first Asian-American to achieve this feat. He is also the first of only four golfers of primarily non-European descent to win a men's major, with the others being Vijay Singh (an Indian Fijian), Michael Campbell (a Māori from New Zealand), and Y.E. Yang (South Korean).
  24. Announced as Bobcats owner in December 2002, although the team did not begin to play until 2004.
  25. Smith and Dungy both reached this milestone on the same day, although Smith was technically the first due solely to scheduling. The NFC and AFC Championship Games are always held on the same day. In the playoffs that followed the 2006 NFL season, the NFC game was played first.

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