A leader in education and  faith, she was appointed  Interim President of Edward Waters College in 1996. 

U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois District 2. Serving since 2013

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actress, author

Miss U.S.A. 2016. She is a motivational speaker and capain in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Founder of Carol's Daughter multi-cultural beauty brand. 

1st woman and first African-American to be elected to the Kentucky state senate.

Young and the Restless Alumni

1st African-American actress to win an Academy award in 1940. 1st African-American to sing on U.S. network radio in 1915. Recipient of Hollywood Hall of Fame star

American sprinter. Three time gold medalist in the 2012 Olympic Games.

NAACP Image award-winning actress (The Bernie Mac Show)

Born with congenital HIV, she became the 1st minor to be an HIV activist at the age of 6. Twice named by Ebony Magazine as one of 150 most influential African-Americans

2nd elected female Bishop of the AME church

Grammy-award winner and lead singer of 5th Dimension

In 2004 she became the first African-American woman to make the U.S. Olympic swim team and medal (Silver in the 400 meter freestyle relay)

In 1970 she became the 1st black woman to serve in the Florida state congress. 1st black woman to practice law in Dade County, FL

Four-time Grammy-nominated gospel recording artist

American Jazz singer. Known for solo work and work with the band Incognito

1st solo female rapper to release an album in 1988.

Senior producer for ABC's The View.

Activist. Her death following a traffic stop invigorated the Black Lives Matter movement.

A PGA Hall of Fame golfer. 2nd black woman to compete on the LPGA Tour. 1st woman of color elected to the membership in the PGA of America in 1996.

1st African-American female journalist credentialed to cover the White House in 1948. She was honored with a life-sized statue in the Newseum museum in Washington , DC in 2018

Her work helping young people enter the field of medicine earned her the namesake of Doc McStuffins' mother on the hit Disney series.

1st woman from Louisiana elected to Congress in 1973.  1st woman to chair the Democratic National Convention.

1st African-American CPA

1st woman to hold the position of Prime minister of Dominica (1980-1995)

Actress, (Amen, The Wayans Bros, Friday)

Actress, (The Jamie Foxx Show, Code Black)