Category: Featured
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New census records suggest Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots, possibly making him the Catholic Church’s first Black pope. Learn about his New Orleans family history.
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Premier League’s first Black referee, Uriah Rennie, takes on a new role as Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, championing education and opportunity for all.
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Dr. Carla Hayden, first Black woman to lead the Library of Congress, leaves behind a powerful legacy of diversity initiatives and modernization efforts despite controversial dismissal in 2025.
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Alexis Herman, the first Black U.S. Labor Secretary, is remembered as a fearless leader and a champion for opportunity, civil rights, and justice.
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Kevin Howell makes history as NC State’s first Black chancellor and first former student body president to lead the university, bringing unique perspective and deep ties to the Wolfpack community.
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Trailblazing politician Barbara Lee made history as Northern California’s first Black female State Assembly and Senate member before becoming Oakland’s mayor and receiving Howard University’s honorary doctorate.
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Samuel Hall III makes history as Rantoul’s first Black village president, promising infrastructure improvements, youth investment, and inclusive governance after defeating 12-year incumbent Charles Smith.
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Ozwald Boateng makes history at the 2025 Met Gala by purchasing his own table, continuing his legacy as the first Black designer on Savile Row and dressing stars like Jaden Smith and Burna Boy.
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Māhealani Uchiyama, Hawaii’s first Black hula master, releases “A Lei For Reverend King” honoring MLK while highlighting historical connections between Hawaiian and African American cultures.
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Juliet Sargeant became the first Black woman to design a Chelsea Flower Show garden in 2016—and won gold for it.
Recent Posts
- Ernestine Chambers and Naté Gordon Open Baltimore’s First Black and Woman-Owned Bodega, Blending New York Flavor with Local Opportunity
- Alma Thomas—First to Earn a Fine Arts Degree from Howard in 1924—Honored With D.C. Street Renaming Near Her Longtime Studio
- James P. Humphrey, Sidney’s First Black Mayor, Inspires Ongoing Scholarship Support Empowering Local Black Students’ Academic Success
- Oakland’s First Black Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell Ends Tenure After Reviving District Finances and Boosting Graduation Rates
- Tom Bradley Became Los Angeles’ First Black Mayor in 1973, Leading the City Through 20 Transformative Years
