Government

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (1964), a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, began her career at the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin before transitioning to public service roles including Chicago City Hall, Public Allies, the University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago Hospital. As the first Black First Lady of the United States (2009-2017), she launched signature initiatives focusing on childhood obesity prevention, education access, and support for military families, while later becoming a bestselling author and continuing her advocacy work after leaving the White House.

Brown was the first black woman to hold both a private (1937) and commercial (1939) pilot’s license in the United States and one of the first woman to hold a commercial pilot's license and a master aviation mechanic's certificate (1935). She co-founded the Coffey School of Aeronautics where she trained thousands of pilots, nearly 200 of which became Tuskegee airmen. She was also the first black woman to run for Congress.

Jordan (1936-1996) was a lawyer, State Senator, Congresswoman, enthralling orator, educator, and civil rights leader. During President Nixon's televised impeachment hearing, Jordan delivered a powerful 15-minute opening statement to the House Judiciary Committee. Her speech has been hailed as one of the most influential in 20th-century American history, playing a "decisive" role in "swaying public opinion in favor of impeachment".

Johnson (1914-2018), performed instrumental work as an attorney in repudiating the "separate but equal" doctrine in the landmark case Sarah Keys v Carolina Coach Company (1955).

O'Leary (1937) is an American lawyer, consultant, and former government official. She served as the 7th United States Secretary of Energy from 1993 to 1997 under President Bill Clinton, becoming the first woman and first Black person to hold this position.

Mayor of D.C.

Breed (1974) was the first Black woman elected Mayor of San Francisco, California.

Elders (1933) was the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, a Pediatrician, and Public Health Administrator.

Judge Motley (1921-2005) was a woman of firsts. She was the first Black woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, to serve as a federal court judge (Southern District of New York), and to sit in the New York State Senate. She was also the first woman to hold the office of President of the Borough of Manhattan. Earlier in her career she was a law clerk to Justice Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense fund's first woman attorney. She also represented Dr. Martin Luther King and the Freedom Riders.

“I am here to put the nation on notice that violence perpetuated against women in the music industry in the forms of gangster rap and misogynist lyrics will not be tolerated any longer.” Tucker (1927-2005), dubbed “the most hated woman in hip hop” …

Mayor of Compton

18th Surgeon General of the United States

Rice (1954) is an American diplomat, civil servant, professor, and part-owner of the Denver Broncos. She served as the 66th U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009), making her the second woman in U.S. history to serve in this role. She also served as the 19th U.S. National Security Advisor (2001-2005), becoming the first woman to hold this position. Both of these positions were held during the administration of President George W. Bush. Throughout her career, Rice has made significant contributions to American foreign policy and national security, while also maintaining a strong presence in academia as a professor and director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

Ambassador Thomas - Greenfield (1952) is the 31st United State’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

Morial (1932-2024) was a staunch voting and civil rights activist, the wife of the first Black Mayor of New Orleans, Ernest "Dutch" Morial, and mother of Marc Morial, the second Black Mayor of New Orleans.

First Black Woman elected to Congress.

Multi-talent: a musicologist, diplomat, philanthropist, actress, singer, educator, sociologist, and administrator.