Chicago / IL Connections

Juneteenth 2022
A Celebration of Black Achievers (Click Here)

Chronology

1885 Sarah Goode (1850 - 1905), an inventor and entrepreneur was the first African American woman to be granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, for invention of a folding cabinet bed in 1885.

1890 Ida Gray Nelson Rollins (1867 - 1953), a dentist, was the first to earn a dental - surgeon degree when she graduated in 1890 from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

1890s Ida B. Wells (1862 - 1931), a civil rights activist, journalist, and crusader of justice, was the first writer to document lynching of African Americans in the South in the 1890s.

1920 Annie Turnbo Malone (1869 - 1957), an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and scientist, was recorded as the first U.S millionaire in 1920. The income was received from her beauty and cosmetic enterprise located in St. Louis and Chicago.

1921 Bessie Coleman (1892 - 1926), a civil aviator, was the first to earn an international pilot license in 1921.

1921 Georgiana Simpson (1866 - 1944), an educator, was the first to receive a Ph.D. in German from the University of Chicago in 1921.

1934 Etta Moten Barnett (1901 - 2004), an actress, was the first to entertain at the White House in 1934.

1934 Janet Bragg Harmon (b. March 22, 1907), an aviator, was the first to earn a commercial pilot’s license in 1934.

1939 Margaret Burroughs (November 1, 1915 - 2010), an educator, artist and author was known as the First Lady of African American Art Movement.

1949 Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 - 2000), a poet, was the first to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (Annie Allen) in 1949.

1959 Lorraine Hansberry (1930 - 1965), a writer and author, was the first to receive the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for A Raisin in the Sun in 1959.

1963 Jewel S. Lafontant Mankarious (1922 – 1997), a lawyer, was the first to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963.

1963-64 Katherine Dunham (1909 - 2006), a choreographer and dancer, was the first to choreograph for the Metropolitan Opera, in its new production of Aida during the 1963-64 seasons.

1970s Margaret Rosezarian (1943 - 2000), a musician and educator, was the first to conduct the symphony orchestras of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and thirteen other cities in the 1970’s.

1971 Ethel L. Payne (1911 – 1991), a journalist and civil rights activist, was known as the ’First Lady of the Black Press’, (affiliated with the Chicago Defender), was the first radio and television commentator to be employed by a national network in 1971.

1973 Cardiss Collins (1931 – 2013), was the first to represent Illinois and the Midwest in Congress in 1973. She was also the first to chair the Congressional Black Caucus in 1979.

1973 Jewel S. Lafontant Mankarious (1922 – 1997), a lawyer, was the first female deputy solicitor general of the United States, an appointment made by President Nixon in 1973.

1973 Barbara Sizemore (1927-2004), a teacher and researcher, was the first to head a public school system, when she was elected Superintendent of the District of Columbia Schools in 1973.

1981 Jewel Plummer Cobb (b. 1924), an educator, was the first to become president of a major west coast university, California State University at Fullerton in 1981.

1986 Oprah Winfrey (b. January 29, 1954) an American media proprietor and philanthropists, was the first to form and create her own television and film production company (Harpo Productions in 1986). She was the first to become a billionaire, and additionally was the first producer to be nominated for an Academy Award (Selma 2014).

1992 Carol Mosley Braun was the first to be elected to the United States Senate in 1992.

1992 Mae Jemison (b. October 17, 1956), physician and NASA astronaut, became the first to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on September 12, 1992.

1998 Mahalia Jackson (1911 - 1972), a civil rights activist and gospel singer, is referred to as the Queen of Gospel, was the first to receive the Grammy Hall of Fame Award for Move On Up A Little Higher in 1998.

2002 Linda Johnson Rice (May 22, 1958), was the first to be named chief executive officer of Johnson Publishing Company in 2002, a company listed among the top five of the Black Enterprise 100’s (the nation’s largest black-owned companies).

2003 Lula M. Ford (b. 1945), an educator and commissioner, was the first to appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) effective January 21, 2003, by Governor Rod Blagojevich. She was reappointed to a second term in January 2008.

2003 Robin Lynne Kelly (b. April 30, 1956), a politician, was the first to serve as the U.S. Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois in 2003.

2004 Shonda Rhimes (b. January 13, 1970), a writer and producer, was the first to create and produce a top TV Series, Grey’s Anatomy in 2004.

2006 Bobbie Steele (b. October 18, 1937), an educator and community activist, was the first to head the Cook County Board of Commissioners assuming the position on August 1, 2006.

2009 Valorie Jarrett (November 14, 1956), an attorney, was the first to become a Senior Advisor to the President of the United States and an Assistant to the President for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. She was appointed to these positions in January 2009 by President Barrack Obama.

2009 Michelle Obama (b. January 17, 1964), a lawyer and author is the 44th First Lady of the United States of America. She assumed the role of First Lady in January 2009

2009 Desiree Rogers (b. June 16, 1959.), was the first to hold the position of White House Social Secretary, an appointment made by President Obama in 2009.