Ms. Phillys Wheatley – Photo credit:http://2.bp.blogspot.com
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
You know what they say, Valentine’s Day is everyday, and as far as I’m concerned, so is Black History Month. To quote my favorite funny man Chris Rock, “I’m Black so it’s always Black History Month”! So I’m taking all this early morning love (before the kids start realizing they haven’t asked for anything in about 10 minutes, which is probably due to all the Valentine’s candy lying around the house), to give a loving shout out to the 10 career firsts by pioneering African-American women, because I love strong women who defy the odds and start something magic, right where they are, with what they have:
- Ms. Phillys Wheatley, my absolute favorite, was the first African-American woman to accomplish my dream, that is to write and publish a book in 1773. This is despite the strongest of odds, including the fact she was sold into slavery at 7 years old! She wrote “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Mortal”. Thank you Ms. Wheatley!
- Ms. Sarah Jane Woodson Early became the first African American college professor at Wilberforce College in 1858. Thank you Ms. Woodson!
- Next time you look at your B.A degree, think of Ms. Mary Jane Patterson, who in 1862, became the first African-American woman to earn a B.A. Thank you Ms. Patterson!
- Ms. Fanny Jackson Coppin served as the first African-American woman superintendent of a school district in the U.S. in 1869, after being born into slavery and purchased by her own aunt! Thank you Ms. Coppin!
- Ms. Mary Eliza Mahoney became in 1879 the first African American professional trained nurse in the US. She also served as the co-founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, known today as the American Nurses Association. Thank you Ms. Mahoney!
- Ms. Judy Reed was the first African-American woman to hold a patent in 1884. Her patent was for an improved dough kneader. Thank you Ms. Reed!
- Ms. Maggie Walker became the first woman to found and preside over a U.S. Bank, the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, in 1903. Ms. Walker was later the recipient of an honorary Masters degree from the Virginia Union University. In 2002, she was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame. Thank you Ms. Walker!
- Who can ever forget about Madame C.J. Walker, who became the first self-made millionaire woman in America? She created the Walker Company in 1910, an African American cosmetics manufacturer. Thank you Madame C. J. Walker!
- Ms. Georgia Robinson became the first African-American woman police officer in Los Angeles in 1916. Thank you Ms. Robinson!
- In 1921, Ms. Sadie Tanner Mossell became the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in the US. Thank you Ms Mossell!
Would you like to add to this list?
The Corporate Sis.
