Botwc Firsts

Juliana Stratton Gets Sworn in as Illinois' First Black Lieutenant Governor

Juliana Stratton Gets Sworn in as Illinois' Fir...

Photo via: Julianna Stratton  On Monday, Juliana Stratton was officially sworn in as the first Black Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Stratton also became Illinois' third consecutive woman lieutenant governor and the...

Juliana Stratton Gets Sworn in as Illinois' Fir...

Photo via: Julianna Stratton  On Monday, Juliana Stratton was officially sworn in as the first Black Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Stratton also became Illinois' third consecutive woman lieutenant governor and the...

Barbara Gardner Proctor Was The First Black Woman To Own An Ad Agency

Barbara Gardner Proctor Was The First Black Wom...

Photo: WTTW News  Barbara Gardner Proctor blazed her own trail in 1970 when she launched her own business and became the first Black woman to own an advertising agency. Despite being born to...

Barbara Gardner Proctor Was The First Black Wom...

Photo: WTTW News  Barbara Gardner Proctor blazed her own trail in 1970 when she launched her own business and became the first Black woman to own an advertising agency. Despite being born to...

Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III Will Be The First Black Couple to Dance Lead Roles For The American Ballet Theatre

Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III Will Be The...

 Photo: Rebecca Miller/Disney Enterprises   In 2015, Misty Copeland made history twice when she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and along...

Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III Will Be The...

 Photo: Rebecca Miller/Disney Enterprises   In 2015, Misty Copeland made history twice when she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and along...

Michigan State’s First Black Rodeo Queen Could Become The First Black Miss Rodeo USA

Michigan State’s First Black Rodeo Queen Could ...

  Photo: Lauren Jeziorski  In February of 2018, then Michigan State University sophomore, Khalilah Smith, became the first Black woman to be named MSU’s Rodeo Queen. As a result of...

Michigan State’s First Black Rodeo Queen Could ...

  Photo: Lauren Jeziorski  In February of 2018, then Michigan State University sophomore, Khalilah Smith, became the first Black woman to be named MSU’s Rodeo Queen. As a result of...

Missy Elliott Will Be ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ As The First Woman Rapper To Be Inducted Into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Missy Elliott Will Be ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ As The Fi...

 Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images  It's official! Missy Elliott will be the first woman rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. "CBS This Morning" announced the historic news on Saturday...

Missy Elliott Will Be ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ As The Fi...

 Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images  It's official! Missy Elliott will be the first woman rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. "CBS This Morning" announced the historic news on Saturday...

Lisa Myers Makes History As First Woman, First African American Police Chief In Howard County, Maryland

Lisa Myers Makes History As First Woman, First ...

 Photo: Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun Media Group After retiring from the police force last January, former Howard County, Maryland police captain Lisa Myers is returning to work as the county’s first...

Lisa Myers Makes History As First Woman, First ...

 Photo: Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun Media Group After retiring from the police force last January, former Howard County, Maryland police captain Lisa Myers is returning to work as the county’s first...