Howard Alumnea
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Famous Firsts
100

This Vice President of the United States is a proud Howard alumna.

Who is Kamala Harris?

100

This civil rights activist refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955, sparking a major movement.

Who is Rosa Parks?

100

This tennis superstar has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era.

Who is Serena Williams?

100

This woman is an Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, and mental health advocate. She is also most recognized as her role as "Cookie Lyon" in Empire.

Who is Taraji P. Henson?

100

In 1968, this Congresswoman became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing New York.

Who is Shirley Chisholm? 

200

This Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Beloved and The Bluest Eye graduated from Howard University.

Who is Toni Morrison?

200

This Pakistani activist survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban and became a global advocate for girls' education.

Who is Malala Yousafzai?

200

This LSU basketball star, known as the "Bayou Barbie," led her team to a national championship in 2023 and was named Most Outstanding Player.

Who is Angel Reese?

200

This actress is best known for playing Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show and later became the Dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts.

Who is Phylicia Rashad?

200

In 1922, this educator became the first Black woman to serve as Dean of Women at any American university, specifically at Howard University.

Who is Lucy Diggs Slowe?

300

This woman is considered one of the foremost female writers of the 20th century. One of her most popular writings was " Their Eyes were Watching God."

Who is Zora Neale Hurston?

300

Known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," this journalist and activist led anti-lynching campaigns in the late 1800s.

Who is Ida B. Wells?

300

This gymnast made history as the first African American woman to win the all-around gold medal at the Olympics in 2012.

Who is Gabby Douglas? 
300

She became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in How to Get Away with Murder.

Who is Viola Davis?

300

She revolutionized hair care by inventing the world’s first line of Black hair products and became the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S.

Who is Madam C.J. Walker?

400

This woman is classically trained on the piano, GRAMMY Award-winning musician Roberta Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University.

Who is Roberta Flack?

400

This civil rights leader co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and famously declared, "I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Who is Fannie Lou Hammer?

400

This trailblazing sprinter, known as the “Fastest Woman in the World,” won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics while wearing stylish track suits.

Who is Florence Griffith Joyner or Flo-Jo?

400

Known for her roles in Scandal and Django Unchained, this actress was the first Black woman to headline a network drama in nearly 40 years.

Who is Kerry Washington?

400

n 1957, this tennis champion became the first African American woman to win a Wimbledon title.

Who is Althea Gibson?

500

This woman invented a new device and technique for Cataract Surgery known as Laserphaco. 

Who is Patricia E. Bath?

500

This abolitionist and women's rights activist delivered the famous speech "Ain’t I a Woman?" at a women’s convention in 1851.

Who is Sojourner Truth?

500

A six-time WNBA champion, this basketball legend is widely considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.

Who is Lisa Leslie?

500

This iconic jazz singer, often referred to as the "First Lady of Song," broke racial barriers in the 1930s and 1940s, performing in venues like the Cotton Club.

Who is Ella Fitzgerald?

500

In 1939, this judge made history as the first Black woman to practice law in the United States.

Who is Jane Bolin?

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