Invented process of dry cleaning
Thomas Jennings
first and only african american man to win multiple grand slams
arthur ashe
First African American Tennis Player to win a Grand Slam tournament
Althea Gibson
became the first Black EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) recipient.
Whoopi Goldberg
first black woman to receive a phd in economics
Sadie Tanner Mossel Alexander
invented a central heating system that used natural gas
Alice Parker
one of first players in any sport to have their own shoe brand named after them
Michael Jordan
Escaped from being a slave, was a spy for the Union army, and helped free slaves via the underground railroad
Harriet Tubman
First black actress to appear on national tv commercial with speaking lines
Gail fisher
first african american student in an all white school
Ruby Bridges
Invented the modern elevator doors that close at the same time preventing accidents related to forgetting to close the doors
Alexander Miles
College Football player then coach, now in hall of fame
Eddie Robinson
Helped in the impeachment process of Richard Nixon and along with Andrew Young Jr became the first African Americans elected into congress
Barbara Jordan
First black actress to play a non stereotypical primetime tv role
Diahann Caroll
first black woman to fly an airplane
Bessie Coleman
Invented cataract treatment called Laserphaco probe in 1986
Patricia Bath
first black manager to win a world series title
Frank Robinson
She was one of only two women masters in Cambridge schools and the only African-American in New England with that distinction.
Maria Baldwin
First Black woman to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Lena Waithe
first african american to work for the U.S postal service
Mary Fields
invented a security system that was displayed on a tv that had a 2 way microphone allowing her to communicate with the visitors without going out
Marie Van Brown
first African American starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl
Doug Williams
one of the first female African- Americans to work as a vocalist with a white orchestra
Billie Holiday
First black actress to receive an honorary academy award
Cicely Tyson
opened the first AME church in Philadelphia
Richard Allen