Black History Firsts
The first African American President of the United States
President Barack Obama
The youngest Pastor of Germantown Church
Pastor Corey Johnson (current)
Invented the three-light traffic signal
Garrett Morgan
The name of the record label founded by Berry Gordy that launched the careers of The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye
Motown
The first African American U.S. Secretary of State
Colin Powell
The first woman and first Black American to run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States
Shirley Chisholm
The year Germantown Church was founded
1970
African American scientist who developed over 300 uses for peanuts
George Washington Carver
Famous jazz musician who was nicknamed "Satchmo"
Louis Armstrong
Black Panther leader who coined the phrase “All Power to the People”
Huey P. Newton
The first African American writer to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Toni Morrison
The oldest member of Germantown Church
Beulah Andrews
Invented the Super Soaker water gun
Lonnie Johnson
Known as the "Queen of Gospel," was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement
Mahalia Jackson
Founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and advocated for Pan-Africanism
Marcus Garvey
The first African American woman to go to space
Mae Jemison
The first pastor of Germantown Church
Pastor Alfred Jones
Created automatic elevator doors
Alexander Miles
The only rapper to win the Pulitzer prize for music
Kendrick Lamar
The phrase stated by Congresswoman Maxine Waters which quickly went viral, becoming a powerful slogan for standing up against interruptions, asserting authority, and demanding respect
"Reclaiming my time"
The first African American billionaire
Robert L. Johnson (Former CEO of BET)
The address of where Germantown Church was first located
7300 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia PA
Developed the first successful open-heart surgery without modern medical tools
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
Made history in 2019 as the youngest executive producer in Hollywood at just 14 years old with the film Little
Marsai Martin
In 2022, made history as the first Black woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, bringing increased representation to the highest court in the country
Ketanji Brown Jackson