Timeline of Black History and Excellence
Untold Stories
Post Civil Rights-Black Lives Matter Era
TIMELINE OF BLACK HISTORY AND EXCELLENCE
Meet Our Trailblazers
Photo by: White House Photographic Office
Photo by: Third District Court of Appeal
1980- My mother, Melvia Bailey Green, makes history in her hometown of Miami, Florida, becoming the first Black female Assistant U.S. Attorney in the state's Southern District. Growing up in the late 1950s and 1960s, she watched the sitcom Perry Mason, which inspired her to become a lawyer. She, however, suppressed that dream for years, as she did not learn of any female lawyers, especially Black female litigators, until she attended college at Northwestern University. It was then that my mother officially decided to attend law school at the University of Miami after completing her undergraduate studies. She now impresses upon women and people of color that, "It's nice to be the first, but you have an obligation to ensure you're not the last."-Judge Melvia B. Green
1983-Martin Luther King Jr. Day is first designated as a federal holiday, after decades of attempts and advocacy. With the approval of both legislative branches, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill legalizing the holiday on November 2, 1983. Almost 43 years after this immense victory, Black Americans of all ages continue to honor and fulfill Dr. King's mission by helping their communities, connecting with people of all races/ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities, and learning about Dr. King through music, digital media, and literary works.
Photo by: Ken Love, Associated Press (AP)
1983-The citizens of Chicago elect Harold Washington as the city's first African American mayor. Washington prevailed in the Democratic primary over his White male and female opponents with his riveting intellect, enthusiastic disposition, and ability to connect with voters. He received overwhelming support from Black, Latino, and progressive White voters. Today, African American high school and college students in Chicago recognize and appreciate Washington's genuine dedication to helping Black Chicagoans and paving a path for younger generations of Black Americans to pursue careers in politics. They also enjoy amenities in their city named after Washington, such as the Harold Washington Library Center and the Harold Washington Cultural Center, which offers performing arts and educational enrichment programs.
1985-The Library of Congress assigns author and poet, Gwendolyn Brooks, as its first Black female Consultant in Poetry. Brooks was the library's last leader to assume this position before it was renamed as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. She was an active affiliate of the Black Power Movement in the late 1960s and, during that time, originated a home-run poetry workshop. To this day, her legacy continues to compel African American writers to shed light on how to use literature as a catalyst for claiming power, resilience, defying the status quo, and conceptualizing innovative ideas in the midst of adversity.
1989-My mother, Judge Melvia Bailey Green, shatters glass ceilings again, becoming Florida's first African-American female Circuit Court Judge and the Miami-Dade Circuit Court's first and only Black female Circuit Judge to advance to this level. She was appointed by Florida's then-Governor Bob Martinez, who, remarkably, my middle school was named after. My mother conveys to aspiring judges that, although judges do not make much money, they do indeed make a difference.
Photo by: Acme Newspapers
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Photo by: CBS Photo Archive
1990-The face of the beauty pageant world changes, as Carole Gist is the first Black female contestant to win Miss USA. Gist is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and was a third-year Marketing and Management student at Northwood University at the time of her historic victory. Gist, who excelled academically, was raised in a single-parent home in economically disadvantaged, crime-infested neighborhoods after her parents divorced when she was a little girl. Unlike many of her competitors on the pageant circuit, she did not have the privilege of enrolling in music or dance lessons growing up because of her family's financial hardships. She tells other Black females aspiring to enter the pageant arena, "Just go and represent yourself to the best of your ability. You don't have to change to be anybody else's standard."-Carole Gist
1995-A coalition of Black leaders successfully coordinated a Million Man March in Washington, D.C. to protest the unjust treatment of Black men, legislation that disenfranchised Black communities, mass incarceration, homelessness, and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. Notable attendees and speakers included Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King III, and Louis Farrakhan. The number of Black male voters increased in record numbers across the country following the march. The impact of the Million Man March reinforces to Black males today to continue to elevate their voices and strive to reduce violence, increase employment opportunities, and create programs geared towards helping Black boys and men rebuild their lives after incarceration, homelessness, etc.
Photo by: Reuters
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Photo by: Peter Tobia, Philadelphia Inquirer
1997-Black female activists and entrepreneurs led a Million Woman March in Philadelphia, drawing a crowd of over 2 million attendees. The march was designed to raise awareness of issues that disproportionately affect Black women and to advocate for the unification of Black families to enrich the Black community. Notable attendees and keynote speakers include Jada Pinkett-Smith, Winnie Mandela, and Rep. Maxine Waters. The Million Woman March laid the foundation for future women's marches in the 21st century, specifically the Women's March in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2017. Intended as a protest against the newly elected administration, women across the nation gathered to champion gender and pay equality, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and more.
Photo by: Eric Draper
2001-Colin Powell, a Veteran and recipient of several U.S. Military accolades, was appointed by President George W. Bush as the first Black Secretary of State. Before advancing to this role, Powell held highly esteemed positions in previous administrations of both political parties. Powell, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica, grew up in Harlem, New York, and was always taught to be industrious and tenacious. He tells Black youth today, "It's not where you start in life. It's what you do with life that determines where you end up in life." -Colin Powell
Photo by: University Photography
2001-Dr. Ruth Simmons is elected president of Brown University, becoming the first African American to lead an Ivy League institution. During her tenure, she was often credited with her assertiveness, her role in generating capital for the university, and her advocacy for justice and equality for women and African Americans. She was raised in East Texas as the daughter of sharecroppers and the youngest of 12 siblings. After relocating to Houston during her youth, she was motivated by her teachers to enhance her vision and follow her dreams. After earning her undergraduate degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, she went on to earn a Master's and a Doctorate in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard. Simmons emphasizes to young people today, "There is a possibility for a change in their circumstance."-Dr. Ruth Simmons
Photo by: Black Enterprise
2009-Entrepreneur, Ursula Burns, breaks racial barriers in the tech industry with her elevation to Chairman of Xerox, making her the first Black woman to oversee a Fortune 500 Corporation. Burns was raised in New York City's social housing and later graduated with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from New York University (NYU). One of her famous quotes is, "Dreams do come true, but not without the help of others, a good education, a strong work ethic, and the courage to lean in."-Ursula Burns.
Photo by: USA Today
Photo by: Architectural Record
2012-At 16 years old, Gabrielle Douglas received high scores for her outstanding performance at the 2012 London Olympics, making her the first African American gymnast to obtain an Olympic title. Douglas paved the way for future Black female gymnasts, including Simone Biles. In 2016, the Wendy Hillard Gymnastics Foundation in Harlem, New York, reported an influx of African American girls captivated by Douglas' success and boldness, who sought to emulate her by improving their technique.
2016-In Washington DC, the National Museum of African American History and Culture welcomed the general public through its doors for the first time. The museum is dedicated to sustaining and educating the public about African Americans' lived experiences, the richness of Black culture, and how generations of Black Americans have helped shape the country into what it is today. People of all races visit the museum and are often enthralled as they learn through its exhibits how Black Americans have contributed significantly to American history.
Photo by: Deadline
2019-Performer, Billy Porter, overcame racial and social barriers in the entertainment industry, becoming the first publicly known homosexual Black man to be awarded an Emmy for his featured role in the television series, Pose. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the importance of fairness and the idea that all people belong where they are, regardless of their differences. One of his famous quotes is, "When you're doing what you love, it's not exhausting at all, actually. It's completely empowering and exhilarating."-Billy Porter
Photo by: Esquire
2020- Beyonce releases the visual film Black Is King, which illustrates multiple facets of Black heritage, the experiences of, and relations between, Black Americans and Africans. The film was regarded as a wholesome and genuine portrayal of Africa and its culture. It also showed how to adequately depict representation, eliminate cultural barriers within diverse Black communities, and contextualize discussions regarding identity, unity, and belonging.
Photo by: NPR
2021- President Joe Biden signs a law, declaring June 19, Juneteenth, a federal holiday, commemorating the liberation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Since then, many African Americans have said they perceive Juneteenth as a reminder to embrace their families and communities, keep fighting for equal liberties, and educate younger generations about Black history and culture.
Photo by: Lauryn Green
2025- My mother, Judge Melvia Bailey Green, is celebrated with a street dedicated in her honor, Judge Melvia Bailey-Green Terrace. Family, friends, and community members gathered for the monumental ceremony and the unveiling of the street sign in the Miami community of Richmond Heights, where she grew up. At a time when African American History is being erased, I, along with several of my mother's legal colleagues and family friends, remarked on her genuine love and devotion to her community, passion for serving others, and how she has instilled in Black youth throughout Miami-Dade County and beyond the courage to follow their calling and know that they belong.
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