Nia Franklin is the 2018 Miss New York, the 2019 Miss America titleholder, and an American composer. Franklin was born on July 27, 1993, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is the oldest of James and Kristy Franklin’s three children. In her youth, Franklin took classical … Read MoreNia Imani Franklin (1993- )
John Edward James is an Iraq War Veteran, businessman, and former Republican United States Senate candidate from Michigan. James became a rising star in the Republican Party after defeating Sandy Pensler, another Michigan businessman, in the 2018 Michigan GOP Senate primary. James went on to … Read MoreJohn Edward James (1969- )
Rapelang Rabana, telecommunications entrepreneur, was born in Gaborone, Botswana in 1982. Her early school years were spent in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, before moving to Johannesburg, South Africa where she attended Roedean School. Rabana graduated with honors from the University of Cape Town in … Read MoreRapelang Rabana (1982- )
Stacey Plaskett is the current delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Territory of the Virgin Islands. She achieved national notoriety as one of the House Impeachment Managers in the Second Impeachment Trial of former President Donald Trump in February 2021. Plaskett was … Read MoreStacey E. Plaskett (1966- )
In 2018, Ayanna Soynini Pressley became the first African American woman elected to represent the 7th District in Massachusetts. She unseated ten-term congressman Michael Capuano, a Democrat, in the August primary of that year. Ayanna Soynini Pressley was born on February 3, 1974, in Chicago, … Read MoreAyanna Pressley (1974- )
Brehanna Daniels has broken down a barrier in a sport that is not usually associated with African Americans or women. She is a pit crew member, a tire changer, affiliated with NASCAR Racing. Daniels was born on January 26, 1994, along with her twin brother … Read MoreBrehanna Daniels (1994- )
Folorunso Alakija is a Nigerian businesswoman who is involved in various industries such as fashion, oil, and printing. She is best known for being one of the richest black women in the world. Alakija was born in Ikorodu, Lagos State on July 15, 1951. She … Read MoreFolorunso Alakija (1951- )
J. R. Todd, a leading drag racer and crew chief, was the first African American to win a Top Fuel competition sponsored by the National Hot Rod Association. He was born Mario Luther Todd Jr. in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on December 16, 1981 to Mario Luther … Read MoreJ. R. Todd (1981- )
Wilmot Collins, a recent Liberian refugee, became mayor of the city of Helena, Montana after defeating four-term incumbent mayor, James E. Smith, on November 7, 2017. Collins’ victory made him the first black person to become mayor of any city of Montana since it became … Read MoreWilmot Collins (1963- )
Amy Sherald, a portrait artist, was the first African American woman to complete a presidential portrait for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. She is best known for painting the official portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Sherald was born on August 30, 1973 in Columbus, Georgia, … Read MoreAmy Sherald (1973- )
