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Posts published in “African-American Firsts”

Ninety-Seven Years Ago Today: Xavier University Was Founded

By goodblacknews on November 11, 2012
Xavier University of Louisiana is founded(Photo: Xavier University of Louisiana)

Xavier University of Louisiana began its mission to educate Native American and Black students when St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament opened its doors in New Orleans on Nov. 11, 1915. After seeing the lack of Catholic schools for higher education that catered to Blacks in the South, Drexel used her inheritance to open the institution. It started as a small high school, and later became known as Xavier Prep A. Normal School. The school taught the few career fields open to Blacks at the time and grew into an institution that taught 47 major areas on the undergraduate, graduate and professional degree levels. The co-ed liberal arts college remains the only historically black Roman Catholic college in the country. 

article by Dorkys Ramos via bet.com

 

 

First Black Sheriff Elected In Richmond County, GA

By goodblacknews on November 9, 2012

The Augusta Chronicle reports in the state of Georgia, Lt. Richard Roundtree beat out Republican Freddie Sanders Tuesday night to become the first African-American Sheriff Elect in Augusta, Georgia, including Richmond County and surrounding counties.

Roundtree’s appointment to top lawman in the county will be a first in the county’s 230-year history.  The lieutenant will be sworn into office in January.

article via newsone.com

Jackie Lacey Becomes Los Angeles County’s First Female and African-American DA

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012
jackie lacey (Via Pasadena Star News) – Jackie Lacey made history Tuesday night, becoming the first African-American and first female chief prosecutor of Los Angeles County.

Lacey, the chief deputy district attorney, won with a substantial lead over Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson Tuesday in the race to succeed Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley.  By midnight, Lacey had all but officially declared victory and packed up her election night party at Union Station downtown.  As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, with 95 percent of precincts reporting, Lacey had 55 percent of the vote, to Jackson’s 45 percent.

Judge Wilhelmina Wright Newest Minnesota Supreme Court Justice

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

History was made this past Tuesday (Oct. 16) when Judge Wilhelmina Wright was sworn in as the first African-American woman to serve on the state’s Supreme Court.  Wright joins Justice Alan Page as the only two African-American Minnesota Supreme Court justices. Page was elected to the Court in 1992 by the votes of the state. Wright was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to fill the vacancy created with the stepping down of Justice Helen Meyer.

First African American Crowned Homecoming Queen at Ole Miss

By goodblacknews on October 17, 2012

Courtney Roxanne Pearson, 21, is the first African American Homecoming Queen at the University of Mississippi crowned during halftime, Satuday, October 13, 2012.

Courtney Roxanne Pearson is the first African American Homecoming Queen at the University of Mississippi affectionately known as Ole Miss.  Pearson, 21, is a senior English education student from Memphis, Tennessee, that won the royal post by a vote of 1,477 to 1,387, according to the Daily Mail:

Keija Minor Named 'Brides' Editor-In-Chief, First African-American To Head Up A Condé Nast Magazine

By goodblacknews on September 23, 2012

Keija Minor

Keija Minor has been named the editor-in-chief of Brides, making her the first person of color to ever hold the title at a Condé Nast Publications (CNP) magazine.  To put it simply–Minor’s new appointment is major news.

Keija Minor Named ‘Brides’ Editor-In-Chief, First African-American To Head Up A Condé Nast Magazine

By goodblacknews on September 23, 2012

Keija Minor

Keija Minor has been named the editor-in-chief of Brides, making her the first person of color to ever hold the title at a Condé Nast Publications (CNP) magazine.  To put it simply–Minor’s new appointment is major news.

Aviation Pioneer J. Herman Banning Makes Historic Cross-Country Flight On This Day In 1932

By goodblacknews on September 19, 2012

 

James Herman Banning
The story of J. Herman Banning, an aviator who made a series of historic firsts, is an inspiring tale worthy of being retold for generations on end.  Born James Herman Banning in Oklahoma in 1899, he would later move his family to the town of Ames, Iowa in 1919. Enrolling into Iowa State, Banning briefly studied electrical engineering but later ended his collegiate career after being called to the skies.

GBN Quote Of The Day

By goodblacknews on August 30, 2012

“I did my best and God did the rest.”
–Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American actor to win an Academy Award

Claressa Shields Wins First-Ever Gold Medal For U.S. Women’s Olympic Boxing

By goodblacknews on August 10, 2012

LONDON  — U.S. middleweight Claressa Shields won the Olympic gold medal Thursday, capping her swift rise to the top of women’s boxing with a 19-12 victory over Russia’s Nadezda Torlopova.
The 17-year-old Shields shuffled, danced and slugged her way past her 33-year-old opponent, showing off the free-spirited style and brute strength that made her unbeatable at the London Games.
Shields even stuck her tongue out at Torlopova after ducking a few punches in the final round.
The teenager won the 12-member American team’s only gold medal in London. The winningest nation in Olympic boxing history got no medals from its men’s team for the first time, and flyweight Marlen Esparza won a bronze.
Shields has been on the international boxing scene for less than two years, but the Flint, Mich., native is among its fastest-rising stars. She lost early in the world championships, yet still qualified for the Olympics.
via Claressa Shields Boxing | Breaking News for Black America.