Kara Young Makes History as First Black Performer to Win a Tony Award Two Years in a Row
She’s rewriting Broadway history, one powerful performance at a time. Celebrated actress Kara Young just earned her second consecutive Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, this time for her role as Aziza in Purpose. With the win, Young became the first Black performer in history to […]
Kwame Onwuachi to Open New Restaurant ‘Maroon,’ the First Black Chef-Led Restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip
He’s cooking up history again! Kwame Onwuachi, the James Beard Award-winning chef, TIME 100 honoree, and cultural force behind some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country, is heading west, AfroTech reports. Onwuachi, who brought Afro-Caribbean excellence to fine dining through his flagship restaurant Tatiana in New York and Dōgon in Washington, D.C., is […]
Charles B. Rangel, Longtime Harlem Congressman, Has Joined the Ancestors
Charles Rangel, the longtime New York congressman and trailblazer for Harlem, passed away Monday at the age of 94, according to The City College of New York. A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the last surviving member of Harlem’s influential “Gang of Four,” Rangel served nearly five decades in office.
Kevin Howell Named NC State’s First Black Chancellor, 40 Years After Making History as First Black Student President
He’s breaking barriers again! Back in 1987, Kevin Howell made history as North Carolina State University’s first Black student body president. Nearly four decades later, his journey has come full circle with a unanimous vote by the UNC System Board of Governors to appoint him as the next chancellor of the university, The News & […]
John Ewing Jr. Makes History as Omaha, Nebraska’s First Black Mayor
He’s ushering in a new era for the city! In a city where no Black person has ever held the top office, John Ewing Jr. has just changed the course of history. On May 13th, the longtime Douglas County Treasurer became Omaha, Nebraska’s first Black mayor, defeating Jean Stothert, the city’s first female mayor, in […]
Jamal Roberts Makes History as First Black Man to Win American Idol in Over 20 Years
He’s the first Black man to win the contest in two decades! When Jamal Roberts stepped onto the American Idol stage, he carried more than just his voice, he carried a legacy, a dream, and a community. On May 18, 2025, the 27-year-old physical education teacher from Meridian, Mississippi, made history as the first Black […]
Audra McDonald Makes History as Most Tony-Nominated Performer Ever
She’s rewriting the history books! Actress Audra McDonald has done it again, this time as the most Tony-nominated performer in Broadway history, People reports. With her latest nomination for the revival of Gypsy, McDonald has earned her 11th nod, officially surpassing theater legends Julie Harris and Chita Rivera, with whom she previously shared the record. […]
NBA Honors First Three Black Men to Break League’s Color Barrier on 75th Anniversary
They changed the game, literally! Seventy-five years ago, three trailblazing Black men—Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, Chuck Cooper, and Earl Lloyd—changed the face of professional basketball forever. During the 1950-51 season, they made history as the first Black players to officially take the court in the National Basketball Association, paving the way for generations of athletes to […]
Pamela R. Goodwine Becomes First Black Woman Elected to Kentucky Supreme Court
She’s a trailblazer in every sense of the word! Justice Pamela Goodwine has once again made history. On April 18, 2025, she was officially sworn in as the first Black woman elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court, BET reports. In a ceremony filled with celebration, reflection, and pride, Goodwine stood as a testament to faith, […]
Spelman Alumna Anne Collins Smith Makes History as First Black Chief Curator at New Orleans Museum of Art
She’s making history and bringing it home! Anne Collins Smith has recently been appointed as Chief Curator at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), Essence reports. The appointment is historic, Smith becoming the first Black American and the first Black NOLA native to hold a full curatorial role at the museum. But beyond breaking […]