Pennsylvania

Dr. Price (1930-2015), the "Duck Doctor," was an eminent veterinary microbiologist and an authority on avian diseases, particularly those affecting ducks and other waterfowl. She conducted extensive research on parasites, infections, viruses, and microbial diseases that impacted these birds and developed vaccines to protect them against a spectrum of diseases. Dr. Price's vaccines have been used by duck, turkey, and pigeon farmers across North America.

Dr. Hall (1940-2003) was a pastor, educator, dynamic speaker and a powerful figure in the Civil Rights Movement. She challenged misogyny in the movement and was one of the first women field leaders in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). While working with SNCC, she was shot at and jailed multiple times. On September 9, 1962, Hall led a prayer at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in 'Terrible Terrell' County, Georgia, where Martin Luther King Jr. was present. Her rhythmic repetition of 'I Have a Dream' during this prayer influenced King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech at the March on Washington. After witnessing the traumatizing aftermath of Bloody Sunday she left SNCC in 1966. She eventually earned her Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, becoming a prominent womanist theologian who advocated for the intersection of race, gender, and faith in religious practice.

Dr. Mossell (1898-1989), hailing from the distinguished Mossell and Tanner family lines, was an attorney, civic servant, and humanitarian. She was the first black woman to graduate from University of Penn Law School and the first black woman admitted to the Pennsylvania bar (1927). She was also the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in Economics in the United States (University of Pennsylvania, 1921), and the first National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Lane (1923-2008) was an educator and poet who, in 1967, became the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. She published five books of poetry: Wind Thoughts, The Mystic Female, I Never Scream: New and Selected Poems, Girl at the Window, and Elegy for Etheridge, with The Mystic Female earning a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 1979. While her contemporaries criticized her work for not explicitly focusing on Black themes or experiences, she maintained her artistic independence, writing extensively about nature, love, and universal human experiences. As the first woman to chair Southern University's English Department (1974-1986) and Louisiana's first Black Poet Laureate (1989-1992), she broke barriers in academia and literature and cemented her legacy as an influential literary voice. In recognition of her achievements and indelible mark, in 2022 LSU's Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to name its graduate school the Pinkie Lane Gordon Graduate School.

Johnson (1949) is a businesswoman and philanthropist who co-founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1980, the first cable television network focused exclusively on Black audiences. BET revolutionized media representation by showcasing Black music, culture, and entertainment at a time when mainstream television largely excluded Black talent. The network launched the careers of countless Black artists, created original programming that reflected Black experiences, and provided news coverage focused on issues important to the Black community, eventually reaching over 88 million households. In 2001, BET was sold to Viacom for $2.9 billion, making Johnson the first Black woman billionaire. Beyond BET, she serves as CEO and founder of the Salamander Collection, a luxury hotel company, and made history as the first Black woman to have ownership stakes in three professional sports franchises as a partner in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, and WNBA's Washington Mystics.

Owner and Publisher of the Pittsburgh Courier.

Brown (1943) is a prison and civil rights activist and was the first woman to lead the Black Panther Party as chairwoman (1974-1977).

It is widely accepted that Mary Dee (1912-1964) was the first Black woman Disc Jockey. She was also one of the first black women admitted to the Association of American Women in Radio and Television.

A talented singer-songwriter and actress, who was a beloved figure in the music industry who is remembered for her for her significant contributions to R&B and jazz. She left a permanent mark with her powerful vocal range, captivating voice, stunning beauty, and undeniable stage presence.

Cartoonist whose strips and panels infused fashion and refinement with social and political elements.

"It seems I was born different. At least, I always thought I was."

Grimke (1837-1914) hailed from a triumvirate of intellectual and abolitionist families: born into the prestigious Forten family, she later married into the equally renowned Grimke family, and shared familial ties with the influential Purvis family. She was an activist, educator, and a diarist whose published works gave rare insight into the life and perspective of a free Black woman in the North, pre-civil war.

Brenda "Raven" Robinson (1956) is the Navy's first black woman to earn her wings of gold (June 6, 1980).

Florence (1897-1991) was the first Black woman to graduate from a professional library program in the United States.

“I am here to put the nation on notice that violence perpetuated against women in the music industry in the forms of gangster rap and misogynist lyrics will not be tolerated any longer.” Tucker (1927-2005), dubbed “the most hated woman in hip hop” …

Attorney

Clubwoman

Entertainer