21st Century History Makers: Black Firsts from 2000-2025
Source: Radio One Digital / Radio One Digital
Over the past 25 years, also known as the new millennium, black folks have been trailblazing!
From politics to entertainment, business to sports, these history makers have shattered barriers and set brand new precedents for what is achievable by becoming “firsts.” Their accomplishments are more than just personal milestones—they represent progress, perseverance, and the power of representation.
As we look back at the 21st century so far, let’s celebrate those who have paved new paths, proving that excellence knows no bounds.
Here are the groundbreaking Black “firsts” from 2000 to 2025
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Barack Obama — First Black President of the United States (2009)
Source: GABRIEL BOUYS- / Getty
Robert L. Johnson — First Black billionaire after selling BET to Viacom for $3 billion (2001)
Source: Michael Buckner / Getty
Gabby Douglas — First Black gymnast to win the individual all-around Olympic gold medal (2012)
Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty
Billy Porter — First openly gay Black man to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2019)
Source: Kristina Bumphrey / Getty
Dr. Lisa DeNell Cook — First Black woman appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (2024)
Source: Drew Angerer / Getty
Virgil Abloh — First Black artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear line (2021)
Source: WWD / Getty
Ketanji Brown Jackson — First Black female Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (2022)
Source: Pool / Getty
Ursula Burns — First Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, Xerox (2009)
Source: Ivan Apfel / Getty
Ruth Simmons — First Black president of an Ivy League university, Brown University (2001)
Source: Nicholas Hunt/Office of Marketing and Communications/Prairie View A&M / Getty
Edward Enninful — First Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue (2017)
Source: Mike Marsland / Getty
Carla Hayden — First Black Librarian of Congress (2016)
Source: STEFANI REYNOLDS / Getty
Laphonza Butler —First openly lesbian Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate (2023)
Source: Tom Williams / Getty
Kendrick Lamar — First non-jazz, non-classical artist to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018)
Source: Arnold Jerocki / Getty
Victor Glover — First Black astronaut as Artemis II Pilot (on track to fly to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission) (2023)
Source: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / Getty
Amanda Gorman — First National Youth Poet Laureate to recite a poem at a U.S. presidential Inauguration (2021)
Source: MANDEL NGAN / Getty
Kamala Harris — First Black and South Asian woman elected as Vice President of the U.S (2020)
Source: Tom Williams / Getty
Simone Biles — First Black woman to win four Olympic gold medals in gymnastics in a single Games (2016)
Source: Laurence Griffiths / Getty
Ibram X. Kendi — Creator of First major center for antiracist research (2020)
Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty
