Black History Month: Celebrating African American Government Leadership
As an annual observance each February, Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans in the United States – from activists and civil rights pioneers to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more.
As we have highlighted in the past, a wide-range of government agencies honor this special month through various programs and efforts. This year, we are showcasing some of the most influential African American government leaders throughout our U.S. history.
Wentworth Cheswell: Known as the first African American to be elected to public office in the United States, Wentworth Cheswell held a series of town and local government positions in New Hampshire, and was a patriot during the American Revolution.
Crystal Bird Fauset: As the first African-American female state legislator in the United States, Crystal Bird Fauset also served President Franklin Roosevelt’s Civil Defense adviser on race relations, and was a founder of what later became Philadelphia's World Affairs Council.
Cora Brown: As the first African-American woman elected to a state senate in the United States, Cora Brown won her seat in the Michigan Senate in 1952. Dedicated to civil rights, she passed a bill that increased penalties for hotels and restaurants that engaged in racial discrimination.
Robert Weaver: As the first African American cabinet official, serving as the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Robert Weaver also served as the chairman of the NAACP.
William T. Coleman: Serving as Secretary of Transportation under President Gerald Ford, William T. Coleman was also the first African American to serve on the Harvard Law Review, and was the U.S. Supreme Court’s first black law clerk.
Colin Powell: Colin Powell was a retired four-star United States Army General who was the first African American to serve as National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, and Secretary of State.
Condoleezza Rice: Earning the distinction as a scholar and expert on international politics, Condoleezza Rice is the first African American woman National Security Advisor and Secretary of State of the United States.
Kamala Harris: On November 3, 2020, Kamala Harris was elected Vice-President of the United States, and is the first African American woman and first woman of South Asian ancestry to hold that post.
Barack Obama: Serving as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017, President Obama was the first African-American president in U.S. history.
As a minority-owned business, Makpar also celebrates the diversity of its workforce, and continually aims to give back to the community. To learn more about how Makpar creates an environment that allows happy people to do great work, please click here.