Black History Month has concluded but that just means it’s the start of Women’s History Month. This also signals the second half of a two-month-long celebration for Black women. Since we’re transitioning from one event to another, it only makes sense to highlight Black women. For this week’s In Case You Didn’t Know, we’re going to go over some groundbreaking Black women who have made history just this year.
Black Women Firsts in 2023
On January 24th, Angela Basset made history by becoming the first-ever actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for a Marvel role. The franchise has seen many award nominations, but its first Oscar nod went to a Black woman!
on January 27th, Starr Andrews became the first Black woman to medal at the US Figure Skating Championships in 35 years! The last Black woman to do the same was Olympic bronze medalist Debi Thomas who won the gold medal at the nationals in 1988.
At The Superbowl
There were two remarkable Black woman firsts at this year’s Superbowl. Autumn Lockwood, the assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles made history as being the first Black woman to coach at a Superbowl.
On the entertainment side of the Superbowl, asl interpreter Justina Miles made her own history. She became the first deaf woman to perform American sign language at the Superbowl pre-game and halftime shows.
In Politics
On February 21st history was made in Virginia. State Senator Jennifer McClellan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Thus, making her the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress.
On February 27th Philadelphia Democratic Rep. Joanna McClinton was elected as speaker of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. This not only made her the first Black woman in the state’s history to hold that position but the first woman ever.