Leagues of Black women have left an indelible mark on history, overcoming barriers in business, politics and the arts. From founding BET to becoming the first Black female Senator, these Black women’s pioneering spirit and resilience inspire generations of others to follow in their footsteps. Their legacies endure as beacons of hope and empowerment, emphasizing the power of determination in breaking down systemic barriers.
As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we shine a light on legacy changemakers who have established a foundation for Black women of today to blaze their own trails.
Sheila Johnson, Co-Founder of BET
Sheila Johnson shattered barriers in the business sphere, pioneering opportunities for Black female entrepreneurs. She transformed the media landscape through her vision and leadership and amplified diverse voices. Johnson’s trailblazing journey inspired many women in the entrepreneurial world, breaking down systemic obstacles and creating a legacy of empowerment and innovation.
Did you know:
Sheila Johnson became the first Black female billionaire after co-founding the Black Entertainment Network in 1980.
Johnson’s father was a military veteran and a doctor and her mother was an accountant. In her memoir Walk Through Fire, Johnson describes the pain and trauma of her dad leaving her family while she was in high school, and how healing from that has been a process that has helped her drive for success.
She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she was the first African American cheerleader.
Johnson is the president, managing partner and governor of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics
Johnson is the CEO of Salamander Resorts and Hotels, which boasts a portfolio of six luxury hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Caribbean.
She is a global ambassador for CARE, an organization that aims to end global poverty. Johnson is also a board member of many foundations dedicated to the arts, including VH1’s Save the Music Foundation.
When Johnson and her former husband were idealizing BET, she described her vision for it as “EBONY Magazine on television.”
Carol Moseley Braun, Diplomat and Politician
Carol Moseley Braun reshaped the political landscape, championing equality and justice. Her historic tenure challenged stereotypes, amplifying marginalized voices in policymaking. Braun’s political journey has helped pave the way for a new generation of Black female politicians, catalyzing progress and forging pathways to leadership in government and beyond.
Image: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call.
Did you know:
In 1993, Braun defeated both the Democratic incumbent and the Republican challenger for a U.S. Senate seat. She became the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate and the first female senator from Illinois.
She was also the first Black senator from the Democratic party.
She went to the University of Illinois Chicago and received a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1972.
During her ten years in the Illinois House of Representatives, Moseley Braun became known for her support of gun control, healthcare, and education reform. She also continued her support of these issues in the U.S. Senate.
After losing her Senate seat in 1998, she pivoted to another political sphere and became the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand in 1999.
In January 2023, President Biden nominated Moseley Braun to chair the United States African Development Foundation.
Eunice Johnson, American businesswoman
Eunice Johnson made a significant impact in the beauty and fashion world by showcasing Black beauty and style. Through her iconic EBONY Fashion Fair, she dismantled racial barriers and actively sought to elevate Black designers and models. Johnson’s pioneering efforts created a space for Black women in the fashion industry, sparking a legacy of inclusivity and empowerment.
Did you know:
Eunice Johnson was known for her passion for fashion, founding and directing the EBONY fashion fair, which became an annual global fashion tour aiming to showcase Black designers and styles for Black women.
Over the course of its 50-year tenure, the fashion fair raised over $55 million for various causes, from civil rights groups to scholarship funds.
Johnson’s husband, John H. Johnson, founded EBONY Magazine. Eunice inspired the name by the hue of the hardwood material of the same name.
She graduated from Talladega College in 1938 with a degree in sociology.
Johnson was one of the first people to make and market cosmetics specifically for Black women, making her an early pioneer in the representation of Black women in the beauty industry.
Barbara Jordan, Politician
Barbara Jordan was a beacon of hope and progress for Black women in the South. Her eloquence and integrity transcended racial divides, reshaping Southern politics. Jordan’s legacy as a trailblazer not only empowered Black women but started massive change and fostered representation in the South, empowering other railroaded Americans to fight for equity.
Image: Archive Photos/Getty Images.
Did you know:
Jordan was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after the Reconstruction era. She was a lawyer, an educator and a politician.
Jordan was also the first Black American congresswoman from the South, preceded only by Shirley Chisolm.
In college, she joined her school’s debate team and was a part of a team that tied with Harvard’s debate team, which she described as one of her greatest university moments.
After graduating magna cum laude from Texas Southern University in 1956, she attended Boston University Law School, where she was one of only two women to graduate.
Her work in the Texas Senate focused on environmental improvement and justice as well as anti-discrimination and urban legislation.
After rising to Congress, Jordan focused on policies that worked to improve the lives of marginalized Americans, strengthening the Civil Rights Act of 1965 to offer some protections to Mexican workers in the Southwest.
Ursula Burns, former Xerox CEO
Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox, made great strides in the business world. Her visionary leadership shattered glass ceilings, inspiring Black women globally. Burns’ groundbreaking achievements redefined business possibilities, fostering diversity and inclusion and inspiring future generations of Black female executives.
Image: Ivan Apfel/Getty Images for FIRST.
Did you know:
In 2009, Ursula Burns was named the CEO of Xerox, becoming the first Black woman to lead an S&P 500 company.
Early in her life, Burns discovered her talent for mathematics and went on to earn a mechanical engineering degree from the Polytechnic Institute of NYU. She also completed her masters in the same field at Columbia University.
Former President Obama selected her as one of the leaders of the STEM Education Coalition, which aims to increase student participation in STEM subjects.
She also served on the President’s Export Council, a group of leaders from labor, business and government positions who worked to increase American exports. Burns served as the chair from 2015-2016.
Burns was named chairwoman of VEON, a Dutch telecommunications company, in 2017.
Her memoir, Where You Are Is Not Who You Are, describes her passion for inclusive capitalism and racial equity.
