First up, is
Sojourner Truth, who was an women's rights activist and abolitionist in the 1800s. She is remembered for giving her famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman" in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. In April 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama honored her by unveiling a statue of Sojourner Truth on Capitol Hill- the first black woman to be so honored at the Capitol.

"One can only imagine what Sojourner Truth, an outspoken, tell-it-like-it-is kind of woman...would have to say about this incredible gathering, just looking down on this day, and thinking about the legacy she has left all of us -- because we are all here because, as my husband says time and time again, we stand on the shoulders of giants like Sojourner Truth." - Michelle Obama




Alexis Herman is the first African-American to become the Secretary of Labor and served under President Clinton. Ms. Herman is a product of a public service family, her father, Alex Herman, was the first black politician elected in the South since Reconstruction. Before her appointment to Labor Department, she served as the Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison and now serves as a board member on a number of companies including Toyota and Coca-Cola.
Wondering who was the first African-American woman mayor? Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly holds that title, becoming the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city, when she was elected to in 1990 to become Washington's DC's top official. She was the third mayor of the city and is the only woman to have served as mayor of Washington D.C.

Condoleezza Rice was the first woman to ever serve as National Security Advisor and the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State. She worked tirelessly as a member of President George W. Bush's administration and is counted as one of his staunch supporters. Since leaving the White House, she became a faculty member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is also the Director of the school's Global Center for Business and the Economy.

Another woman making history in foreign policy is Susan Rice, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and the first African-American woman to serve in that position. She also served in the administration of President Bill Clinton working on the staff of the National Security Council and as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

In November 2008, Michelle Obama made history by becoming the first African-American First Lady. The Princeton and Harvard Law School graduate has been a champion of health eating and supporting military families since she moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Mrs. Obama said in 2009,
"I hope that Sojourner Truth would be proud to see me, a descendant of slaves, serving as the first lady of the United States of America."
Are you gonna be next?