January

Black Women's History Calendar

The Black Women's History Timeline is a dynamic and empowering resource that highlights the monumental contributions of Black women throughout history. From trailblazing leaders and activists to innovators in science, culture, and business, this timeline offers a curated journey through their achievements and legacy. Each month, we spotlight key figures, events, and movements that have shaped the course of history and continue to inspire future generations. This timeline not only celebrates Black women's resilience, brilliance, and leadership but also educates and empowers communities to honor their invaluable impact on the world.

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January 1, 2005

Shirley Chisholm, an American politician and activist, transitions to the ancestors

January 2, 1898

Dr. Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in economics in the U.S. and a prominent civil rights lawyer, is born.

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January 7, 1891

Zora Neale Hurston, author and anthropologist, is born. She becomes a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and a champion of Black culture and folklore.

January 7, 1955

Marian Anderson is the first African American woman to sing at the Metropolitan Opera

January 8, 1977

Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray is the first African American woman ordained to the Episcopal priesthood, by Bishop William F. Creighton at Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C.

January 10, 2022

The Maya Angelou quarter is released as the first coin in the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, honoring the iconic poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

January 13, 1850

Charlotte Ray, first female African-American lawyer and first woman admitted to the bar in Washington D.C is born.

January 20, 1977

Patricia Roberts Harris becomes U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the first black woman to hold a Cabinet position.

January 20, 2021

Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President, becoming the first Black woman and South Asian woman to hold the office in U.S. history.

January 21, 1936

Former Congressman Barbara Jordan born.

January 25, 1851

Sojourner Truth addresses the first Black Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

January 25, 1949

Sheila Crump Johnson, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), is born. She becomes the first African American woman to attain a net worth of over a billion dollars.

January 26, 1892

Bessie Coleman, first African-American woman in the world to fly a plane and earn an international pilot’s license is born.

January 27, 1961

Leontyne Price made her Metropolitan Opera debut.

January 28, 1960

Zora Neale Hurston, author and anthropologist transitions to the ancestors.

January 29, 1926

Violette Nealy Anderson becomes the first Black woman lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

January 29, 1954

Oprah Winfrey, cultural icon, philanthropist, and one of the most influential women in the world, is born.