Rodney Harrison Makes History as the First African American NYPD Chief of Detectives in 175 Years

The New York City Police Department has appointed Rodney Harrison as Chief of Detectives. He is the first African American in the department's 175-year existence to serve in this role.

Meet Annie Malone, the Millionaire Black Hair Care Icon Who Owned Several Mansions

Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone was the first Black woman to become a millionaire. She owned a Black hair care empire called Poro that reported assets of $14 million in the year 1920.

Meet Maggie Lena Walker, the First African American Woman to Own a Bank

In 1903, Maggie Lena Walker founded St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia making her the first African American woman to charter a bank in the United States. Her bank not only focused on adult clientele, but also marketed to children and encouraged them to save their money.

The First African American to Graduate College Was Alexander Lucius Twilight

The story of Alexander Lucius Twilight is an amazing one. When he graduated from from Middlebury College in 1823, he became the first Black American to graduate from college with a Bachelor's degree.

Charlotte E. Ray Was the First Black Woman to Become a Lawyer in the U.S.

The legal industry remains relatively hostile to African-Americans even to this day. That is why the accomplishments of Charlotte E. Ray are so impressive. In the 1800s, she became the first Black female lawyer in American history.

It Took Only 16 Hours to Destroy Black Wall Street — 1,000 Black-Owned Businesses and Homes!

Established in 1906, Black Wall Street (originally known as Greenwood Avenue) was a prominent African American community located in the Greenwood District in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sadly in 1921, the whole neighborhood was burned down after being attacked by a white lynch mob.

Meet the Founder of the Oldest and Largest Black-Owned Life Insurance Company

North Carolina Mutual is one of the most influential African-American businesses in U.S. history. Founded in 1898 in Durham, NC by entrepreneur John C. Merrick, the company initially specialized in providing "industrial insurance," which was basically burial insurance for Black people.

The History of the First African American Fire Company in Chicago

Engine 21 was Chicago’s first organized paid African American Firefighting Company. Established in the mid-1800's, the company only consisted of just six Black firefighters. But they are credited with being the first firefighters to come up with the idea to create and use a fire house sliding pole that would allow them to quickly descend from the upper level to the ground level - a method that was later adopted by every fire station around the world, and is still used in modern day.

Meet Frank Wills, the Security Guard Who Discovered President Nixon’s Watergate Scandal

Frank Wills was an African American private security guard who was on-duty during the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters inside the Watergate complex in Washington, DC.

Meet Wall Street's First Black Millionaire

In the mid-1800's, Jeremiah G. Hamilton was a well-known African American figure on Wall Street. Although his origins were lowly, possibly slave, he was reportedly the richest Black man in the United States, possessing a fortune of $2 million, or in excess of $250 million in today’s currency.