Colvin, who was born in Birmingham, Alabama, became one of the plaintiffs in the landmark case Browder v. Gayle that led to the end of bus segregation. In 1997, she began teaching Constitutional Law at Miles Law School and continued for almost 30 years. Carter would later become the first Black woman in the Montgomery Civil Air Patrol Squadron. Source: BlackPast.orgMae JemisonOn September 12, 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go into space. With this medal, Coachman became not only the first Black woman to win Olympic gold, but the only American woman to win a gold medal at the 1948 Olympic Games.

Source: The Guardian March 19, 2026 02:59 UTC