Remembering Alexis Herman: Alabama's Trailblazer and First Black U.S. Secretary of Labor Passes Away at 77

Alexis Herman, the pioneering first Black U.S. Secretary of Labor, passed away on Friday at 77. A Mobile native, she held the position from 1997 to 2001 during Bill Clinton’s presidency. The Clintons expressed their profound sadness and celebrated her achievements. Herman, a trailblazer from an early age, became the Women’s Bureau’s youngest director at 29 under Jimmy Carter. U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer praised her lifelong devotion to public service. Tributes illustrated her impact on civil rights and mentorship across generations.