Legacy in Motion: Powerful Firsts in Black History (May 21–27)

This week in Black history honors groundbreaking achievements in education, politics, and social justice. On May 21, 1862, Mary Jane Patterson became the first Black woman in U.S. history to earn a master’s degree—from Oberlin College. Fast forward to 2009, when NFL quarterback Michael Vick was released from federal prison and later resumed his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. That same year, James Young shattered barriers by being elected mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi—a town once infamous for KKK violence and the 1964 murder of civil rights workers.Also remembered is Blanche Kelso Bruce, sworn in on May 22, 1881, as the first Black man to serve a full U.S. Senate term, championing civil rights for Black Americans, Native people, and Chinese immigrants. Each story reflects enduring strength and transformation in Black American history.