29 Black Female Leaders (Past and Present) You Should Know

Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita

Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita (born Feb. 3, 1959)

Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita was the chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal South Africa, the world’s largest steel producer.

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman (Jan. 26, 1892 – April 30, 1926)

In 1922, aviator Bessie Coleman became the first African-American woman to stage a public flight in America. Her high-flying skills always wowed her audience.
nita barrow

 

Nita Barrow (Nov. 15, 1916 – Dec. 19, 1995)

She was the first and only female governor-general of Barbados.

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm (Nov. 30, 1924 – Jan. 1, 2005)

Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American congresswoman in 1968. Four years later, she became the first major-party Black candidate to make a bid for the U.S. presidency.

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