In 1784, Virginia native James Hemings traveled to Paris with Thomas Jefferson, becoming the first American trained in French cuisine.

Harrison was an American designer, speaker, educator and the first African American to lead a major design department.

Bessie Coleman was the first woman of African American and Native American descent to earn her pilot's license in the U.S.

At just 6, Ruby Bridges braved angry crowds to attend an all-white school—becoming the first Black student to integrate in Louisiana.