List of African-American U.S. state firsts
s are a demographic minority in the United States. African-Americans' initial achievements in various fields historically establish a foothold, providing a precedent for more widespread cultural change. The shorthand phrase for this is "breaking the color barrier."
In addition to major, national- and international-level firsts, African-Americans have achieved firsts on a statewide basis.
- 1872
- 1873
- 1876
- 1879
- 1880
- 1889
- 1893
- 1898
- 1918
- 1920
- 1924
- 1930
- 1938
- 1950
- 1955
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1962
- 1964
- 1966
- 1967
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1973
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1984
- 1985
- 1988
- 1990
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1996
- 1998
21st century
- 2001
- 2002
- 2004
- 2006
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019