On May 19, 1965, Patricia Roberts Harris was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, making her the first African American woman appointed to an ambassadorial post abroad. She presented her credentials on September 7, 1965, and served in that role until September 22, 1967 .?AlamyOffice of the Historian

Harris’s appointment was a significant milestone in U.S. diplomatic history, breaking racial and gender barriers at a time when both were deeply entrenched in American society. She expressed both pride and a sense of responsibility about being the “first,” noting that her appointment highlighted the lack of previous consideration for African American women in such roles .?Wikipedia

Her distinguished career continued with further groundbreaking achievements. In 1969, she became the first Black woman to serve as dean of a U.S. law school at Howard University. Later, under President Jimmy Carter, she held two cabinet-level positions: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1977–1979) and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1979–1981), which was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services during her tenure. These appointments made her the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet and the first person to hold two different cabinet posts. ?SamePassage

Patricia Roberts Harris’s legacy continues to inspire, and she remains a pivotal figure in the history of American public service and civil rights.?

On this day, Willy T. Ribbs made history as the first African American driver to qualify for the prestigious Indianapolis 500. Ribbs’ achievement shattered a major racial barrier in professional auto racing, earning him a place among the sport’s pioneers and paving the way for future drivers of color.

On May 19, 1968—Malcolm X’s birthday and just weeks after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—The Last Poets were formed in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem. Founded by David Nelson, Gylan Kain, and Abiodun Oyewole, the group used poetry and percussion to channel Black rage, resistance, and cultural pride. They soon expanded from three poets and a drummer to a powerful collective of seven young Black and Hispanic artists. The Last Poets are widely recognized as forefathers of hip hop, fusing spoken word with rhythm to create politically charged performances that captured the spirit of Black liberation.

On this day, the iconic and boundary-breaking artist Grace Jones was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Known for her bold fashion, powerful stage presence, and androgynous style, Jones rose to international fame as a model, singer, and actress. Her influence continues to shape music, fashion, and pop culture around the world.

Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on this day in 1930. She would go on to become a trailblazing playwright, best known for A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by a Black woman produced on Broadway. Her second major work, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, also earned critical acclaim. Hansberry’s powerful narratives confronted race, class, gender, and human rights with unprecedented honesty and vision.

On May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker who cared for their large family of eight children. His father, Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and passionate supporter of Marcus Garvey’s Black Nationalist ideals. Earl’s activism and affiliation with Garveyism made the family a target of white supremacist threats, forcing them to relocate multiple times. These early experiences with racial violence and resistance deeply influenced Malcolm’s later philosophy and leadership in the fight for Black empowerment and justice.

On May 19, 1878, Blanche Kelso Bruce was appointed Register of the U.S. Treasury, becoming the first African American to have his signature appear on U.S. currency. A former enslaved man who became a U.S. Senator from Mississippi during Reconstruction, Bruce’s appointment was a powerful symbol of Black advancement in federal government roles during a period of intense racial hostility.