7 Black women who made history in 2022

It always feels great to see Black women break glass ceilings. And highlighting those significant strides and milestones is indispensable. Just like last year, women across many fields of profession, as well as education, wrote their names in the history books by attaining feats worth commendable.

As stated earlier, it is crucial to share their stories so the younger female generation understands that the impossible is truly nothing. Despite obstacles and setbacks, these women kept their eyes on the prize, and it paid off in the end.

With that being said, Face2Face Africa shares with you the Black women who made history in 2022: 

Tatiana Julien

Tatiana Julien, a New Orleans native, made history after she became the Louisiana Army National Guard’s first Black female pilot, the Associated Press reported.

Julien said a Black New Orleans pilot who was in her unit during a deployment to the Middle East from 2017 to 2018 inspired her to become a pilot. She said she noticed the officer, now Chief Warrant Officer 4 Troy Willis, was the only Black person serving as a Warrant officer pilot in her unit, WDSU reported. She added that seeing her fellow New Orleans native in the cockpit inspired her to also become one.

Lisa Cook

Following her approval by the U.S. Senate to serve on the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, Lisa Cook became the first Black woman to assume that position. 

Cook has been a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State since 2005. From 2011 to 2012, she served as a staff economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers. She was also an adviser to the Biden-Harris transition team on the Fed and bank regulatory policy, according to First Post.

Brandie Medina

Brandie Medina made history at St. Edward’s University when she became the first Black woman to graduate from the school with a doctorate. The 42-year-old mother of four was joined by six other students as part of the first cohort to complete the university’s first-ever doctoral program, American-Statesman reported. The program was designed to prepare students for success in the rapidly changing world of postsecondary education, according to the school’s website.

Jada Davis 

Jada Davis was crowned Miss Milwaukee 2022, making her the first Black woman to hold the title of Miss Milwaukee. The 23-year-old Milwaukee resident attends Marquette University Law School and is working toward her Juris Doctorate.

Before getting involved in pageantry late last year, she was doing a lot for her community as a law clerk and former dance instructor for the Boys & Girls Clubs. She has also volunteered for many organizations including Milwaukee Justice Center, Marquette Volunteer Law Clinic, YWCA, Unity Gospel House of Prayer, and Black Youth Alliance.

Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock 

Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, a senior officer in the United States Armed Forces, recently wrote her name in the history books after she became the Marine Corps’ first Black female two-star general. According to Military.com, Mahlock’s feat adds up to other historic milestones that women and minorities in the military have achieved this year.

Mahlock, who was born in Jamaica, was nominated by President Joe Biden at the beginning of the month. The Senate subsequently gave the green light for her promotion on December 15. Mahlock is currently the deputy director of cybersecurity for combat support at the National Security Agency.

Mahlock’s history-making feat adds up to other significant milestones she has reached. In 2018, her promotion to the rank of a one-star brigadier general made her the Marine Corps’ first Black woman to attain that position. She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Marine Corps’ chief information officer.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the 116th Supreme Court justice and the first Black woman to serve on the country’s top court. Jackson took the oath of office on June 30, replacing retiring Justice Stephen Breyer after the court released its final rulings for this term. 

In April, the Senate confirmed Jackson to the nine-member bench, giving the U.S. Supreme Court a Black female justice for the first time in its 233-year history. U.S. President Joe Biden had said during a press conference in Delaware in June 2020 that he hoped to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court if given the opportunity.

Carcia Carson

Jackson State University alumna Carcia Carson became the first Black woman to receive her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University, JSU News reported.

A native of Terry, Carson earned her B.S. in physics in 2014 from Jackson State University before heading to Fisk University for its Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-PhD Bridge Program, where she obtained her master’s degree in physics.