Black women have been breaking barriers and making history for centuries, yet many of their stories remain overlooked. From sports to space exploration, these four remarkable women have shattered expectations and paved the way for future generations.

Olympic gold medal-winning fencer

Hometown: Queens, NY

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ㅤLauren Scruggs took up fencing when she was seven and immediately fell in love with foil fencing — a discipline that requires speed, accuracy, and strategy. She quickly rose through the ranks on the national stage, winning gold at the 2020 Junior World Cup and back-to-back Junior Team World Championships in 2019 and 2021.  She is one of only two Black fencers — male or female — to win an individual world title. 

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Scruggs committed to Harvard in 2021 and quickly established herself as one of the top collegiate fencers, winning multiple titles, including an individual NCAA gold medal in 2023. In 2024, she helped Harvard claim its first-ever national title before shifting her focus to the Olympics.

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At just 21 years old, Scruggs made history at the Paris Games as the first Black American woman to ever medal in Olympic fencing after fighting her way to silver in the individual foil event. Days later, she anchored Team USA to its first-ever Olympic gold in women’s team foil. She became the first publicly out Black lesbian to compete in Olympic fencing — and the first to win a medal.

With so much ahead of her, this is just the beginning of Lauren Scruggs’ legacy.

Professional basketball player

Hometown: Minter City, MS

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A true pioneer in women’s basketball, Lusia “Lucy” Harris was one of the greatest centers in the game’s history. Harris grew up in Minter City, Mississippi, with ten siblings. Harris played high school ball at Amanda Elzy High School, where she was a three-time MVP, and attended Delta State University for college. Harris led the Mississippi team to three consecutive DII national titles from 1973 to 1977 and remains the school’s all-time leader in career scoring and rebounds.

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Harris represented the U.S. at the 1975 FIBA Women’s World Championship and the 1975 Pan American Games, where the team won gold. She also led Team USA to the silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics — the first-ever Olympic appearance for women’s basketball.

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Harris had three national championships, a gold medal, and more — but she wasn’t done making headlines. In 1977, the New Orleans Jazz selected Harris in the seventh round of the NBA Draft, making her the only woman ever officially drafted into the league. Instead of joining the Jazz in the NBA, Harris played briefly with the Houston Angels of the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL).

Harris became the first Black woman and female college player inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. She was later honored by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. With one of the most stacked resumes in history, Lusia Harris’s story will forever be a reminder that women belong anywhere the game is played.

NASCAR Pit Crew Member

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

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Despite NASCAR’s history as a white, male-dominated space, Brehanna Daniels is making waves in the sport. Daniels was a collegiate basketball player at Norfolk State but wasn’t sure where her career would go after college. In 2016, a friend encouraged Daniels to try out for a NASCAR pit crew position through the organization’s “Drive for Diversity” program. 

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At her try-out, Daniels realized the adrenaline, hand-eye coordination, and athleticism from her hoops game could easily translate to pit work, and instantly fell in love. 

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In June of 2017, Daniels became the first African American woman to pit in a national NASCAR series race. Then, in 2019, Daniels became the first Black woman to pit in the historic Daytona 500 race. Although her journey hasn’t been easy, Brehanna Daniels is committed to helping more women of color join the sport.

Astronaut

Hometown: Chicago, IL

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Born in Decatur, Alabama, and raised in Chicago, Mae Jemison grew up surrounded by education and STEM, often visiting science museums with her family. She graduated high school at just 16 years old before going on to earn degrees from Stanford University and Cornell Medical School.

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On September 12, 1992, Jemison made history aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor, becoming the first African-American woman in space. During her eight days on the STS-47 mission, Jemison conducted experiments on space motion sickness, bone loss, and frog fertilization in microgravity.  The Endeavor crew of six completed 127 orbits around Earth before safely returning on September 20.

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After six more years at NASA, Jemison transitioned to a career in education and entrepreneurship.  She is an accomplished author, public speaker, and advocate for STEM education (particularly for women and minorities), and her legacy has earned her induction into multiple Halls of Fame. 

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Mae Jemison’s story is a testament to the power of education, determination, and the courage to reach for the stars.