HBCU Firsts: A Trip Down History Lane
With it being the start of Black History Month, it’s important to pay homage to the many “firsts” of our HBCUs

Humphries Hall, taken soon after it was built in 1903. The building was one of five original buildings that once comprised the Institute of Colored Youth. The building still stands on the universities' quadrangle. it's named for the founder of Cheyney U., Richard Humphreys.
Black History Month is here, and even though it happens to be during the shortest month of the year, it’s still important to recognize the role our HBCUs have contributed to our history. From us educating freed slaves back in the 1800s to producing the first female African American Vice President, there’s no doubt that our institutions have stood the test of time and continue to produce changemakers, trailblazers, and a plethora of opportunities. To commemorate our rich legacy, we will celebrate some of the “firsts” achieved by HBCU graduates and institutions.
First HBCUs
It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the first and oldest HBCU in the United States, Cheyney University. Founded in 1837 in Cheyney, Pennsylvania, its initial name was the Institute for Colored Youth. It initially started out as a training hub for Black teachers, but the school eventually started issuing degrees in 1914. Lincoln University, established in 1854, was the first HBCU to grant degrees. Shortly after, Howard University School of Law, the first Black law school in the U.S., was founded in 1869. And of course, Spelman College, founded in 1881, was the first college established for Black women.
Athletics
There’s no doubt that HBCU athletics are constantly overlooked. Many of our athletes have made significant history and achievements as alumni, but never forget where their seeds were initially planted. Paul “Tank” Younger was the first HBCU player to be drafted to the NFL in 1949. He attended Grambling State University and signed to the Los Angeles Rams. His godfather, Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, was actually Grambling’s president at the time, but he did not go easy on Younger. Tank had a mentor, Eddie Robinson, and he once said in an interview: “Eddie Robinson told me I had to make it. He told me if I failed, black college football would fail.” Doug Williams, another alumni of Grambling, was the first Black quarterback to be drafted in the first round. He also was the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. Putting on for the women, Althea Gibson was the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam tennis title. Her alma mater, Florida A&M University, endowed the Althea Gibson Scholarship in 2005 with the help of her friend, Bill Cosby.
Politics
While we all know about the incredible milestone achieved by Kamala Harris, there are many other political pioneers that left their HBCUs and went on to impact our people and society. In 1870, Hiram Revels became the first Black Senator to serve in the U.S. Congress. After his time in office, Revels became the first president of Alcorn State University. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, is a 2x HBCU alum. Marshall attended Lincoln University for his undergraduate degree, and later attended Howard University School of Law where he graduated top of his class. Finally, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche was the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a United Nations mediator in the Middle East. Before this, Bunche was a professor at Howard University and the founding head of their Political Science department.
Arts & Sciences
Whether many know it or not, many of the cultural and scientific advancements made to society were backed by African Americans. While most aren’t HBCU grads, there are still a few schools and individuals that are paving the way for the future. For starters, Hampton University became the first HBCU to have its own satellite launched into space in 2007. Hampton’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere Program deputy at the time, Len McMaster, worked with NASA to achieve this for the students and school. George Alcorn, a masters and PhD graduate from Howard University, was the first to invent the x-ray spectrometer and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2015. Transitioning to the arts, Phylicia Rashad, another Howard University alum, became the first Black woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 2004. Alabama A&M’s Marching Maroon & White Band was the first HBCU band to lead the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023; a pivotal moment for HBCU history.
These “firsts” are more than just achievements and milestones. They are a testament to the legacy and excellence that is produced from our institutions. As HBCUs continue to expand and advance, these accomplishments are reminders that they are more than just schools. We are pillars of change, advancement, and a reminder that there is still more work to be done.