Timeline of African Americans in Finance

Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778 Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778 Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778 Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778 Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778 Timeline of African Americans in Finance February is African American History Month. While African American contributions in science, medicine, the arts, and athletics are better known, black Americans have a rich history in banking and finance, as well. Here are just a few proud moments in the history of African American banking. 2009: Barack H. Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States. His wife, Michelle, is the nation's first African American First Lady. 2009 2001 2001: Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertain- ment Television, is the first African American billionaire. Later that year, Sheila Johnson is certified as the nation's first woman African American billionaire. 1993 1989 1993: Harry Alford and Kay Debow found the National Black Chamber of Commerce. 1977 The first African American Secretary of Commerce is Ron Brown. 1970 1989: FIRREA - the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act - mandates that the FDIC will help preserve and promote minority-owned financial institutions. 1950 1977: Azie Taylor Morton becomes the 36th Treasurer of the United States and the first African American 1927 woman to have her signature on U.S. currency. 1970: Joseph L. Searles III is the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange. 1910 late 1950s: African American brokers and traders make 1902 their first inroads on Wall Street at major firms like J.P. Morgan. A black stockbroker jokes to a local paper that, "the only Negroes on Wall Street before us were either sweeping it or shining shoes on it."* 1888 1927: Major R.R. Wright forms the Negro Bankers Association - the first professional organization for African Americans in finance, In 1948, the organization changed its name to National Bankers Association and still exists today. 1879 1910: Madam C.J. Walker becomes the first African American millionaire. After building a brand of successful hair care products, she became the wealthiest African American woman in the nation. 1902: Maggie L. Walker becomes the first female African American bank president after she founds the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. 1888: Capital Savings Bank is the first bank founded and operated by African Americans. 1879: Blanche Kelso Bruce is the first African American (and only former slave) to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first African American whose signature appeared on currency as Register of the Treasury in 1881. - 1778: Richard Allen and Absalom Jones form the Free African Slave Society, an organization to help educate newly freed people on socioeconomic issues. 1778