Women’s History Month Spotlight: 5 Black Female Trailblazers To Know 

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What does it mean to be a trailblazer? As Women’s History Month comes to an end, 101 Magazine highlights six unsung, iconic Black women who were pioneers in their respective fields. Each of these women has made an impact on their industries, their communities and the world.

1. Leah Chase (Chef/ Civil Rights Activist) 

Courtesy / American Public Television 

Leah Chase was the head chef and founder of “Dooky Chase Restaurant” a Creole restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the Civil Rights Movement, iconic Black leaders like Martin Luther King and James Baldwin would hold meetings in her restaurant as it was the only formal restaurant in the city that served Black people. 

Fun Fact: Leah Chase was the inspiration for the character Princess Tiana, from the Disney classic, Princess and the Frog. 

2. Cynthia Marshall (CEO of NBA Team) 

Courtesy / Mavs.com 

Affectionately known as “Cynt” Cynthia Marshall was the first Black female CEO in the NBA. 

Previously a Senior Vice President at AT&T, Marshall helped diversify the Mavericks’s workplace culture and increase their philanthropic efforts. 

Mark Cuban, an owner of the team, said in a statement, “[Cynt] has led this organization to new heights with grace and integrity, and her light will continue to shine bright throughout the community.” 

3. Jessye Norman (Artist) 

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Jessye Norman was a five-time Grammy award winner known primarily for her distinct and beautiful operatic voice. As one of the first recognized Black American Female Opera singers, Norman received a National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor, France’s Legion of Honor and countless other accolades. Although she made her stage debut in 1969, she sang up until she died in 2019. 

Fun Fact: Jessye Norman graduated from Howard in 1967 and was a founding member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity. 

4. Valerie L. Thomas (Scientist, Inventor) 

Courtesy/ NASA 

Valerie Thomas invented the illusion transmitter, which is credited for laying the foundation for modern 3D printing and 3D movies. After graduating from Morgan State with a degree in physics, Valerie Thomas began her career working as a data analyst for NASA. After Thomas created the illusion transmitter, NASA applied her invention to their satellite applications. 5. Sylvia Rhone (Music Executive) 

Courtesy/ City of Hope 

As the current CEO of Epic Records, Sylvia is the first African American woman to lead a major music label. A lover of music since childhood, Sylvia’s career in music is a story of many successes. She’s held unprecedented leadership positions at various labels and recording companies, including President of Motown Records (in 2004). Rhone was once called “the most powerful woman in the music business” by the Los Angeles Times. 

Fun Fact: Sylvia is responsible for signing and managing iconic artists throughout her career, including Brandy, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott. 

Each of these women, and many others like them, worked incredibly hard to break through barriers and venture into underrepresented spaces. Their successes are a testament to their resilience, and they paved a road for other underrepresented people, including others following behind them.