Black History Month Firsts: Our Family

Dearest girls,

Following are some Black History Month facts that you should know:

1. Your mom was the first African-American reporter for “The Tidewater News.”
2. Your great-grandmother was the first woman minister at Metropolitan A.M. E. Zion Church.
3. Your great-grandfather owned a store during a time when there were too few African-American entrepreneurs.
4. Your grandmother was the first African-American and first woman city bus driver in
   Norfolk, Va.
5. Your grandfather is a master mechanic and was the first African-American to lead the
   transportation department at the Naval Amphibious Base.
6. Your grandmother was the first African-American woman heavy mobile equipment
   mechanic at the Norfolk Naval Base.
7. I was the first African-American woman to graduate from the Old Dominion University
   Community College Leadership Ph.D. Program.
8. I am the first African-American woman to serve as a vice president at the largest and first
   community college in Pennsylvania.

You come from a family of firsts, and you are destined for greatness. Excellence is part of your DNA.

I love you.

Auntie