Many recent statistical analyses show that Black women are the most educated demographic in the United States based on growth. The ratio of college-educated black women to non-college-educated black women is growing at a rate higher than any demographic. As we transition from Black History Month to Women’s History Month, you’ll likely see a few of the same names being celebrated. The women on this list are all trailblazers in their fields and persevered through heightened levels of racism and sexism on their way to greatness.

Continue on to view a gallery of trailblazing Black women who are influential today or stamped their place in history long ago.

Venus & Serena Williams | Professional Tennis Players

The first African Americans to be ranked No. 1 Internationally.

Photography: Instagram

Dr. Mae Jemison | Astronaut, Engineer & Medical Doctor

First African American woman astronaut.

Photography:

Ava DuVernay | Filmmaker

First African American woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe for best director.

Photography: Instagram

Condoleeza Rice | United States Diplomat

First African American to be appointed National Security Advisor.

Photography: Instagram

Naomi Sims | Model & Businesswoman

First African American supermodel.

Photography: Instagram

Sheila Johnson | Businesswoman

First African American woman billionaire.

First African American woman to own a professional sports team (Washington Mystics).

Photography: Instagram

Dorothy Height | Activist

"Godmother" of the Civil Right Movement.

Photography: Instagram

Lupita Nyong'o

First Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

First person of Kenyan descent to win an Oscar.

Photography: Instagram

Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson

First African American woman to earn a Ph.D from MIT.

Photography: RPI

Dr. Ruth J. Simmons | Professor & Academic Administrator

First African American elected president of an Ivy League Institution (Brown University).

Photography: Prarie View A&M University

Beyoncé | Recording Artist

Lead singer of the highest-selling all-woman music group of all time (Destiny's Child).

24-time GRAMMY award-winner

Photography: Instagram

Wilma Rudolph | Track & Field Athlete

First woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics Games.

Photography: Instagram

Katherine Johnson |. NASA Mathematician

One of the first African American woman NASA scientists.

Photography: Instagram

Michelle Obama | Attorney & Author

First African American First Lady of the United States.

Photography: Lawrence Jackson

Madam C.J. Walker | Entrepreneur

First African American woman to become a self-made millionaire.

Creator of the first African-American hair care products.

Photography: Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Marian Croak | VP of Engineering - Google

Creator of Voice over IP technology.

Photography: Instagram

Shirley Chisholm | Politician & Educator

First African American major-party candidate to run for President of the United States.

First African American woman elected to the United States Congress.

Photography: Instagram

Viola Davis | Actress

First African American to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting" – winner of an Oscar, Emmy and two Tony awards.

Photography: Instagram

Rihanna

First Black woman to work as the lead designer of a luxury fashion house.

Photography: Fenty

Oprah Winfrey | Talk Show Host, Media Executive & Philanthropist

First African American multi-billionaire.

Photography: Instagram

Cathy Hughes | Entrepreneur

First African American woman to head a publicly-traded company (Radio One).

Photography: Facebook