On May 19, 1965, Patricia Roberts Harris was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, making her the first African American woman appointed to an ambassadorial post abroad. She presented her credentials on September 7, 1965, and served in that role until September 22, 1967 .?AlamyOffice of the Historian

Harris’s appointment was a significant milestone in U.S. diplomatic history, breaking racial and gender barriers at a time when both were deeply entrenched in American society. She expressed both pride and a sense of responsibility about being the “first,” noting that her appointment highlighted the lack of previous consideration for African American women in such roles .?Wikipedia

Her distinguished career continued with further groundbreaking achievements. In 1969, she became the first Black woman to serve as dean of a U.S. law school at Howard University. Later, under President Jimmy Carter, she held two cabinet-level positions: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1977–1979) and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1979–1981), which was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services during her tenure. These appointments made her the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet and the first person to hold two different cabinet posts. ?SamePassage

Patricia Roberts Harris’s legacy continues to inspire, and she remains a pivotal figure in the history of American public service and civil rights.?