Women and African American History: 1990-1999
1990
• Sharon Pratt Kelly elected mayor of Washington, DC, the first African American mayor of a major American city
• Roselyn Payne Epps became the first woman president of the American Medical Association
• Debbye Turner became third African American Miss America
• Sarah Vaughan died (singer)
1991
• Clarence Thomas nominated for a seat on the US Supreme Court; Anita Hill, who had worked for Thomas in the federal government, testified about repeated sexual harassment, bringing the issue of sexual harassment to public attention (Thomas was confirmed as Justice)
• Marjorie Vincent became fourth African American Miss America
1992
• (August 3) Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first woman to win two Olympic heptathlons
• (September 12) Mae Jemison, astronaut, became the first African American woman in space
• (November 3) Carol Moseley Braun elected to the US Senate, the first African American woman to hold that office
1993
• Rita Dove became the first African American poet laureate
• (September 7) Joycelyn Elders became the first African American and first woman US Surgeon General
• (April 8) Marian Anderson died (singer)
1994
• Kimberly Aiken became fifth African American Miss America
1995
• (June 12) Supreme Court, in Adarand v. Pena, called for "strict scrutiny" before establishing any federal affirmative action requirements
• Ruth J. Simmons installed as president of Smith College in 1995. becoming the first African American president of one of the "Seven Sisters"
1996
1997
• (June 23) Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X, died of burns sustained in a June 1 fire in her home
1998
• DNA evidence was used to test the theory that Thomas Jefferson fathered the children of his slave, Sally Hemings -- most concluded that the DNA and other evidence confirmed the theory
• (September 21) track and field great Florence Griffith Joyner died (athlete; first African American to win four medals in one Olympics; sister-in-law of Jackie Joyner-Kersee)
• (September 26) Betty Carter died (jazz singer)
1999
• (November 4) Daisy Bates died (civil rights activist)
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