In July 1965, Constance Baker Motley made history. She did not make it through a protest, but with a pen and the decisive support of the people. She was sworn in as Manhattan Borough President. To become the first African American woman to hold that position in New York City.

Motley was no stranger to firsts. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1921. To West Indian immigrants, she became the first Black woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She was the only woman on the legal team of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Her legal acumen played a crucial role in dismantling segregation in American schools. This was particularly instrumental in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

July 1965 marked a shift

Motley’s appointment as Borough President came during a time of national unrest and racial tension. Harlem was still reeling from the aftermath of civil rights demonstrations. Police brutality and the call for Black representation in city governance were louder than ever. Her leadership was seen as both a response to and a symbol of progress during this volatile era.

As Borough President, Motley advocated fiercely for affordable housing, education reform, and civil rights protections. She brought visibility to issues plaguing Black and brown communities long ignored by city officials.

Her tenure in Manhattan politics didn’t end there. In 1966, she was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge. Another milestone that would cement her legacy in American jurisprudence.

“When I look back, I am amazed that I ever had the courage to begin,” Motley once said.