Patricia Harris

February 20, 2008

You may Listen or download this story in .mp3 format. or as a .wav file

Profile America for the 20th day of Black History Month. By any measure, Patricia Roberts Harris had a remarkable career. She was dean of the Howard University Law School and on the board of directors of IBM. In 1964, she became the first African-American woman ambassador, when President Lyndon Johnson appointed her to head the diplomatic mission to Luxembourg. Then, in 1977, she became the first black woman cabinet member, when President Jimmy Carter appointed her as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. During her tenure, she paid special attention to the needs of the disadvantaged and distinguished herself as an advocate of fairness and equity for all Americans. Today in the U.S., 46 percent of African-Americans own their own homes. This special edition of Profile America for Black History Month is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.