In honor of Black History Month, many Moore North America members have taken time to recognize, celebrate and reflect on the contributions and achievements of Black Americans and Canadians throughout history. It is our pleasure to highlight some of those accomplishments and appreciate the opportunity to share their stories.
Grassi
introduced us to three of their members, Samuel Alleyne, Alice Hankey-Paul and Garry Wofford, who shared their stories and personal perspectives on the importance of remembering Black History year-round.
“…it is important for us to engage, to be informed and at least try to understand the black experience,” said Hankey-Paul. “Try to feel the hurt, pain, and suffering that so many people of color in this country have been going through for so many years. It is important to do something to try to instill change.”
MSL introduced us to some
trailblazers in the accounting profession, including William “Bill” Miller, Jr., the first black president of MSL CPAs.
Citrin Cooperman and
Elliott Davis also recognized prominent contributions and achievements in the accounting industry, including John Cromwell Jr., the first African American CPA, Mary Thelma Washington, who opened her own accounting firm and became the first female African American CPA, and Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, the first African American Female Chairperson of the AICPA Board of Directors.
“Kimberly Ellison-Taylor became the first Black chairman (or rather, chairwoman) of the AICPA in 2016 and was recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Accounting” by Accounting Today. She is also the youngest, the fifth female, and only one of a few chairs from business & industry.” (From Citrin Cooperman’s “
Black History Month Trailblazers”)
Citrin Cooperman also recognized trailblazers in the
space,
legal and
government industries. In the legal industry, Thurgood Marshall was the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court and Dennis Archer became the first Black president of the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2003, 60 years after the ABA started allowing black lawyers to join the association. Paving the way in space exploration was Katherine Johnson, a physicist and mathematician who helped launch the first use of digital electronic computers at NASA, and Dr. Mae C. Jemison, an American astronaut, engineer and physician who was the first African American woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program. And in government, Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president for President of the United States from one of the two major political parties, and Vice President Kamala Harries was the first woman, first African American and first Indian American to hold the post of Vice President.
Brown Smith Wallace provided some facts of their own, reflecting on the countless ways Black Americans have sacrificed for, invested in, and protected our society.
Did you know…
- … that the first black-owned business appeared on the American Stock Exchange in 1971? Joan and George Johnson founded a hair care and cosmetics company called Johnson Products Company in 1954. Proctor & Gamble purchased the company in 2004.
- … that Thomas Jennings was the first Black patent holder? In 1821, Jennings, a tailor, was granted a patent for the prototype of modern dry cleaning.
- … that a thriving business district with black-owned businesses existed in Tulsa, Oklahoma? It was called Greenwood and was founded in the early 20th century. Many called it the Black Wall Street due to the economic success of the business owners there. It was also where the Tulsa race riot of 1921 occurred—one of this nation’s most brutal and deadly incidents of racial violence.
Finally,
Topel Forman shared a message that we have heard echoed throughout our Moore North America member firms, emphasizing our efforts to educate, understand and grow this month and throughout the entire year:
We have been spending time learning and reflecting on Black excellence in the US and the continued struggle for racial justice in our country. We acknowledge Black Americans' strength and struggle in their incredible achievements despite living through hundreds of years of oppression. We honor the leaders who have worked towards inclusivity in the professional field of accounting. Topel Forman is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry and communities not only this month but 365 days a year.