Mae Jemison is a prominent figure in Black history as the first African American woman to travel to space. She was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. Jemison graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering and African and African American studies.

In 1987, Jemison was selected by NASA to join the astronaut program. On September 12, 1992, she made history by becoming the first African American woman in space when she flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-47. During her time at NASA, Jemison conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness in space.

After leaving NASA, Jemison went on to pursue a career in education, science communication, and technology. She founded the Jemison Group, a technology consulting firm, and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, which promotes science education and exploration. Jemison continues to be an advocate for STEM education and diversity in the fields of science and technology.