When we look at history and the great names that have impacted us, not as much credit is given to black women. While we do know some great names like Etta James, Maya Angelou, and Eartha Kitt to name a few, what about the ones that were seen as forerunners in their respective fields? Here’s a short list of some black women who should be remembered for their contributions and for the barriers they shattered in their lifetime.

Romance novels devote a whole subgenre to them, but how common are relationships between white men and black women in day-to-day life? “Dating out” is something that currently is very much increasing in popularity, with celebrity marriages like Paula Patton and Robin Thicke in the tabloids, but it’s definitely worth knowing what the numbers say about where interracial couples sit in society.