(Photo: Courtesy of WikiCommons)

On Aug. 24, 1950, President Harry S. Truman appointed Edith Sampson to the United Nations, marking the first time a Black woman was named United States delegate to the global council.
A distinguished lawyer and judge from Chicago, Sampson was an ardent supporter of women's rights and civil rights and was affiliated with many organizations that furthered those causes, including the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.
In 1962, she was elected to serve as judge on the Chicago Municipal Court, where she served until 1978. She passed away on Oct. 8, 1979, at 77 years old.
BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.