BlackCPAcentennial

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In 1921, 25 years after the first certified public accountant (CPA) certificate was granted in the U.S., John W. Cromwell, Jr. became the first Black CPA.
He opened a door through which thousands of other Black accountants would eventually pass.

With 2021 marking the 100^th anniversary of Cromwell’s landmark achievement, various organizations have come together to announce a year-long national awareness campaign that recognizes Black CPAs in the U.S. and pushes for greater progress to be made in achieving diversity, inclusion, and equity in the CPA profession. Following Cromwell, it took a staggering 45 years for the first 100 Black accountants to be licensed as CPAs. While there has been progress, it has been slow. In 2019, an AICPA survey found, that among all CPA firms that responded to the survey, only 2% of CPAs were Black.

While the organizing partners and other stakeholders will further celebrate in their own ways, they are united in advancing the shared goals of the Black CPA Centennial campaign to “honor, celebrate, and build” upon the rich history and progress Black CPAs have made in the profession. Activities include a series of articles and videos that bring to life and preserve the inspiring stories of success against the odds of some of the most prominent and trailblazing Black accountants.

WHAT'S NEW

The first Black CPA PhDs and the professors who were mentored or inspired by them have played an important role in attracting generations of ambitious Black students to the profession.
African Americans are still underrepresented in the accounting profession: Only 2% of CPAs are Black. In this second part of a two-episode podcast, we look at what the profession can do to increase the number of Black CPAs.
Elmer J. Whiting Jr., the nation’s first Black partner of a Big Eight firm, was a role model for the ambitious professionals who followed.
In this first part of a two-episode podcast, we take a look at the remarkable accomplishments of Black CPAs in the 20th century.

For Mary Washington Wylie, becoming the nation’s first Black woman to become a CPA was one of many notable achievements in a remarkable life.

The inspirational story of the nation’s first Black CPA kicks off the accounting profession’s Black CPA Centennial celebration.

Accounting Profession Commemorates Centennial of First Black CPA Learn more about our year-long efforts to honor, celebrate, and build upon the progress Black CPAs have made in shaping the accounting profession.

UPCOMING EVENTS - SAVE THE DATES

NABA Annual Convention
June 22-24, 2021 | Virtual | More details to come.

Black CPA Centennial Day of Service
September 24, 2021 | More details to come.

NSBCPA Annual Conference
Fall 2021 | Howard University, Washington D.C. | More details to come.
AICPA Diversity Symposium
October 13-14, 2021 | New Orleans, LA & Virtual | More details to come.
Black CPA Centennial Celebration
November 12, 2021 | Chicago, IL | More details to come.

ORGANIZING PARTNERS

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Diverse Organization of Firms, Illinois CPA Society, National Association of Black Accountants,
and National Society of Black CPAs have come together as organizing partners for the Black CPA Centennial.