(Image Credit: Facebook/National Society of Black CPAs)
In 1929, General Wilmer F. Lucas made history as the first Black person to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York. Lucas was also the fifth Black person in the entire country to receive the CPA designation.
This time period was a pivotal moment in history, marking the beginning of the Great Depression (1929-1939) and a decade of regulatory reform. Massive stock market losses, unemployment increases, and debt challenges led to the worst economic strain during the 20th century. Despite being in the center of the market meltdown, Lucas positioned himself to create opportunities by investing in various forms of education.