Pioneers of Progress – Celebrating Black History in Tax, Accounting, and Finance
As a company dedicated to shining a light on an industry and professionals that may go unrecognized, the Sales Tax Institute understands the importance of celebrating the unsung hero. Black History Month was created with this very mission in mind: to elevate the contributions of Black individuals while ensuring their history is preserved and recognized.
Created by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926, February was chosen to correspond with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, whose legacies profoundly impacted the Black community. This celebration expanded from a week to a month in 1976, with President Gerald Ford encouraging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans”.
In alignment with our core values of curiosity and growth, and in line with the intention of Black History Month, the Sales Tax Institute examined the history of Black pioneers in sales tax, accounting, and finance to learn how their legacy influenced policy. The leaders and organizations highlighted in this article broke barriers, established new standards, and created pathways for equity and representation in financial professions.
Early Foundations of Black Leadership in Tax Administration
In 2026, tax base expansion is a hot topic. However, in the South during the late 1800s, it was a dangerous endeavor. After the Civil War, the South needed to rebuild, as its cities and infrastructure were greatly damaged. In addition to this need, there was a gap left behind by the end of slavery. A large portion of the South’s economy was built on slavery, with as much as half of many states’ tax base relying on the income generated by this practice. These issues, combined with the requirement to expand public services, such as education, to a new group of individuals, necessitated a new stream of income.
This period, known as the Reconstruction Era, spanned 1865 to 1877. For Black politicians during this time, the amount of taxes collected equated to the level of violence they might be targeted with. While difficult to reflect on, this history provides important context for the risks these individuals faced. Research shows that if a Black politician worked in a county that collected about $2 of tax money per person, they were 25% more likely to be violently attacked than a Black politician in a county that collected only $1 per person.
However, this threat didn’t stop Black citizens from advocating for themselves and their right to reshape the South. During this time, over 1,500 Black politicians were elected to public office. In addition to the need for Black politicians advocating for their communities, tax collectors played an equally essential role. Florida became home to many of the nation’s earliest Black constitutional tax collectors—at least twenty-five Black Americans served in this role during the late 1800s.
One of the first, and the one who served the longest, was William M. Clark. Clark worked as the municipal tax collector in Goldsboro, Florida, one of the first all-Black incorporated towns in the United States. Other important figures during this time included Homer Bryan, as well as David Montgomery. Bryan began his service in Jackson County in 1868, and that same year, Montgomery took office in Madison County. Montgomery’s career stretched beyond tax collection; he also served as a state legislator and sheriff. His work made him a target of white supremacist violence, and in 1870, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.
Together, these leaders helped lay the groundwork for Black leadership in tax administration during a time when simply holding the position put their lives at risk. By stepping into these roles that shaped how communities were funded and rebuilt, they challenged the boundaries put on them. They proved that inclusivity was not only possible but essential to the future. Their persistence—despite threats, intimidation, and violence—created early models of public service that would echo across generations.
Trailblazers in Accounting and Professional Credentialing
Tax collectors were not the only ones blazing a trail for progress during the Reconstruction Era of the United States. In the Cromwell family, John Wesley Cromwell Sr. began his work in the U.S. Treasury Department in 1872 and eventually rose to become the chief examiner of the money order department. His son, John Wesley Cromwell Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps by achieving historic financial firsts, becoming the first Black Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the United States in 1921. Cromwell Jr. faced discrimination along the way: he graduated with honors from Dartmouth College but was barred from licensure for 15 years. The reason for this was that most states required that candidates work for firms to gain experience, but these establishments were almost always white-owned and refused to hire Black people.
Cromwell Jr. was able to take the exam because New Hampshire dropped its experience requirement. With this barrier crossed, he went on to establish his own firm in Washington, D.C., serving Black-owned businesses, churches, and individuals whom white-owned firms often ignored.
Another figure who carried this spirit of progress forward was Mary T. Washington Wylie. A Chicago native, she dreamed of opening a door into the accounting profession for both herself and other Black Americans. In 1943, she became the first Black woman in the United States to earn a CPA license. Chicago was a center of opportunity for Black Americans, and by the end of World War II, half of the country’s Black CPAs lived there. Even so, discrimination made it difficult for Black accountants to find work.
Wylie responded by creating her own practice in the basement of her home. She focused on hiring skilled Black professionals who had been denied positions at white-owned firms. Her successful practice went on to serve small Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, and larger companies such as Fuller Products Company. Her leadership and mentorship opened doors for many who would continue shaping the accounting profession.
To learn more about other important women in accounting, politics, tax, and finance, click here.
Elevating Black Professionals Through Financial Empowerment
A single person becoming a CPA or CFO can influence the financial health of thousands of employees or communities. The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA, Inc.) understood the power of having diversity in the accounting profession. When NABA was established in 1969, there were just 136 African American Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) out of a total of 100,000 in the United States. Guided by the motto “Lifting As We Climb”, the NABA Nine founders knew they wanted to foster talent, innovation, and culture to create opportunities in the accounting field for individuals who embody their values. What started as the “NABA Nine”, Ronald Benjamin, Earl Biggett, Donald Bristow, Bertram Gibson, Kenneth Drummond, Richard McNamee, Frank Ross, George Wallace, Michael Winston, has grown into a flourishing nonprofit of over 22,000 members.
When examining the importance of these Americans, it is important to recognize why these particular movements matter. Financial empowerment creates a state of ownership and responsibility to invest in the future. By being the first in their field, these Black professionals not only empowered themselves but also elevated their communities and future generations.
Honoring Legacy and Continuing the Work
As Black History Month comes to a close, the legacies highlighted throughout this article remind us that progress is built by individuals who choose to persist even when the path is difficult. The pioneers who shaped sales tax administration, accounting, and finance did far more than achieve personal milestones. They shifted entire systems by setting new standards for leadership grounded in service and equity.
Their stories also reinforce an essential truth. Financial professions have the power to transform lives and strengthen communities, which is why representation is so vital within these fields. As we step beyond February and carry the lessons of Black History Month forward, we honor these leaders by continuing to advocate for inclusion, education, and a more equitable financial landscape. If you would like to learn more about the values that guide the Sales Tax Institute’s work, you can explore them here.