Alexis Herman, the first African American U.S. Secretary of Labor, passed away at 77. She was a trailblazer in labor rights and diversity.
Alexis Margaret Herman, the first African American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor, passed away on April 25, 2025, at the age of 77. Her death was confirmed by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Herman’s groundbreaking career spanned public service, civil rights advocacy, and corporate leadership, leaving an indelible mark on American labor policy and diversity initiatives.
Early Life and Education
Born on July 16, 1947, in Mobile, Alabama, Herman was raised in a politically active family. Her father, Alex Herman, was Alabama’s first Black ward leader, and her mother, Gloria Caponis, was a schoolteacher. Herman attended Xavier University of Louisiana, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1969. She was an active member of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority during her college years.
Career Milestones
Herman’s professional journey began in the 1970s when she worked to desegregate parochial schools in Mobile. She later served as a social worker with Catholic Charities in Pascagoula, Mississippi, advocating for the training of Black laborers in the city’s shipyards. Her efforts continued in Atlanta, Georgia, where she directed the Southern Regional Council’s Black Women’s Employment Program, promoting minority women into managerial and technical jobs.
In 1977, at the age of 29, Herman became the youngest person to head the Women’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor under President Jimmy Carter. She worked to encourage corporations to hire more minority women, with companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and General Motors making increased diversity a priority in their hiring processes.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Herman as Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. In this role, she organized informal dinners to advance White House initiatives and earned the support of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Congressional Black Caucus. Herman also gained respect from the business community for her efforts to garner support for the Clinton Administration’s trade deal, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
In 1997, Herman was confirmed as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor, becoming the first African American and the fifth woman to hold the position. During her tenure, she oversaw the Department of Labor, which employed 17,000 people and operated on a $39 billion annual budget. Herman played a pivotal role in resolving the 1997 United Parcel Service (UPS) workers’ strike, the largest strike in the United States in two decades, by mediating talks between the Teamsters’ president and the UPS chairman.
Post-Government Life
After leaving public office in 2001, Herman remained active in Democratic politics and corporate leadership. She served on the boards of major companies, including Coca-Cola, Toyota, and Cummins. Herman also chaired The Coca-Cola Company’s Human Resources Task Force and led a special task force to ensure the company’s compliance with anti-discrimination standards following a sexual harassment lawsuit involving Toyota North America’s CEO.
In addition to her corporate roles, Herman was involved with civic organizations such as the National Urban League and the National Epilepsy Foundation. She was awarded more than 20 honorary doctorate degrees from academic institutions and served on the board of the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, a charitable organization founded by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to aid Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
Legacy
Alexis Herman’s legacy is characterized by her unwavering commitment to labor rights, diversity, and public service. As the first Black woman to lead a U.S. cabinet department, she broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of women and minorities in politics and public service. Her work continues to inspire those dedicated to social justice, equality, and the advancement of labor rights.
Herman’s passing marks the end of an era, but her contributions to American society will not be forgotten. Her life serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, advocacy, and leadership in the pursuit of a more equitable and just society.
