The honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke was the first African American Woman to be elected to California Legislature, she was the 13th women elected such. She was first elected in 1966 to 63rd district in the California State Assembly. In 1973 Yvonne went on to be the first female African American elected to Congress from California.
Yvonne was also the first elected female elected to Congress to give birth while serving in Congress. Her daughter the Honorable Autumn Burke went later went on to serve in the California State Assembly.
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke with Governor Ronald Reagan
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwait-Burke with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwait-Burke with her baby daughter The honorable Autumn Burke bother of whom served in the California State Assembly
Ebony Magazine March 1974
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke on individual magazine covers celebrating her firsts & other successes
Focus Magazine August 1979 Celebrating the Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke’s firsts
June 18, 2018 From left to right The Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke #13, The Honorable Leona Egeland #15, The Honorable Sunny Mojonnier #30, The Honorable Carol Hallett #17 cutting the ribbon to open the Women in California Politics Foundation’s museum exhibits Celebrating the Centennial of women elected to the California legislature.
