BCo Celebrates Black CPA Centennial
We celebrate Black History Month and the significant achievements of Black Americans that have been trailblazers in the accounting profession.
This year commemorates the centennial celebration of John W. Cromwell, Jr. becoming the first Black CPA in the U.S. In 1921, John W. Cromwell, Jr. received this landmark achievement 25 years after the first certified public accountant (CPA) certificate was granted in the U.S. Cromwell graduated from Dartmouth in 1906, then in 1907, he earned a Masters degree. Cromwell was not allowed to sit for the CPA exam in Washington, D.C., Virginia, or Maryland. Plus, all places had experience requirements which proved to be the biggest barrier to African Americans becoming CPAs. It took Cromwell 15 years to receive his public accountant certification. Luckily, in 1921, New Hampshire passed legislation no […]