Who was the first African-American woman elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates?

The first African-American woman elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates was Elizabeth Simpson Drewry. Her election marked a significant milestone in West Virginia's political history, as she broke barriers for African-American women in government during a time when such representation was exceedingly rare. Drewry's achievements contributed to the advancement of civil rights and gender equality in West Virginia, serving not only as a representative but also as an inspiration for future generations of women and minorities seeking political office.

The other figures mentioned had prominent but different roles in civil rights and political history: Mary McLeod Bethune was known for her work in education and civil rights nationally, Ida B. Wells was a journalist and activist against lynching, and Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, each contributing significantly to social justice movements in their own contexts, but none held the specific distinction of being the first African-American woman elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates.