Brigadier General Mary Kight is not your average American. General Kight just became the first black woman to head the National Guard in any state. The general was sworn in by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at a former Airforce base outside Sacramento.

In addition to being the first African-American woman to run a state-wide national guard unit, she is also the first woman of any race to lead the 21,000 members of California's Army and Air National Guard.

Gov. Schwarzenegger referred to Kight, who is 59 years old, as a pioneer for breaking gender and racial barriers. Kight has been in the California guard for 25 years, after spending seven years in the Air Force. She will assume command from General William Wade.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.