* Record-keeping limitations: Accurate and complete records of early Black education were often poor or nonexistent, particularly in the pre-Civil War era.
* Definition of "college": The definition of a "college" and the standards for graduation varied over time and location. Some institutions might have offered degrees earlier than others.
* Differing interpretations of "Black": The definition of "Black" has also changed over time, making it difficult to definitively classify individuals based on historical records.
While some individuals are frequently cited as among the earliest, such as Edward Bouchet (Yale, 1876), it's impossible to definitively declare one person as the absolute first. Many others graduated around the same time, and some potentially earlier whose records have been lost to history.