North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Tuesday appointed Cheri Beasley to be the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court. Beasley will be the first black woman to hold the position.

“It is not at all lost on me, this historic factor, especially given that this is Black History Month,” Beasley said in a speech following the announcement, according to local ABC affiliate WTVD.

“I hope that in some way, my service inspires young people, especially, but really I hope it’s a show of symbolism for where we are in North Carolina,” she added. “This is certainly not the North Carolina of 200 years ago.”