After 24 seasons, ABC’s hit reality series The Bachelor is finally getting its first Black lead.

The network announced yesterday that Matt James will be the first Black bachelor.

“We feel so privileged to have Matt as our first Black Bachelor and we cannot wait to embark on this journey with him.”

“Matt has been on our radar since February, when producers first approached him to join Bachelor Nation, as part of Clare’s season.

When filming couldn’t move forward as planned, we were given the benefit of time to get to know Matt,” Burke said in a statement, “and all agreed he would make a perfect Bachelor.”