February is coming to an end, but fortunately, recognition and celebration of Black history isn’t, because Black history can’t be confined to the shortest month of the year (we said what we said) nor any month for that matter. Black history is HISTORY and HERSTORY, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Black creatives, entrepreneurs, scientists, teachers, engineers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, activists, doctors, mathematicians, scholars and countless others whose names aren’t well known have all helped to shape the world we know today. Scroll down to be inspired by some well-known Black history makers, past and the present.
Joyful, limitless, inclusive, powerful, influential, persevering, innovative, complex, and more. So many words to describe it, and one message: Black history is everyday!
Black History Makers – Athletes
Althea Gibson
In 1956, Althea was the first Black tennis player to win a Grand Slam title. She was also an accomplished golfer.
Simone Biles
Simone is the most decorated American gymnast and third most decorated gymnast in the world.
Black History Makers – Musicians
Billie Holiday
Billie is one of the most well-known jazz vocalists in history, and her vocal style has influenced and inspired many.
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé is the highest earning Black musician in history, and one of the worlds best-selling recording artists.
Black History Makers – Young Activists
Ruby Bridges
At 6, Ruby was the first Black student to attend an all-white US school. She continues to be an activist through her Ruby Bridges Foundation.
Naomi Wadler
At 11, activist Naomi was the youngest speaker at the March for Our Lives protest in DC. She continues to advocate for Black female victims of gun violence.
Black Transgender Women History Makers – Advocates and Activists
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha was a prominent figure in the Stonewall Riot, a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and co-founded STAR.
Andrea Jenkins
Andrea was the first Black openly transgender woman to be elected to public office in the US in 2017.
Black History Makers – Poets
Audre Lorde
Audre described herself as “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” and used her poetry as commentary on social injustices.
Amanda Gorman
Amanda is the first National Youth Poet Laureate and is also the youngest inaugural poet in US history.
Black History Makers – Scientists
Percy Julian
Percy was a research chemist and pioneer of developing medicine from plants and of synthesizing human hormones.
Kizzmekia Corbett
Kizzmekia is the lead scientist of The Vaccine Research Center’s Coronavirus Team, and was instrumental in developing the vaccine.
Black History Makers in Space Travel
Katherine Johnson
Katherine was a mathematician whose calculations of trajectories, launch windows and return paths were instrumental in the first US spaceflights.
Victor J. Glover
Victor piloted the first SpaceX flight to the International Space Station and is the first Black crewmember to live aboard the ISS.
Black History Makers – Film Directors
Gordon Parks
Gordon was a photojournalist, film director, writer and musician. He was the first Black American to produce and direct motion pictures.
Ryan Coogler
Ryan is a highly awarded film director. He directed Black Panther, which was the highest grossing film of 2018 and of all time for a Black filmmaker.
Black History Makers in Politics and the Law
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood was the first Black justice on the US Supreme Court. He was the chief attorney for the plaintiffs on Brown vs. Board of Education.
Kamala Harris
Kamala is the first female, Black, and South Asian Vice President of the United States of America and an accomplished politician.
