11 Social Justice Activists You Need To Know About

Chelsea Miller

Chelsea Miller, a Black Columbia University alumnae, is a racial justice activist and co-founder of women-led Freedom March NYC, a protest group organized with fellow co-founder and Columbia alumnae Nialah Edari. A youth-led, civil rights organization, Freedom March NYC is at the frontlines of mobilizing non-violent protests in NYC, advocating for policy reform and training organizers across the US. “When they ask what does protesting do, remind them the power of community,” Chelsea said in an Instagram post. “The power of young people & the power of reimagining. It’s more than protesting, it’s strategy. It’s pressure - time to apply even more.” If you want to support their incredible work, follow them @FreedomMarchNYC, donate to the group here, be an ally to the group, and join their peaceful protests.

Jeneisha Harris

Jeneisha Harris is an activist, advocate, writer, organizer, and “Village Made Rebel”. With her inspiring resume which includes serving as a HBCU White House All Star Ambassador, an IGNITE National Year 2 Fellow, The Founder of Reading for Liberation, Co Founder and President of The National Black Action Committee, and Founder of the Barbara J. Harris Scholarship, she aspires to be a pediatric psychologist to bring together mental health and community, advocating for mental healthcare reform.

“These are centuries of complex issues that are multilayered, and quick fix solutions will not fix this, or us,” Jeneisha said in an Instagram post. “With the blueprints the ancestors left us and the fresh ideas of the new movement, we can work towards this freedom that we’re seeking and the technicalities of that. We are figuring this out, problem by problem, together.” You can check out her website and follow her @jeneisha.harris for upcoming events, activism, and ways to support her work.

Nupol Kiazolu

Nupol Kiazolu is an activist, Miss Liberia pageant queen, and president of the New York chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement. She became an activist after the murder of Trayvon Martin— a 17-year-old African American high school student. She’s currently a Hampton University student majoring political science and continues to fight for public service. “Black Organizers and photographers are under SO unprotected in this fight,” she said in an Instagram post. “This fight IS NOT optional for us. We don’t have the luxury to sit at home and do nothing when our people are DYING. The SACRIFICE it takes to commit to this fight FULL TIME is no easy feat and it’s expensive too.” You can donate to Nupol’s We Protect Us fundraising page and support disenfranchised communities through mutal-aid, education, and community safety across NYC, and follow her @nupol_justice.

Winter Breeanne

Winter Breeanne is an advocate and student from California, and founder of Black Is Lit, an organization devoted to creating space for marginalized youth. Winter recently started a program, Power of Future Voters, to inspire elementary students about civic engagement. She continues to advocate for the Black community. “In my perfect America, Black people are sheltered like ones most precious jewel, and able to hold on to infantile innocence,” she said in an Instagram post. “In my perfect America, Black people maintain control over our art, and breath. In my perfect America, there are no lynchings. In my perfect America — but this America ain’t perfect. Never has been.” She dedicated the post to Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man fatally shot while jogging. Follow, share, and support Winter’s work.

Aggi Lockhart

Aggi Lockhart is a social justice activist and TikTok creator. She uses her platform to fight the micro-aggressions and police brutality within the LGBTQ+ and black community. She continues to use her voice in the Black Lives Matter movement and asks people to tag her in any racist social media posts for her support. “I GOT TIME,” she said in a TikTok video. Follow Aggi @daddyspiderlashes and support the causes she’s fighting for here.

E’Layjiah

E’Layjiah is the president and founder of We Da People, a non-profit organization that offers educational and community outreach services to the less fortunate, disenfranchised, and otherwise neglected communities. She posted a “National Anthem Call” sharing her thoughts on her Instagram. As part of their summer initiative, We Da People are hosting summer programs for youth across the country, teaching them to be activists, leaders, CEOS, while also teaching them what it means to be a person of color. Support and donate their fundraiser GoFundMe here. 

Jordan

Jordan Simone is a social media activist who users her platform to educate people about the Black Lives Matter movement. “Learning about racism and experiencing racism are two vastly different experiences,” she said in a Instagram post. “So instead of making BIPOC center whiteness in their conversations of race, it’s time white people enter into the conversation knowing their whiteness limits their current knowledge and to listen. Because if you truly want to do better you have to be willing learn.” Follow Jordan @jordxn.simone, sign the Clemency For Quin petition here, continue to educate yourself about Black Lives Matter and how to be an ally.

Blair Imani

Blair Imani is an educator, influencer, and critically acclaimed historian. She’s the author of Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (2018) and Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream (2020). She continues to advocate for women, Muslims, the LGBTQ+, and Black community. “One day I believe we will live liberated from the false hierarchies of heteronormativity (the incorrect idea heterosexuality is the only ‘normal’ sexual orientation) and cisnormativity,” she shares in an Instagram post. “You already hold the keys to your truth. No one else. And whether or not you feel safe to let others in is on them.” If you want to support Blair, read her books, follow her @ blairimani, and become a supporter on Patreon here.

Ericka Hart

Ericka Hart (pronouns: she/they) is not just a black queer femme activist, she’s a writer, acclaimed speaker, and award-winning sexuality educator. She has a Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University. She continues to advocate for human sexuality, especially in 2016 when she went topless showing her double mastectomy scars. She continues to fight for the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. “Both chambers of Congress are still mostly white,” she said in an Instagram post. “The senate has had a Democratic majority in the past and there has still been no real momentum towards reparations to Black people in this country, but the expectation is that we get civically engaged in a country/state that is not invested in us. Use some of this steam from the run off elections, to petition the state for reparations for Black people while also donating that stimulus.” Follow her @ihartericka, subscribe to her newsletter, check out her podcast, and share her work on your feed to spread her important message.

Rynn

Erynn Chambers, known as Rynn, is a TikTok content creator, podcast host, and consultant, helping companies and people to understand the presence and effects of systemic racism in the United States. She is a member of the Black Lives Matter movement and continues to fight for justice. “The fight is far than over,” she said in an Instagram post sharing a BLM statement. To be an ally to Rynn, follow her @ rynnstar, check out her podcast Hot Tea Takes, support the causes she’s fighting for, or book a consultation to learn more on how you can help fight systemic racism in the United States.

Rachel Cargle

Rachel Cargle is a writer, lecturer, and founder of The Great Unlearn—a platform that educates, celebrates, and highlights the genius of academics of the Black community. She provides intellectual discourse, education, courses, and other resources, exploring the intersection of race and womanhood. She guides conversations, encourages critical thinking, and nurtures meaningful engagement with people, also via her Instagram and newsletters too.

“As with many times over American history Black women are grappling with the pain & vulnerability of our existence while remaining the bedrock for homes, families, churches, neighborhoods, workplaces, and more,” she said in an Instagram post. To support Rachel, follow her @rachel.cargle, join her lectures here or check out The Loveland Foundation.

Discover more racial justice organizations to support all year round.