Michelle Obama wearing a

10 Inspirational Black Women For Black History Month 2023

Larry Stansbury Oct 15, 2022

In honor of Black History Month andWomen’s History Month, we’re celebrating 10 true icons of today. 

Leaders, artists, and game-changers, breaking down barriers, smashing those glass ceilings, and paving the way for future generations. Fighting for a more equitable future for women and the BIPOC community, here 10 women making history now…

 

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris made history as the first woman to become Vice President of the United States. Not only that but she’s also the first person of Black and Indian descent too to hold the office. After winning the election with Joe Biden, she gave a her acceptance speechfor every girl watching her making history. "But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last," she said. "Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way."

 

Amanda Gorman

If you watched the 46th President of the United State’s inauguration this year, there was one rising star who totally stole the show. Making history as the youngest inaugural poet at just 22 years old, Amanda Gorman captivated the world when she spoke of strength and bravery in her poem;“The Hill We Climb.”

 

Michelle Obama

Needing no introduction, Michelle Obama was the first Black woman to serve as First Lady of the United States. Who could forget her famous catchphrase; “When they go low, we go high.” She continues to use her voice as a force for goodin her podcast and has several Netflix projects that focus on race, class, democracy, and more.

 

Laverne Cox

The first transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy with her role as Sophia on Orange Is the New Black,Laverne Cox has paved the way for the Black and trans communities. She continues to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, and in 2020 released a documentary Disclosure, which calls out transgender representation in Hollywood. 

 

Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams made national headlines in 2018, running for Governor of Georgia. After losing the race, she used her platform to fight voter suppression in the state and empowering communities to register to vote, and significantly increasing voter turnout. For the 2020 Presidential election, Abrams helped turn Georgia blue for the first time since 1992.

 

Simone Biles

An inspiration to us all, there really is no one like Simone Biles. The greatest and most decorated gymnast of all time, she’s won a record-breaking number of World and Olympic medals. And, she is the first Black female gymnast to win three World all-around titles in a row.

 

Tarana Burke 

The founder of the #MeToo movement, which started in 2017 after the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, Tarana Burke encourages women to use their voices to stand up, speak out, and share their experiences. She was previously named TIME person of the year.

 

Shonda Rhimes 

Known for creating series like Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder, and most recently, Bridgerton, Shonda is the first Black woman to create and produce a network series in the top 10. 

 

Megan Thee Stallion 

Experiencing gun violence and facing public scrutiny, musician, model, and advocate, Megan Thee Stallion uses her voice to speak out about the abuse of Black women and raise public awareness of it.

 

Zendaya 

With a stellar resume of movies and TV—including The Greatest Showmanand Euphoria, thisactress has been the cover star on many magazines, and uses each story to bring attention to social justice, equality in the entertainment industry, and the importance of hope in challenging times.

 

Support Black History and Black Lives beyond Black History Month with nine Racial Justice Movement organizations you can donate to.