Celebrating Black History Month With Inspirational Women

February is Black History Month!

BYOU Magazine would like to honor & celebrate Black History Month! This annual celebration recognizes achievements by black Americans and the role of African Americans in our country. Here are a few of the inspiring, empowered African-American women from our present and past, who truly know what it’s like to be unique, be smart, and be brave. Be sure to share your African American role models in the comment section below!

Gabby Douglas

Gabrielle Christina Victoria “Gabby” Douglas is an American artistic gymnast, best known as the first African American to win the individual all-around event. She also won gold medals for the U.S. in the team competitions at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. See BYOU Magazine’s Positive Thinking issue for our Extraordinary Women feature on Gabby Douglas!

 

Maya Angelou

 Celebrated American author Maya Angelou is best known for her novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and she’s won everything from the National Book Award to a Tony nomination to three Grammys. Writers and readers alike can look up to the esteemed storyteller, who was active in the Civil Rights movement and continues to inspire through her words and actions. Click here to read our “ExtraOrdinary Women” feature on Maya Angelou

Rosa Parks

Civil Rights Activist, Rosa Parks was truly an UPstander during a time when she was expected to be a bystander. Rosa Parks made her mark on the world in 1955 when she refused to give up her bus seat. From there, she became a Civil Rights Activist; fighting for the equal rights of blacks. Read more about Rosa Parks where we honor her in our Extraordinary Women feature!

 

Serena and Venus Williams

The Williams sisters have dominated the game of tennis for years, not to mention their various business ventures. Despite having to compete against each other several times, Serena and Venus support and encourage each other both on and off the court. The two talented athletes prove that hard work, both physical and otherwise, can carry you to the top. Read more about Serena Williams here! 

 

Mae Jemison

 In 1992, she became the first African-American woman to go into space. After her time with NASA, she started the Dorothy Jemison Foundation of Excellence that sponsors science camps for girls.

See BYOU Magazine’s Positive Thinking issue for our Extraordinary Women feature on Mae Jemison!

Oprah Winfrey

 Came from a very poor background and now been called “the most powerful woman in the world.” Her talk show, magazine, and her OWN cable network have encouraged and  inspired millions of people around the world to better themselves and make a difference in the lives of others. See BYOU Magazine’s Girl Power issue for our Extraordinary Women feature on Oprah!

Quvenzhané Wallis

Known for her leading role as Hushpuppy in the critically acclaimed drama film Beasts of the Southern Wild, for which she became the youngest female ever to receive a nomination for Best Actress for the Academy Awards.

Frances Wills and Harriet Pickens

These two inspiring women became the first female African-American officers in the Navy during World War II. Only 3% of the women that enlisted for WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during WWII were African-Americans.

Ursula Burns

 As the first African-American CEO to head a Fortune 500 company, Ursula Burns has made a name for herself in the business big leagues. She’s an NYU and Columbia graduate who later became the CEO of Xerox — a role model for any woman who aims for professional power. 

Michelle Obama

With degrees from both Princeton and Harvard Law, Michelle Obama became the first African-American First Lady, serving eight years with her husband, former President Barak Obama. She is best known for her movement, the “Let’s Move!” campaign, to fight childhood obesity.

 

 

Queen Latifah

She raps, she sings, she acts — Queen Latifah reigns supreme in music, television, and film. With a Golden Globe and a Grammy under her belt, plus Emmy and Academy Award nominations, Queen Latifah serves as a wonderful model for those who aim for success in more than one field.

 

Shirley Chisolm

 She was the first African-American woman elected into Congress! She was also the first woman to run for presidency for a major party; paving the way for so many women and African-American politicians.

 

 

 

Madame C.J Walker

Orphaned at age 7, and becoming a servant at 10. Madame C.J. Walker then found out she had a scalp disease that made her lose her hair. This prompted her to develop hair care products to help individuals with hair problems, and she became a highly successful business entrepreneur!

 

 

YOU GO GIRLS!!  (brief biographies compliments of savvysugar.com and wikipedia.com)

And here’s to honoring a remarkable African-American man who inspired all…

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