As Black History Month is coming to a close, here are ten women that we should be celebrating year-round and not just during the month of February.
1. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah has been a household name since the 80’s when she first started her famous talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dubbed the “Queen of All Media”, she’s also the greatest black philanthropist in American history.
2. Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel to space in 1992. She also served in the Peace Corps and resigned from NASA later on to start her own research project.
3. Nedgine Paul
As cofounder of Anseye Pou Ayiti, Nedgine Paul has helped recruit and train local teachers in Haiti to teach the younger generation, which makes up almost half of the population in that country.
4. Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is one of the stars of Orange is the New Black and also a role model and activist for fellow transgender women.
5. Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is more than the most recent former first lady. She has promoted a healthy lifestyle and been involved in various activist causes.
6. Maya Angelou
Although she passed away in 2014, Maya Angelou has made a lasting impression. She is best known for her highly acclaimed book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Published in 1970, it brought the subject of sexual abuse to the public eye.
7. Leanna Archer
At just eleven years old, Leanna Archer started her own haircare line, and has gained immense success in the following years.
8. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi
It is little-known that the creators of the Black Lives Matter movement are actually three young women. They created a short statement that launched a modern-day civil rights movement.
9. Condoleezza Rice
She was the first black woman to serve at U.S. Secretary of State, and dedicated most of her political career to easing tensions in the Middle East.
10. Beyoncé
I could not leave Beyoncé off this list. Not only is she one of the world’s top performers, but Beyoncé is also an activist for black and LGBTQ rights. Beyoncé and her husband, Jay Z, even bought the rights to the confederate flag so it wouldn’t be flown in public.