February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time where we should all reflect on the history of black Americans as well as the systematic oppression they have experienced for centuries. Along with this, I wanted to take a few moments of time to draw attention to some influential women of the year, and their accomplishments as women of color this past year.
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According to Time Magazine in an article written by Tara Law in December 2019, the end of 2019 made history. This was the first time that the five most prestigious beauty pageant titles were held by all black women. In December, Miss Jamaica, Toni-Ann Sigh was crowned Miss World, and standing beside her are Zozibini Tunzi as Miss Universe from South Africa, Cheslie Kryst as Miss USA from North Carolina, Kaliegh Garris as Miss Teen USA from Connecticut, and North Carolin’s Nia Franklin as Miss America (Time Magazine 2019). Each of these can be role models for young children who have the same dreams as they do. These women create a space for those who look up to them to see that they do have the opportunity to make their dreams come true, especially in a field that is predominantly white and has not been historically diverse.
And as this was a great way to end the year, the year started off right at the Grammys. Lizzo was nominated for eight Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She took home three of those awards: Pop Solo Performance, Urban Contemporary Album, and Traditional R&B Performance. She swept these awards while up against some of the other most popular and influential artists of contemporary music including Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and Lana Del Rey. Lizzo’s spunk and self-love attitude permeates every room. Her achievements have shown that she has come a long way since I saw her in San Francisco at Outsidelands in 2018. I remember watching her from the front row at the stage and being moved by the energy of her performance.
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Lizzo has a presence just like the prestigious women holding some of the most coveted titles in the world; these women are brave and talented. I wanted to speak on these women to show the breadth of their accomplishments within a world and a country that has a history of deep racism and discrimination. Women already need to stand together in order to protect their rights, but even more so, to be a woman of color, we must recognize the obstacles that these women face every day as well as celebrate those who are breaking these barriers.