February is known as Black History Month, a celebration of the achievements and rich cultural identity of Black Americans. We’ve all learned about prominent figures who have ignited social change and sculpted the course of American history. Hundreds of Black American have made their marks in a vast spectrum of specialties – from the sciences to the arts and everywhere in between. It’s about time we honored some of those heroes
1. Toni Morrison (1931 -)
Toni Morrison was the first Black American woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize. Her novels explore what it means to be Black in American society, by telling stories of love, joy, betrayal, and salvation. She has been passionately interested in literature since she was young, and her writing has since become a powerful cultural phenomenon that is enjoyed by so many people today. The folkloric style of her writing she says were inspired by her parents, a father who earned a living at multiple odd jobs, and a mother who was a domestic worker. She once said, “If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
2. Mae C. Jemison (1956 -)
Mae Jemison was recently quoted saying, “I always knew I’d go to space.” The young girl from a small town in Alabama with a passion for science and discovery would eventually be the first Black American woman to travel into space. In 1987, she became the first Black American woman to be admitted into the astronaut-training program. Five years later in 1992, she and six other astronauts boarded the Endeavor for a successful eight-day space mission. She has always challenged society’s views on women and minorities, and feels strongly that when given the chance, women and other minority groups can and will contribute to make a difference.
3. Nina Simone (1933 – 2003)
Nina Simone gave the struggle of the civil rights movement a rhythm, a beat, and a voice in the 1960s. Her songs became the anthems of the movement, including, “Why (The King of Love Is Dead),” a response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Classically trained in piano, she departed from her roots in the late 50s and early 60s and explored blues and folk music before finding her own style. Nearing the end of the 60s, she became dismayed by the racially charged divisions in American society. She spent the rest of her life living in multiple other countries before settling in the South of France where she spent her last years. The powerful truth in her music continues to attract listeners today.
4. Marsha P. Johnson (1944 – 1992)
Marsha P. Johnson was a transgender woman known for her quirky, offbeat personality and her love for big city glitz and glamour. She made her home in New York City’s Greenwich Village, where she became a prominent figure of the LGBTQ community. She fought most of her life for the liberation of the LGBTQ community from rejection and inspired activists within her subculture to do the same. What does the “P” in her name stand for? As she would respond to inquirers, it means, “Pay it no mind.” This was both a response to what the P stood for, and a response to the question of whether she was male or female.
5. Claudette Colvin (1939 – )
On March 2, 1955, nine months earlier than Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The NAACP considered using her protest as a test case in court to argue against public segregation, but ultimately decided to wait to use Parks’ case. . The NAACP considered using her protest in court to argue against public segregation, but decided to wait to use Parks’ arrest nine months later. The NAACP made this choice because Colvin had become pregnant shortly after her arrest. “It would have been different if I hadn’t been pregnant,” she said in a 2000 interview. Not only did Colvin fight for the rights of her race, but she also had to battle the stigma of teen pregnancy. After her protest however, she admitted that Parks was a great inspiration to her, and expressed how happy she was that Parks was able to make a difference.