Goodbye Black History Month, hello Women’s History Month! In honor of March 8 being International Women’s Day, let’s take the time to recognize 10 of the most influential black women in history!
1. Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906- April 12, 1975) – dancer, singer, actress, Civil Rights Activist, and worldwide entertainer. Baker is most known for being the first African American woman to star in a major motion picture.
2. Madam CJ Walker (December 23, 1867- May 25, 1919) – entrepreneur, humanitarian, and first self-made millionaire in America. Madam Walker is most known for her successful line of beauty and hair products for black women!
3. Michelle Obama (January 17, 1964) – lawyer, writer, and wife of POTUS Barack Obama, thus making her the first African American First Lady of the United States. Many of Michelle Obama’s initiatives include advocacy for poverty awareness, nutrition, and healthy eating. She has become a fashion icon and role model for women today.
4. Oprah Winfrey-(January 29, 1954) – media mogul, talk show host, actress, producer, CEO and humanitarian. Oprah Winfrey is known to be one of the most powerful and influential black women of today.
5. Gabby Douglas (December 31, 1995) – artistic gymnast. Douglas is the first African American gymnast in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion, and the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics as well as being the only American all-around champion to win multiple gold medals. She was also a member of the gold-winning U.S. team at the 2011 World Championships.
6. Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891- January 28, 1960) – anthropologist, and writer. She was best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.
7. Coretta Scott King (April 27, 1927- January 30, 2006) – author, activist, and civil rights leader. Mrs. King was the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. After her husband’s assassination, Mrs. King took leadership of the strive for racial equality as well as becoming active in the Women’s Movement and the LBGT rights movement. She is mainly responsible for the founding of the King Center and for making her husband’s birthday a national holiday.
8. Dr. Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928) – author, poet, civil rights activist, film producer, playwright, actress, and professor. Maya Angelou has many, many accomplishments, honors, and awards regarding her life’s work. She is highly respected as a spokesperson for women and people of color.
9. Dorothy Dandridge (November 9, 1922- September 8, 1965) – actress, singer, and dancer. Dorothy Dandridge was the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Many prominent African American stars have acknowledged Dandridge’s contributions to the role of African Americans in film.
10. Mae Jemison (October 17, 1956) – physician, NASA astronaut, and college professor, Jemison is best known for being the first African American woman to travel in space. Jemison is an active speaker promoting science and technology and well as providing inspirational and educational messages for young people.