Hey y’all!

Happy Black History Month! The fact is, Black history is American history, and the achievements and contributions of Black folks in this country have helped shape it into what we know today.

It’s important to educate yourself on Black history year-round, and February is an especially great time to dive into the history that isn’t always taught in schools, think critically about its connection to modern-day issues, and actively promote anti-racist education that centers the Black experience.

You can start with our Black History Month watchlist, and find a film or show (or several!) to add to your Netflix queue this month and beyond. Then, keep scrolling to read about all the folks making Black history today.

Let’s Do This,

Jackie

Black History In the News: Here Are the Folks Making History Today

Young Changemakers

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman has topped the Amazon bestseller list following her inaugural debut. She was the youngest person to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration, and soon she’ll be the first poet to ever perform at the Super Bowl.
UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis is redefining the sport with her viral (and high-scoring!) routines celebrating Black artists.
At 22, Lauren Simmons became the youngest woman trader on the New York Stock Exchange (and the second Black woman trader to ever have a position there). Now she’s getting her own show to introduce investing to the general public.
Tennis champ Naomi Osaka, 23, was just named The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year coming off of her third Grand Slam title in 2020.

Historic Firsts

NYU professor Deborah N. Archer will become the first Black president in the 101-year history of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
White House communications staffer Judy Smith became the first Black woman to lead a White House press briefing.
HBCU alumna and corporate powerhouse Roz Brewer is Walgreens’ next CEO, making her the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
Vice President Kamala Harris (the country’s first Black woman VP) just swore in Sen. Raphael Warnock (Georgia’s first Black Senator).
Jennifer King became the first full-time Black woman assistant coach in the NFL, coaching for the Washington Football Team.

Awards & Achievements

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for her voting rights work, which helped power historic turnout (particularly among Black voters) in her home state.
The Black Lives Matter movement has also been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, a rare institutional acknowledgement of the work that Black activists have been doing for years.
The 2021 NAACP Image Award nominations just got announced, and icons like Beyoncé, Viola Davis, and Trevor Noah are among the nominees.

Black History Recognized

A memorial for congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis will replace a Confederate monument in DeKalb County Georgia.
The Tuskegee Airmen, an esteemed group of Black military pilots who fought in World War II, are being honored with a specially designed quarter.
The Negro Leagues’ baseball contributions (spanning from 1920 to 1948) will now be included in the MLB’s historic records. Players like Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and Buck Leonard have now cemented their spots in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mattel launched a doll honoring author and poet Dr. Maya Angelou, selling out its initial release.

Take Action: Fight erasure and elevate Black voices this Black History Month by hosting your own virtual Diversity Book Club.

Why aren’t more people talking about… how young medical workers are feeling the lasting impact of COVID-19 on their careers and finances?

The good news is… the Air Force and Army just made changes to their hair grooming standards to be more inclusive of women.

Meanwhile, in France… a man donated $2.4 million to the village that hid his family from Nazi persecution during World War II.

My hero today is… Claudette Colvin, who, at 15-years-old, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama -- nine months before Rosa Parks did.

This week in Black joy… a 10-year-old made $3,000 from GameStop stocks he got for Kwanzaa, and this mom still has MOVES from her time on Morris Brown College’s drumline dance team.

Today in viral cuteness… this child met some goats, and he is kind of confused but VERY cute.

I’m obsessed with… the commitment it took to recreate Act One of Hamilton in Animal Crossing.