Martin Luther King Jr. may have led the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, but the fight for racial justice still continues well into the 21st Century. Today, people all over the world engage in acts of protest, from marching in the streets to creating poetry and art. In honor of Black History Month, here are five powerful Black social justice activists and their progress in changing the world.
1: Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox, an actress on the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black,” is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Emmy Award. She has broken numerous barriers for transgender women as the first Black transgender woman to produce and star in a reality show and the first trangender woman on the cover of Time Magazine. As a vocal activist, Cox uses her platform to remind people of the discrimination transgender people of color and other LGBTQ+ community members face. She is fierce in her fight for intersectionality in social justice, empowering other individuals to remember to fight for all Black lives, including LGBTQ+ ones.
2: Tarana Burke
Known for founding the Me Too movement, Tarana Burke has been encouraging sexual violence survivors to share their experiences for over 25 years. However, Burke has also combined her fight for women with racial justice; in 2007, she created JustBe Inc. in Selma, Alabama, to empower young Black women and ensure their health and well-being. Her JEWEL program specifically targets middle school to young adults and teaches them life skills, development and growth and how to plan for the future. Her actions have impacted many girls affected by systemic inequalities.
3: Lindsey Peoples Wagner
As the youngest and third Black editor-in-chief of a Condé Nast publication, Lindsey Peoples Wagner has worked to reform the fashion industry to amplify minority voices. In 2018, she authored “Everywhere and Nowhere,” an article exploring the experiences of Black people in fashion. Peoples Wagner is a co-founder of the Black in Fashion Council, an organization established in June 2020 to diversify the industry and advocate for inclusive brands. She has worked to increase Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) representation by highlighting their stories in magazine spreads. Her actions have awarded her with the Asme Award in 2017 and a spot in Forbes’ 2020 edition of “30 Under 30” in Media. Peoples Wagner is using her position to fight for racial equity in the fashion industry, an area that still has ways to go in terms of diversity.
4: Amanda Gorman
At 22, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman has performed at venues across the country, most notably the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Gorman’s inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb” emphasizes hope and the possibility for change. Her book “Change Sings” targets younger audiences to urge them to use their voice and speak up against injustice. Gorman’s powerful words remain imprinted in all those who listen, serving as a reminder for the progress made and the progress still needed.
5: Bellen Woodward
Despite her age, 9-year-old Bellen Woodward has spoken out about racial bias in art. Her initiative “More Than Peach” has placed multicultural crayons in childrens’ hands and combats the discriminatory idea that the only skin crayon is the peach crayon. With her project, Woodward has changed young minds and educated them on the fact that skin color comes in various shades, and all of them are beautiful.
Article by Maya Bhattiprolu of Winston Churchill High School
Photo courtesy of CSUF Photos via Creative Commons