Black History Month: Modern-day Pioneers
When many of us think of Black History Month, we picture familiar African American figures from the past like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, often ignoring today’s pioneers, who are paving the way for future actors, writers, and politicians. Today we’ll take a look at some of the most accomplished and well known African American figures of our time, who are making strides in the Black Community and beyond.
Starting off with today’s most accomplished female trailblazers, let’s look at Kamala Devi Harris, an experienced attorney and politician who recently announced her plan to run for the Democratic nomination for president. Harris previously served as the 32nd Attorney General of California and as District Attorney of San Francisco. Being only the second black woman to be elected to the Senate, Harris’ announcement to run for president is one that many people are looking forward to. Kamala Harris has expressed her advocacy for criminal justice reform, recently paying a visit to Chowchilla state prison, the largest female penitentiary in the world. During her visit, Harris toured the prison and spoke one-on-one with its inhabitants. Harris’ pushes for social and criminal justice reform have proved to be fruitful, making her a competitive presidential candidate for the 2020 election year.
Next, there is Ta-Nehisi Coates, an incredibly successful writer and journalist who has written for a series of distinguished publications including the New York Times and the Washington Post. Coates is widely recognized for his comments on social, political, and cultural issues in the country today, including white supremacy and the treatment of African Americans in our society. Ta-Nehisi Coates gained most of his popularity during his time as the national correspondent at The Atlantic. Coates’ first memoir, The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood, won the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
Finally, we move on to another influential female for the Black Community, who is none other than Taraji P. Henson, a gifted actress, singer, and author. The Hidden Figures star has won a series of awards and nominations, specifically the Golden Globes award for best actress. Henson has also been a major advocate for understanding mental health issues that plague our society and has openly expressed her concern regarding its acknowledgement within the Black Community. This past September, Henson introduced the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, an organization committed to addressing the stigma that surrounds mental health in the Black community. She has openly encouraged people to be vocal and attentive to their mental health needs, making her an important figure for those who struggle with mental illness.
That’s all for our list of prominent, modern day African American figures. If you would like to learn more about any of the names mentioned or people like them, click the link below for more information.