01of 10Beyoncé & JAY-ZBRIT Awards/TwitterThe power couple’s nod to Meghan Marklein their Brit Awards acceptance speech was just one of the ways they highlighted strong black role models throughout Black History Month.On Beyoncé’s website, the singer shared images and profiles of people including activist Janet Mock, Walker & Company founder Tristan Walker and psychiatrist Dr. Jessica Clemons, among others.
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Beyoncé & JAY-Z
BRIT Awards/Twitter
The power couple’s nod to Meghan Marklein their Brit Awards acceptance speech was just one of the ways they highlighted strong black role models throughout Black History Month.
On Beyoncé’s website, the singer shared images and profiles of people including activist Janet Mock, Walker & Company founder Tristan Walker and psychiatrist Dr. Jessica Clemons, among others.
02of 10Spike LeeKevin Winter/GettyAfter Lee’s filmBlackKklansmanwon Best Adapted Screenplay atthe Oscars, the director leapt into presenter Samuel L. Jackson’s arms before beginninghis acceptance speech.In his tear-jerking speech, Lee acknowledged Black History Month — which he pointed out “happens to be the shortest month of the year” — sharing some of his family’s stories of triumph in the face of oppression.Lee celebrated the sacrifice his grandmother made for him, revealing she “saved 50 years of social security checks” to put him through Morehouse College and New York University graduate film school, and that she herself was a graduate of Spelman College, while her mother had been a slave.
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Spike Lee
Kevin Winter/Getty
After Lee’s filmBlackKklansmanwon Best Adapted Screenplay atthe Oscars, the director leapt into presenter Samuel L. Jackson’s arms before beginninghis acceptance speech.
In his tear-jerking speech, Lee acknowledged Black History Month — which he pointed out “happens to be the shortest month of the year” — sharing some of his family’s stories of triumph in the face of oppression.
Lee celebrated the sacrifice his grandmother made for him, revealing she “saved 50 years of social security checks” to put him through Morehouse College and New York University graduate film school, and that she herself was a graduate of Spelman College, while her mother had been a slave.
03of 10Michelle ObamaAndrew Lipovsky/NBC/GettyIn addition to recognizing those who have paved the way over the years, the former First Lady dedicated Black History Month to “all the history being made right now.“Throughout February, Mrs. Obama shared storieson Instagramof young people who have inspired her — “young people who stand on the shoulders of the giants we celebrate this month while also building a legacy of their own,” she wrote.
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Michelle Obama
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/Getty
In addition to recognizing those who have paved the way over the years, the former First Lady dedicated Black History Month to “all the history being made right now.”
Throughout February, Mrs. Obama shared storieson Instagramof young people who have inspired her — “young people who stand on the shoulders of the giants we celebrate this month while also building a legacy of their own,” she wrote.
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Laverne Cox
Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock
TheOrange Is the New Blackstarwrote an essayfor TIME’s 2019 Optimists issue titled, “When I Need Hope, I Look to the History of Black Brilliance.” In it, she honored the legacy and inspiration of two of her idols, opera singers Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price, who broke color barriers in the operatic world. She reflected on how these women, as well as her ancestors, help her to hold onto optimism in difficult times.
“My ancestors went through slavery, Jim and Jane Crow, and yet managed to come out with some of the best music, art and culture that the world has ever known,” she wrote. “So many of us have managed to excel and have love in our hearts in the face of such degradation. When I look at the history and the brilliance of African Americans, it gives me a tremendous amount of optimism with perspective.”
05of 10Mahershala AliDavid Fisher/BAFTA/ShutterstockTheGreen Bookactor, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance, joined a handful of fellow celebrities — including John David Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross and Lena Waithe — in curating Black History Month-inspired playlists for Apple Music,EW revealed.Ali’s playlist features songs that have helped him get into character, he explained. “One of the gifts in acting is that I’m required to embrace the lives of other men,” he said. “It’s always a black man challenging me to tell his story with empathy absent of judgment. These songs have inspired qualities in several characters during my exploration of the diverse and beautifully complex black identity.”
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Mahershala Ali
David Fisher/BAFTA/Shutterstock
TheGreen Bookactor, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance, joined a handful of fellow celebrities — including John David Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross and Lena Waithe — in curating Black History Month-inspired playlists for Apple Music,EW revealed.
Ali’s playlist features songs that have helped him get into character, he explained. “One of the gifts in acting is that I’m required to embrace the lives of other men,” he said. “It’s always a black man challenging me to tell his story with empathy absent of judgment. These songs have inspired qualities in several characters during my exploration of the diverse and beautifully complex black identity.”
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Tracee Ellis Ross
AFF-USA/REX/Shutterstock
TheBlack-ishactress and producer directed the ABC series' “Black History Month” episode, which highlighted African-American history makers and guest-starred Octavia Spencer.
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Barack Obama
Barack Obama.Kevin Mazur/Getty
The former President shared a thoughtful list of non-fiction reading recommendations in honor of Black History Month. On hisFacebook page, he wrote that he hoped his list “can help to provide some essential context about the challenges that many people of color face every day.”
“From modern memoirs to cornerstones of the American narrative, these works can help us better understand our country’s past and our evolving, persistent struggles with race — and they can be fuel on our journey toward a more fair and just future for all of our sons and daughters. They certainly are for me,” he shared.
08of 10Lena WaitheVera Anderson/WireImageThe actress and creator ofThe Chialsowrote an essayfor TIME’s 2019 Optimism issue, centered on the “black renaissance” of Hollywood and how much further the industry has to go.“What makes me optimistic today are the people trying to rip up what it means to be black and successful in Hollywood and rebuild it afresh,” she began.“White folks have everything, and we still have a lot of catching up to do. It’s too soon to be patting ourselves on the back like the problem is solved,” she continued, expressing that shows featuring all-black casts likeAtlantaand movies likeBlack Pantherare big (and long-overdue) steps, but there’s still a ways to go.
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Lena Waithe
Vera Anderson/WireImage
The actress and creator ofThe Chialsowrote an essayfor TIME’s 2019 Optimism issue, centered on the “black renaissance” of Hollywood and how much further the industry has to go.
“What makes me optimistic today are the people trying to rip up what it means to be black and successful in Hollywood and rebuild it afresh,” she began.
“White folks have everything, and we still have a lot of catching up to do. It’s too soon to be patting ourselves on the back like the problem is solved,” she continued, expressing that shows featuring all-black casts likeAtlantaand movies likeBlack Pantherare big (and long-overdue) steps, but there’s still a ways to go.
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Nas
Lauren Cowert
In the video, he spoke about the legacies of his father, Olu Dara, plus Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and more.
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Ava DuVernay
Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock
source: people.com
