Black Women Who Inspired Us in 2020
15 Black Women Who, Quite Frankly, Did the Damn Thing in 2020
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This year was a turbulent eon for practically everyone, but especially Black women. Between the devastating killing of Breonna Taylor and the alarming acts of violence against Black trans women, it felt as though Black women were constantly feeling the effects of a vile society that devalues us on a daily basis.
And, still, we rose. Carrying both pain and strength, Black women continued to break barriers, fight for what's right, and make the world a better place. How? By channelling the resolute energy of one another. Why? Because somebody has to do it, and Black women know that if we want to see promising change in our community, we have to lead the charge. So, while we had to endure so many valleys in 2020, we also got to celebrate some heartening peaks, thanks to notable Black women who kept us hopeful. Keep reading to see some of the melanated movers and shakers who made waves this year.
1 Kamala Harris
Kamala inspired many this year, making history as the first Black woman and person of Indian descent to become the vice president-elect. Her acceptance speech after the election win resonated as a proclamation of victory for girls everywhere. "But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last," she said. "Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way."
2 Stacey Abrams
Stacey played a pivotal role in turning Georgia blue in the presidential election, thanks to her efforts to fight against voter-suppression schemes that disproportionately affect Black voters. Her organisation, Fair Fight, has supported fair elections and civic involvement, notably helping 800,000 people register to vote in Georgia over the past two years. And she's continuing to take action ahead of the crucial Senate runoff election in January.
3 Serena Williams
No surprise here — Serena was a total boss this year. In addition to making her daughter, Alexis, the youngest professional team owner in sports, Serena joined forces with other stars, athletes, and activists to start their own women's football team in LA. She also broke the US Open match wins record with her 102nd career victory at the Grand Slam in September. Off the court, Serena made some power moves, which included starring in Stuart Weitzman's winter campaign and donating around four million face masks to schools throughout the US.
4 Megan Thee Stallion
Megan showed an admirable quantum of resilience and talent this year. She experienced gun violence at the hands of a so-called friend and faced public scrutiny after talking about the traumatizing encounter. But she used it as one of the motivations to speak out against the abuse of Black women.
The Texas native also dominated the music sphere and topped the charts in a historic manner. Her "WAP" team-up with Cardi B debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list, brought in a record number of first-week streams (93 million, to be exact), and became the first-ever No. 1 female rap collaboration in the UK. Additionally, Megan became the first woman to secure the top spot on Billboard's Rap Songwriters chart and the first woman to have three No. 1 songs within a single year on Billboard's streaming charts ("Body," "WAP," and "Savage Remix," featuring Beyoncé). And, to top things off, she released her debut album, Good News, which is a bona-fide banger.
5 Zendaya
This year, Zendaya graced the covers several magazines — including Vogue Australia, InStyle, Essence, and Elle — and used each story as an opportunity to bring attention to topics such as social justice, equity in the entertainment industry, and the importance of remaining hopeful amid challenging times. She also stayed booked and busy with onscreen projects such as Dune, which will hit theatres on Oct. 1, 2021; Malcolm & Marie, which is set for release on Feb. 5, 2021; and Euphoria's special Christmas bridge episode.
Speaking of Euphoria, Zendaya's moving performance on the HBO show earned her an Emmy award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series, making her the youngest actress and the second-ever Black actress to receive the honour. Oh, and she became the new face of Maison Valentino. So, there's that.
6 Anifa Mvuemba
In May, the Hanifa designer showcased a groundbreaking 3D digital fashion show on Instagram Live for her collection Pink Label Congo. And, yes, she was the first person to host such an event amid the pandemic — contrary to some reports that erased her creative contribution to the industry. At the virtual show, Anifa even took a moment to shed light on issues affecting her homeland of Congo, including inhumane working conditions at mineral sites.
7 Meghan Markle
Meghan and Prince Harry sent everyone into a tizzy when they announced their departure from royal duties in January. It was an unprecedented move, but it was an influential display of power on Meghan and Harry's behalves. The couple moved to the US and continued their philanthropy, which included Meghan's narration for the Disney+ film Elephant — which benefitted the conservation charity Elephants Without Borders — as well as their donations to coronavirus relief efforts and the announcement of their nonprofit, Archewell. And that barely even scratches the surface of all the good Megan and Harry did in 2020.
8 Beyoncé
Every year is a portfolio of excellence for Beyoncé, and 2020 was no different. She shook the cultural stratosphere with the release of Black Is King and the deluxe edition of The Lion King: The Gift; dropped not one, but two Adidas x Ivy Park collections; and used her platform to speak out against social injustices and uplift the Black community.
9 Aurora James
When fashion labels started declaring "Black lives matter" and claiming efforts of diversifying their companies, Aurora — founder of the shoe and handbag brand Brother Vellies — made sure to hold them accountable by kickstarting the Fifteen Percent Pledge. The initiative prompts retailers to commit at least 15 percent of their shelf to Black-owned businesses, since Black people make up about 15 percent of the US population.
"So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power," Aurora wrote on Instagram after announcing the enterprise. "So many of your stores are set up in Black communities. So many of your sponsored posts are seen on Black feeds. This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space."
So far, companies including Sephora, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Madewell, Yelp!, Vogue, and InStyle have taken the pledge. Aurora's progressive pursuit earned her a handful of honours, such as Footwear News's person of the year award and GQ's change agent of the year accolade, as well as being revered on Bloomberg's list of 50 industry trailblazers and becoming one of the British Fashion Council Awards' honourees in the People category.
10 Raquel Willis
Raquel's trans activism continued to be an inspiration in 2020, earning her a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding magazine article. She received the honour for her Out Magazine piece "The Trans Obituaries Project," which penned emotional eulogies for the trans women of colour who lost their lives in 2019. The article helped bring attention to the atrocities that the marginalized group is often subjected to while giving them the tributes they deserve. Raquel also made Forbes's 30 Under 30 list for 2021 and is set to release her debut memoir in 2022.
11 Chika
Rapper Chika had a major year, releasing her EP Industry Games, as well as lending her acting chops, songwriting expertise, and rap mastery to Netflix's Project Power. She also delivered one of the best-ever performances on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series and earned a Grammy nomination for best new artist.
12 Ella Jones
Ella made history in June, becoming the first Black person and the first woman to serve as the mayor of Ferguson, MO. The accomplishment came nearly six years after the Missouri town ignited calls for social justice following the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Ella's momentous election win also came amid global demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. "I know the people in Ferguson are ready to stabilise their community, and we're going to work together to get it done," Ella told a local reporter after her victory.
13 Ciara
Honestly, what didn't Ciara do this year? She and husband Russell Wilson welcomed a beautiful baby boy, unveiled a fragrance line inspired by their marriage, launched a fashion house, and announced the 2021 opening of their new high school that will provide quality education for underserved children.
But, wait, there's more! The singer and Seattle Seahawks quarterback also donated $2 million to a Washington charter school that faced financial trouble due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and they helped redecorate a Seattle pediatric nurse's home that was destroyed in a flood. We also can't forget Ciara's "Rooted" Black empowerment bop that she dropped in August.
14 Rihanna
No, we didn't get a new Rihanna album, but she blessed us in other forms this year. Not only did she collaborate with PartyNextDoor for her first song in three years, but she also expanded her Fenty empire with new fashion, lingerie, and beauty products.
She also won the NAACP President's Award in February and, while accepting the honour, emphasised the importance of everyone showing up for the Black community. "When we're marching and protesting and posting about the Michael Brown Jr's and the Atatiana Jefferson's of the world, tell your friends to pull up," she said.
And, of course, we have to address RiRi's stunning Savage x Fenty volume two show. The production featured a stacked lineup of stars, gorgeous looks, and an inspiring celebration of all women.
15 Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle continued to stand her ground against America's Got Talent in 2020, calling out the toxic work environment and filing a harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaint with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
In an interview on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, Gabrielle opened up about her decision to keep speaking out against workplace racism. Noting how her former AGT costar Simon Cowell, who smoked on set, received special treatment, she said: "When your boss — the person who has ability to determine who gets opportunities and who doesn't — doesn't believe that law applies to him or the rules apply to him and he does it in full view of NBC and Fremantle and Syco and no one cares about Simon Cowell exposing all of these employees to secondhand smoke — that's day one, that's within the first hour — what message do you think that sends to anyone that has an issue with the very real racism and the lack of accountability? And it goes on and on and on."
Gabrielle also ventured into the book sphere this year, writing the children's novel Welcome to the Party, which was inspired by her daughter Kaavia.
