We’re Tired Of Hearing About Madame CJ Walker—Who Are The New Black Women Making History?

Happy Black History Month! This year we're celebrating the exceptional achievements of Black women because it is often forgotten and overlooked.

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a non-Black friend about Black History Month, and we mentioned familiar names like Phillis Wheatley, Rosa Parks, and Madame CJ Walker. Now, while these women definitely shaped history, I’m tired of only hearing about them. I prefer to look ahead and celebrate our current achievements. My friend's reply to that was, “But are Black women still making history?”

I was definitely triggered by her ignorant assumption that Black women only made history in the past fighting racism as if without it, there's no more history to make. There are many Black women making significant achievements today and it's time we give them their flowers. 

Here are a few you should know about:

1. Rihanna 

Miss RiRI is a trailblazer we have always loved for her music and fashion but when she launched Fenty Beauty with over 40 shade ranges, she really showed everyone what black girl magic is. The brand became popular and sparked a wave of inclusive makeup products in the industry. With the success of Fenty, Rihanna became the richest female musician with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion

2. Monique Rodriguez

Monique Rodriguez took the haircare industry by storm when she started Mielle Organics in 2014. The viral brand was the first in the industry to raise $100 million in investment funding. Mielle is now distributed in over 85 countries and was purchased by P&G for reportedly over $200 million.

3. Oprah Winfrey 

Media mogul and philanthropist, Oprah rose from a tough childhood to become the first black female billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world. She was best known for "The Oprah Winfrey Show," but later built a media business empire by spreading her tentacles in areas like film production, real estate, and even cable TV when she launched the cable channel OWN. Her impressive achievement has racked up an impressive network estimated to be around $3 billion!

4. Tarana Burke

Tarana Burke is the activist who started the #MeToo movement way back in 2006, advocating for survivors of sexual violence. Her work took off globally when the hashtag went viral in 2017 and encouraged celebrities and women across the world to speak up about their experiences with abuse. In 2017 Tarana was named Time Person Of The Year along with a group of other sexual survivors.

5. Alicia Garza

Alicia Garza is one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, which began in 2013 after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer. A passionate organiser and activist, Garza first used the phrase “Black Lives Matter” on Facebook In 2013 and led the 2015 Freedom Ride to Ferguson that launched the building of BlackLivesMatter chapters across the United States. Her work has sparked a global movement, reshaping how we talk about racial justice and the rights of marginalised communities 

6. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the former Liberian president who was elected the first female head of state in Africa. Sirleaf also won a Nobel peace prize in 2011, a remarkable achievement given to her in recognition of her efforts to guarantee women's right to participate in the peacekeeping process during the second Liberian Civil War.

Who else do you think belongs on this list of history making black women?