by Leah C.K. Lewis

Serena Williams is adored. She is revered. She dominates in such an elegant sport and the world knows it. Tennis lovers, especially those of us who understand her impact and age-defying accomplishments, are happy to be alive during her tenure, which is now twenty years and running.

by Ryane Nicole Granados


I typically don’t allow my young sons to amass large amounts of conventional media. Raising them in sunny California, surrounded by likeminded families while carpooling to our local constructivist charter school also helps in my efforts to protect their developing mental skies. As a result, it shocked my 7-year old when I told him to sit down and watch the news with me. The story I wanted him to see was the story of a heroic woman named Bree Newsome. I made it a point to let him soak up as many images as possible of a valiant Ms. Newsome scaling the flagpole at the South Carolina statehouse and taking down the confederate flag. “She looks like a soldier Mommy, but why is she taking it down? I responded, as I often do, with an eager, “Good question, son.” Usually this retort is met with slumped shoulders and a child sinking deeper into his seat. He knows an unsolicited educational lesson is about to commence. This time, however, my “Good question, son” was met with wide-eyed enthusiasm. While she is undoubtedly an icon for little black girls worldwide, below are five things my sons and other little boys can also learn from Bree Newsome!

by Artika R. Tyner

Leaders are lead problem solvers. A leader’s vision moves beyond the limitations of a problem to a vision for creating change. Evangeline M. Mitchell, founder of the National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc., is a lead problem solver who is promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. For over a decade, she has committed her work to creating a pipeline for aspiring law students from diverse backgrounds to not only strive to reach their dreams of becoming an attorney but to thrive. Her publications, conferences, and summits provide students with the tools to work effectively, think critically, and advance social justice.

by Juhanna Rogers

by Juhanna Rogers


Dominant historical accounts say that Europeans brought Africans to the New World as slaves. However, history often leaves out that these “slaves” brought with them the knowledge they had from their previous lives. It’s no secret that Africans had pioneered advancements in agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering hundreds of years before being brought to the Americas. And we used these skills to help build new nations.

Today, there is a stereotype that Black children—specifically Black girls—are unable to excel in areas like mathematics and science, because the concepts are too difficult. This could not be further from the truth.

I am not a scientist, nor was I ever really interested in science. However, I have met a number of mentors and colleagues during my time in the academy who are leaders within the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. I wonder if I had met them earlier in my life, maybe I would have had a greater interest. Nonetheless, I think it is important now as an educator that I expose my students to Black women who are scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and leaders within these and other related fields.

Here are nine Black women who have or who currently are changing the world of STEM and serve as motivation for other Black and Brown girls to pursue their interests in the same fields.

Mae C. Jemison, M.D.

Dr. Mae Jemison was born in Alabama and raised in Chicago. Growing up, her parents made her spend many hours in the library reading about the sciences, which sparked her passion for STEM. The history-maker attended Stanford University, where she earned a degree in chemical engineering. Jemison would then go on to earn a medical degree from Cornell University. She worked as a physician in California for a few years after finishing medical school, before joining the Peace Corps to serve as a researcher and physician in Liberia and Sierra Leone. After returning to the United States, she decided to apply to NASA for its astronaut training program in 1987. In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to ever go to space with the Endeavour mission.

Alexa Canady, M.D.

Dr. Alexa Canady grew up in Michigan. Her father was a dentist and her mother an educator. Dr. Canady’s interest in science grew more intense after she participated in a pre-college program at the University of Michigan. She later went on to earn a degree in zoology and attended medical school at the University of Michigan. In 1980, she became the first African-American neurosurgeon and dedicated her career to pediatric patients in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Michigan. In 1987, she became Chief of Neurosurgery at the Michigan’s Children Hospital until she retired in 2001. Dr. Canady returned to practice medicine part-time after learning her new community in Florida did not have a practicing African-American surgeon in pediatrics.

Marie M. Daly, Ph.D.

Dr. Marie Daly was born in 1921 to a family who was dedicated to her education. After her father had to leave Cornell University due to the steep tuition, he was determined to make sure his daughter was a success. Daly studied at Queens College and New York University, before becoming the first African-American to earn a doctorate degree in chemistry (from Columbia University). As a graduate student at Columbia, Daly studied under Dr. Mary L. Caldwell. Afterwards she continued to conduct research and teach at universities throughout New York City. Dr. Daly spent many years as faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. As a faculty member and researcher, she championed the need to support students of color interested in pursuing physics and chemistry at Queens College by establishing a scholarship fund in memory of her father.

Majorie Lee Browne, Ph.D.

In 1949, Dr. Marjorie Browne was the third African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. During her time at the University of Michigan, she was a teaching assistant in her field, which was also a major accomplishment in the early 1940s. As a scholar, Dr. Browne received numerous prestigious awards and grants that helped to advance her research—including a grant from the Ford Foundation and funding from technology giant IBM. With the IBM funds, she became one of the first scientists to set up an electronic computer lab at a historically Black college in 1960—at what was then known North Carolina College (or North Carolina A&T University today).

Norma Sklarek

Norma Sklarek was born in Harlem, New York and was a graduate of Columbia University. Ms. Sklarek was the first African-American woman to earn an architect’s license in the state of New York. Not only did she build a lasting career in a field dominated by White men, but she was also an advocate for more women in the field. Later in her career, she started her own all-women architect firm. Norma Sklarek’s spirit and work left an imprint on the world as her work can still be seen nationally and internationally. For example, two of her most well-known projects are the American Embassy in Tokyo and Fox Plaza in San Francisco.

Aprille J. Ericsson-Jackson, Ph.D.

Aprille Ericsson-Jackson is a native of Brooklyn, New York. She attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology before attending graduate school at Howard University. She was the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in Engineering at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. As she continues her career at NASA, Dr. Ericsson-Jackson is also committed to educating and inspiring more African-American students to pursue careers in STEM.

Ashanti Johnson, Ph.D.

Dr. Johnson is the first African-American woman to graduate with a doctorate in oceanography from Texas A&M University. Dr. Johnson has taught at several universities across the country and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Broadening Participation and as the Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Recruitment within the Division of Faculty Affairs at the University of Texas in Arlington. In January 2010, she received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring at the White House, in recognition of her professional achievements and diversity-related activities.

Lisette Titre

Lisette Titre is a video game designer and education curriculum consultant with over 13 years of experience. Lisette graduated magna cum laude from Miami International University for Art and Design with a degree in computer animation. As a consultant for gaming companies she has left her mark on EA Sports and other major companies. Lisette has graced the cover of Black Enterprise magazine due to her entrepreneurial efforts. Recently, she partnered with Soledad O’Brien to encourage more young girls to consider education and jobs in STEM. Lisette is also a member of Blacks in Gaming, which seeks to get more African-Americans involved in the game design world.

Aletha Maybank, M.D.

Dr. Aletha Maybank is a young, highly respected physician. Her medical interests and areas of expertise include preventive medicine; nutrition and fitness; maternal and child health; cancer; HIV/AIDS; community health; and health inequities. Dr. Maybank focuses on creatively using her medical degree to make changes in the quality of healthcare nationally and internationally; therefore, instead of practicing in a hospital, she is making strides in the political arena. Dr. Maybank launched a campaign to bring the faces of real life African-American doctors to the popular children’s animated series, Doc McStuffins, in order to inspire young Black girls to pursue medical professions. Dr. Maybank also serves as Assistant Commissioner of Health for the New York City Department of Health.

Chronic illness is not always apparent in those who live with it. Millions of people each year deal with chronic illnesses that are both visible and invisible. One such illness is a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of individuals in the United States alone: sickle cell disease. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 Americans. Far from being a “black disease,” as it’s most commonly thought of being, it occurs across a number of different ethnicities.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, sickle cell anemia—the most common form of the sickle cell disease—is “a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells.” Sickle-shaped means that the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent. The disease causes pain in various places in the body, at times causing hospitalization. In order to better understand sickle cell, I had the opportunity to speak to Adrianne Locke, a 42-year-old woman that’s suffered from sickle cell disease since her diagnosis at age 6. She’s had a number of things to say about the disorder, various obstacles she’s encountered, as well as personal triumphs on the road to recovery.
Adrianne recounted a number of challenges she’s faced in dealing with her illness—specifically the way her pain has progressed over the years. She explains that she went through a period of remission from 6th to 11th grade, before the disease came back. “During the 12th grade, I suddenly was just sick, it just hit me. I remember going to a ceremony after school and all of a sudden being overcome with pain. I remember not being able walk from the church, I was so sick. My friends almost had to carry me. The pain became worse as the disease progressed. As you become an adult the disease may cause more serious issues. The pain was bad, but got more severe after the remission.”

For black women, it can be extremely hard to take our limitations into consideration; especially when it comes to illness. In this manner, we are our own worst critics, chastising ourselves for “feeling weak.” Taking advantage of public services like social security, disability, and various other programs are sometimes shunned. However, Adrianne has embraced a number of these services, relinquishing herself of the “strong black woman” myth. Far from making her weak in the process, she’s been able to approach her experience with pragmatism. She knows what she can and cannot do, and acts accordingly. By detailing her own health problems, she hopes that black women everywhere will learn to take their chronic illness—no matter the form—more seriously

To emphasize that point, Adrianne explained that hospital visits weren’t just the result of the pain that comes with sickle cell disease: “Sickle cell can cause additional issues, especially with the joints. I’ve had to deal with numerous hip replacements, and my shoulders are also deteriorating. I’ve also had to get my gallbladder removed and I’ve had a number of blood transfusions. I’ve dealt with pneumonia numerous times in my journey. Not a lot of people are aware that sickle cell can cause those problems.”

Adrianne also spoke extensively about her experiences with strangers who assume she isn’t ill. “Because sickle cell isn’t a ‘visible’ disorder, if I parked in the handicap section and hopped out of car without my cane, I would get strange stares from people. One time I got pulled over by a police officer and had to show my license and the card that shows that I’m handicapped… Another time, a woman shouted at me that I didn’t belong in the handicapped space I’d parked in.”
Studies have shown that police officers are far more suspicious of black people compared to other races, even on a subconscious level. This discrimination and mistrust leads to unfair judgment and scrutiny. Surely if Adrianne was white, she wouldn’t be confronted in such a manner, disabled or not.

Despite all these obstacles, Adrianne’s life serves as an example that no matter what the circumstance you find yourself in, you can still beat the odds and living a fulfilling life. She describes her greatest triumph: “When I think of what I’m most proud of, it’s getting my master’s degree in internet marketing.” Though many people assume that chronic illness is a handicap, people can still lead full lives; it’s just a matter of determination and the will to succeed.

Adrianne’s journey is an example of a woman who’s struggled with a chronic disease, but living life on her own terms. She’s set firm boundaries and moved steadily towards her goals—no matter how challenging. Her life is proof that one can thrive, despite a chronic illness. She demonstrates that even with a chronic illness, it’s how you react to the challenges you face that makes all the difference.

Photo: Shutterstock

by Nancy Laws


I never expected to be the mother to three girls, and I have been told often how sorry people are for me, because it will be a long, arduous journey. There are moments when I have been terrified about having to raise three daughters — if you don't understand this yet, you will one day. What worries me most of all, though, is raising three lost girls.

by Tracey Michae’l


"Yes, baby. Man might be the head of the Body but us women are the neck. Without us, the head wouldn't know which way he is going."

by Cherise Luter

Full disclosure, I am a huge fan of Oprah Winfrey. Being that she is a billionaire, head of a media empire, beloved the world over, and is visibly unapologetic regarding the decisions she has made for herself personally and professionally, I consider her a role model for the ages. I look at her and see all that is possible for myself as an entrepreneurially minded black woman.

by Quanisha Smith

by Kara Stevens of The Frugal Feminista

Are you happy? There is a happy black woman revolution happening! We are making decisions to get out of life everything we want: beautiful bodies, strong romantic relationships, healthy family connections, meaningful friendships, money, preferred careers, and grounded spirituality. We are doing it by monitoring how we think, what we believe, and how we act. Here are just a few of the things that happy black women know:

Why is it that as African-American women our own minds, the media, some of our men and anyone else who doesn’t grasp the indescribable depth of our divinely inspired beauty often try to tell us otherwise?

I'll be the first to say there were times in my life when I looked in the mirror and didn't like what looked back at me. I never reached the point of not loving who I saw, but liking what I saw was a song of a completely different tune. Those things that jiggle, wiggle, drop, flop, and flubber have once been a pain in my, well, I won't even say where, especially since that’s one of my areas of concern. However, even with the jiggle, wiggle, drop, flop and flubber, I believe I’m beautiful. We all are.

by Vida Biggins

By the age of 14, I’d already checked every box on the list of criteria for the stereotypical lost cause. I was a black girl with a father who was drug-addicted, abusive, and absent. Check. I was molested by my favorite cousin. Check. I dropped out of high school after one semester in the 9th grade. Check. That was right before I aborted the baby I discovered I was carrying a few months later. Check.

by Amber Wright

Dear Mrs. Obama,

We have never met, but I feel like I know you. After all, I see your face every day on my vision board that's pinned up at my desk at work. The picture I cut out of you is strategically placed in the center of my board, for you represent the heart of all that I aspire to be.

Lately I have found myself running across Danielle LaPorte's "Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be" quote. This quote has been the lyrics to my song of freedom. As I sit and reflect on what these words mean to me, I cannot help but think about every moment I've spent in conversations with friends and family, or every message received by media, instructing me on who and what I should be.

by Bee Quammie

When you need a shoulder to lean on, who do you turn to? A significant other? A best friend? A close family member? Have you ever thought to lean on yourself? I’ll tell you how I do it - with self-addressed letters. Allow me to explain.

I’ll never forget the first day of tenth grade. “Pull out your pens and paper,” my English teacher said. “For the next 30 minutes, I want you to write a letter to yourself.”

by Simone Craig

by Jolie Doggett of justJOLIE

Is it racist to prefer to see people who look like you in places of fame, beauty, and adoration? Singer/Songwriter (and eye-candy) Maxwell recently took to Instagram calling many of his followers “racists” when they commented on his photos complaining about not seeing enough women of color on his Instagram.