Black women are setting the standard for excellence. Whether it be in music, sports, or politics, Black women have been setting that standard for decades.
Black Women In Music
We would be remiss not to mention Beyoncé Knowles as a Black woman in music who has pushed the bar repeatedly and is a prime example to the current generation of what encompasses a star and generational talent. Beyoncé is also one to thank the Black female icons who have come before her and influenced her career. Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle are two of the living legends the singer has been influenced by, as well as the late singers Tina Turner and Whitney Houston. However, when it comes to being an entertainer, Beyoncé is in a league of her own.
Black Women In Sports
Whether it's tennis, gymnastics, basketball, or track and field, Black women have dominated whatever arena you put them in. Serena Williams has been an exemplary example of what it means to be a champion and persevere through harsh and often racist media attacks for acting simply like an athlete.
"We're strongest when we cheer each other on. A champion isn't about how much they win, it's about how they recover from their downs," Williams said in her 2009 autobiography On the Line. "A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they recover when they fall. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does."
Black Women In Politics
While we are still waiting for a Black woman to hold the title of President of the United States, there are still humongous strides that Black women are making in politics. Black women's push for change was highlighted in the Civil Rights Movement by pioneers such as Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, and countless other Black women who have put their lives on the line for better opportunities for us.
"Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul," Coretta Scott King said in one of her famous quotes.
Take a look at seven Black women in music, sports, and politics that are setting the bar for the new generation:
Beyoncé
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: Beyoncé accepts Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for “Renaissance” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Serena Williams
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Serena Williams of The United States celebrates victory during the Ladies Singles second round match against Christina McHale of the United States on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Michelle Obama
ARLINGTON, VA - NOVEMBER 10: First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama speaks on stage at the Women Veterans Career Development Forum at Women in Military Service for America Memorial on November 10, 2014 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BPW Foundation) (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BPW Foundation)
Kamala Harris
Democratic presidential candidate (and future US Vice President) US Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks at the National Forum on Wages and Working People: Creating an Economy That Works for All at Enclave, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 27, 2019. Six of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates attended the forum, held by the Service Employees International Union and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, to share their economic policies. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Rihanna
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 24: Rihanna attends the "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 24, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Simone Biles
STUTTGART, GERMANY - OCTOBER 13: Simone Biles of USA poses with her Medal haul after the Apparatus Finals on Day 10 of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Hanns Martin Schleyer Hall on October 13, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Ketanji Brown Jackson
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson meets with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) on Capitol Hill, April 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting today to hold a vote on the nomination of Jackson. If approved by the Committee the full Senate is expected to vote later this week. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Autumn Hawkins is the National Hip-Hop and R&B writer for Beasley Media, currently residing in New Jersey. Prior to working at Beasley Media, she was in broadcast news as an entertainment producer. When she's not impatiently waiting for Beyoncé to drop new music, she is reading, shopping, or planning a vacation.
