The 9 Black Women You Need to Know Right Now
By Katrina Scott onAt Tone It Up, we honor and celebrate February as Black History Month, but we also recognize that the celebration of Black culture and Black history goes beyond these 28 days. We are continuously committed to making Tone It Up a place where all women feel seen, acknowledged, and represented.
All throughout February, we’ll be collaborating with Black creators and sharing the stories of Black community members. And this week, we’re kicking things off by sharing 9 amazing women who are creating incredible impact in their communities.
Blair Imani: Educator & Influencer
Blair wears many hats. In addition to being an educator and influencer, she is a historian, social activist, public speaker, and author of two historical books Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (2018) and Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream (2020).
Amanda Gorman: Poet. Writer. Dreamer
As the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, Amanda Gorman has become a household name. After graduating cum laude from Harvard, she went on to write for The New York Times, author three books, including The Hill We Climb, and become the youngest board member of 826 National, the largest youth writing network in the United States.
Sharon Chuter: Founder of @pullupforchange
A self-described “rebel with a cause,” Sharon is the founder of the social movement @pullupforchange, which pushes brands to be transparent in the diversity breakout of their companies. Additionally, she has been listed by WWD as one of the 50 most forward-thinking executives shaping the future of the beauty industry.
Shanicia Boswell: Author & Founder of Black Moms Blog
Shanicia is an advocate for Black parenting, diversity, and helping women learn to put themselves first. She has been tapped for her expertise by outlets like OWN Network, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and Thrive Global.
Rachel Cargle: Philanthropic Innovator & Founder of The Loveland Foundation
Rachel is a public academic, writer, and lecturer whose activist and academic work is rooted in exploring the intersection of race and womanhood. She is the creator of The Great Unlearn, an online learning platform that provides education and inspires meaningful action. Her non-profit, The Loveland Foundation, works to democratize mental health by bringing therapy support to Black women and girls.
Morgan Harper Nichols: Artist & Poet
Morgan’s pen is a match for her paintbrush. Her work is inspired by stories, conversations, and the everyday. She sees art-making as a way to connect with others, stay curious, and grow in empathy — which is why she founded Garden24, a place of community, gathering, and art.
Alexis (Lexy) Maycock: Founder of Motherhood Menageries
As a mother to two daughters, Alexis started her blog to share positive parenting solutions with other moms. She’s also a contributor for Embrace Action, an inclusive, grassroots organization that partners with families and groups to develop and strengthen the skills needed to advocate for racial equity and diverse communities.
Zerina Ackers: Wardrobe Curator & Founder of Black Owned Everything
Zerina Akers is a fashion stylist who’s worked with some of the biggest names in the industry — including working as a personal stylist to Beyoncé. Zerina is also the founder of Black Owned Everything, a medium for creating meaningful and long-lasting participation for Black-owned businesses in global commerce.
Renata Cherlise: Founder of Black Archives
Renata founded Black Archives in 2015, creating a multimedia platform that brings a spotlight to the Black experience. Its mission: give voice to under-told stories, while providing authentic representation and inspiration to the transformative growth of Black people everywhere.
Comment below and share who else we should follow! We’re always grateful to continue to learn more and grow as a community.
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