These Black Women Make Sure Their Communities Are Seen

The achievements of black women are often celebrated in retrospect. They are rarely uplifted and honored as they are breaking ground. Former Rep. Shirley Chisholm, actress Hattie McDaniel, investigative journalist Ida B. Wells and scientists Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson are prime examples of black women who were not revered as the trailblazers they were until after their deaths.

This Women’s History Month, I wanted to give 11 black women their flowers while they’re still with us. The premise of my project is simple: highlight black women who are alive and doing wondrous work in their communities — through entrepreneurship, art, food, policy and physical activity — but who, like their predecessors, may not currently be household names.

The stories will be added below as they are published. Enjoy.

Natalie And Derrica Wilson Are Dedicated To Finding America’s ‘Black And Missing’

“If not us, who will do it?” asked Natalie Wilson.

Latoya Snell Embodies The Power Of Being Present

“If I am out there living and breathing and attempting, not having to be the best at it, but attempting, that is a powerful statement of its own.”

Elizabeth Colomba Is Painting The Black Body In A Different Way

“There's power in embracing who you are, your history, what you look like and not trying to pretend to be somebody else.”

Mirna Valerio Brings Her Community Along With Her On The Trail

“When you do have symbols of representation that are readily available to you, it becomes real. It becomes possible. It becomes something you can envision yourself as.”

Elisa Shankle Is Encouraging Her Community To Be Brave And Heal

“Vulnerability is scary. I associate bravery with vulnerability because it takes bravery to be vulnerable,” the Brooklyn wellness expert says.

Dietitians Wendy Lopez And Jessica Jones Are Making Health And Wellness Accessible For Everyone

“When wellness is constantly marketed as a white woman who is eating really exclusive food, people don't see themselves represented in that,” said Lopez.

Jerri Evans Strives To Bridge The Gap Between Low-Income Communities And Healthy Food

“You deserve to be able to walk down the street and get something healthy and not have to search for it.”

Natalie Cofield Is Preserving Madam C.J. Walker’s Legacy And Introducing Black Women To Entrepreneurship

“More black women need to continue to see themselves reflected in every facet of entrepreneurial spaces — from technology to engineering, to science, to art — in order to increase the number of us who have the opportunity to succeed in those spaces,” said Cofield.