For decades, Black women have been significant influencers in the world of popular culture. Their confidence, brilliance, and sheer swag have vastly influenced what is known as a pop culture today. From vibrant-colored box braids, weaves, and wigs to coining slangs that broader society often imitates, Black women have continued to be the blueprint for everything considered chic and cool. From Ann Lowe, a fashion designer responsible for designing Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress, to Jackie Aina, a beauty influencer renowned for her lifestyle brand and social media influence, Black women continue to set the bar high.
Because of the power of the internet today, millions of people worldwide are being introduced to Black women's influence in pioneering the cultural landscape. Black women have continued to leave their marks on every industry they pursue, from politics to music and STEM to activism and dance. Black women have always stood out as vibrant creators and revolutionary reformers of the status quo. What would we do without the Shonda Rhimes, Michelle Obama's, and Nicki Minaj's of the world? Black women have continued to push the envelope and set a precedent for cultural innovation for the past and present. They should be revered for their unrelenting contributions to broader society and movers and shakers of epic pop culture trends. The earlier generation of Black women such as Madam C.J. Walker, Angela Davis, and Rosa Parks lit the torch for the next generation of Black women who would light the torch for the next generation.
Let us continue to celebrate Black women for their unrelenting contributions to every sphere of the society that we live in. Every February, many companies and organizations celebrate and share stories of Black icons. While this is important, Black women deserve to be celebrated all 365 days of every year for being essential players of society's ecosystem and leaving their legacies behind despite the odds often stacked against them.