Black History Month: PowHERful Women
Hey Revolutionaries! Once again the month of February has come which means that it is time to join us in celebrating some of our community’s most talented and profound visionaries.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe “The Godmother of Rock n’ Roll”
March 20, 1915 - October 9, 1973
Quote: “My emotion is real, and everyday my life is filled with the same feeling.”
Profession: Singer
Known for her influence on music, Tharpe was a queer Black woman who specialized in gospel music with a unique rock n’ roll twist. Despite her many contributions to the music industry and her creation of Rock n’ Roll, she has been largely overlooked in the genre until recently.
Who nominated her and why: She was nominated by Kayla Lennon from the Fresh Four Class because she thinks that it is important that we recognize her contributions to music as a whole because we know that Black people heavily influenced global culture and we should know where the TRUE spirit of Rock n’ Roll originated.
Toni Morrison
February 18, 1931- August 5, 2019
Quote: “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must be the one to write it.”
Profession: Novelist, Editor, and Professor
An alumna of Howard University, Toni Morrison was a Pultizer and Nobel Prize-winning author. Best known for her novels--The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Beloved-- she is praised for her profound language and beautiful descriptions and use of African American characters.
Who nominated her and why: She was nominated by Alana Smith from the End Game class because she believes “Toni Morrison dedicated her life to writing narratives about the complexity of Black life, beauty, and romance. Due to her esteemed work, she became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize award in 1993. Personally, Morrison’s first novel The Bluest Eye exposed me to a new style of writing.” Alana will continue to read her work and pay homage to her legacy in a future film of hers.
Zora Neele Hurston
January 7, 1891, 1960- January 28, 1960
Quote: “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
Profession: Author, Anthropologists, and filmmaker
Zora Neele Hurston was an American author from Notasulga, Alabama. She is known for her portrayal of African-American struggles in the early 20th century South and her most notable work is “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
Who nominated her and why: She was nominated by Ellison Estwick from the EndGame class because of “Her literary prowess and versatility as an artist. When reading her work I felt deeply intertwined with the words she wrote. Her stories are relatable and feel as if they are fiction grounded in truth.”