Women still face sexism in many industries, but women of color are even less represented than white women. In fact, according to the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), only 17% of creative directors at top ad agencies were women and only 5% were people of color. In honor of International Women’s Day this year, we are hi-lighting five influential black women who are making their mark in history. These talented women are creating change within their industries—and proving that it’s possible for all genders, race, and backgrounds to succeed in the world.
Khalilah Camacho-Ali
Khalilah Camacho-Ali is the wife of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. She’s also an activist, expert on civil rights, and founder of the Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC).
Khalilah was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Her father was a Baptist minister who worked to improve education for African American children in Louisville. He met Muhammad when he visited their church and later invited him to speak there after winning his first heavyweight title at age 22. Born Odessa Lee Grady in 1945 (the same year as Martin Luther King Jr.), she converted to Islam after marrying her husband–a decision that caused some controversy among her family members at the time because it meant changing her name from Odessa Lee Grady to Khalilah Rumalla Ali (her maiden name).
In addition to working with Martin Luther King Jr., Khalilah has also served on boards including NAACP Legal Defense Fund; National Urban League; Muhammad Ali Center Foundation; International Boxing Hall Of Fame Museum Foundation Board Of Trustees; Louisville Urban League Young Professionals’ Advisory Council Member and Chairperson Of The Board Of Directors For The Louisville Urban League Youth Scholarship Program In 1983 She Founded The BCCC In Which She Has Been Its President Ever Since.
Nikki Lewis
Nikki Lewis was a Pan Africanist, student activist and leader of the Black Student Union. She was also the first African American woman to graduate from UC Berkeley.
Nikki Lewis was born in Oakland, California in 1948 and grew up with her family as one of five children. She attended Berkeley High School where she became involved in politics and activism working with groups like SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) during their campaign against segregationist policies at local schools like Skyline High School which refused to admit black students until 1963 when Nikki was 15 years old.
Nikki Lewis was a leader of the Black Student Union at UC Berkeley and led a successful campaign to increase the number of African American students at Berkeley. She graduated in 1970 with a BA in Political Science, but her activism continued after graduation when she became involved with local community organizations like COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics). In 1980 Nikki Lewis ran for the Oakland City Council on an anti-apartheid platform winning by just 20 votes.
Marissa Alexander
Marissa Alexander is a woman who made headlines in Florida. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot to stop her abusive husband. After serving three years, she was released on house arrest and then pardoned by Governor Rick Scott (R).
Marissa has since become an entrepreneur with her own website where she sells her book about her experiences as well as other products like shirts and t-shirts.
Marissa is also a passionate advocate for victims of domestic violence and abuse. She volunteers with the organization Champions Against Violence, which helps survivors get out of abusive relationships. Marissa’s story is powerful because it shows how even in difficult situations, people can rise above their circumstances to become successful entrepreneurs.
T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting
T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting is an American professor of Medieval and Early Modern Studies at Vanderbilt University. She is a prolific author, editor and scholar who has published over 30 books including Black Women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance (1998) and The History of White People (2010). Sharpley-Whiting’s work focuses on race, gender, class and culture in literature; she also studies medievalism in contemporary pop culture.
She is a member of the Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship, The American Conference on British Studies and The Society for the Study of Early Modern Women. Sharpley-Whiting has also served as an editor at the Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
Ursula Burns
Ursula M. Burns is an American businesswoman. Burns is mostly known for being the CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016, the first among black women to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company. She additionally was Xerox’s chairman from 2010 to 2017
Burns attended Colgate University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering before attending Cornell University where she earned her Master’s degree in electrical engineering. She continued on at Cornell earning her Phd there too!
Black influencers and creators are influential, but you may not know them.
It’s important that this International Women’s Day be celebrated with all of its history in mind–including the fact that black women have historically been left out of conversations around feminism and equality. Black influencers and creators like Misty Copeland, Serena Williams, Issa Rae and others bring a unique perspective on what it means to be a woman in today’s society–and they’re often overlooked because they don’t fit into stereotypical ideas about what it means to be feminine or attractive (i.e., white).
Conclusion
These women have made their mark in history, and they continue to do so. They are powerful influencers who are changing the world for the better. We hope that by highlighting these five Black Influential Women You Should Know, we can inspire others to follow in their footsteps!