List of some influential black women leaders who have cemented an honorable and equitable position in society.
Being born a black woman needs,
We are born with a responsibility to live our entire existence in resistance, Resistance to the boxes and the lines,
Resistance to the black women can’t designs,
The resistance that she must excel but then step aside,
Resistance to the coughing and then choking on the lies,
Resistance to the constant game of seeking and hide while the gamers trade her currency, her dignity, and pride
Because she learned transactions as a child
And what we see is not for us.
– Angela Bowden, TEDx event
Women in leadership are very vital for an organization as well as communities but if we do not have that voice, we will lose half of the world. The world is filled with examples of successful women leadership but still, we doubt rationality in decision making. On top of that, a woman of colour has to experience a concrete ceiling of racism. According to a leading foreign media, comprise only 4 per cent of C-level positions despite representing approximately 18 per cent of the US population. A black woman who has to struggle a lot to make a niche in these spaces.
Historically, the concept of slavery and colonialism never considered a black woman as ‘Human Beings’. So, it would be ‘fair enough’ to say that a black woman has to cross this barrier of ‘black ceiling’ which consists of misogyny, patriarchy, and racism.
But there were some influential black women leaders who have cemented an honorable and equitable position in society.
Oprah Winfrey
With a net worth of $3.5 billion, Oprah Winfrey earns her spot as the wealthiest black woman in the world. She is not just a queen of talk shows but also has an empire beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. She is a television talk show host, media executive, actress, tv producer, and declared most outstanding philanthropist in the history of America.
She is the CEO of Happo production and Oprah Winfrey Network.
Michelle Obama
A woman who was the first black lady to serve as a first lady of the United States was married to one of the most influential men but still holds her individuality. She was told that she wouldn’t get into Princeton University. But she was determined from an early age and bagged it on her own.
Her White House Garden projects appear more like a mission than a campaign.
Read More: Meet Tejaswini Sawant, a woman who is rocking at 40
Meghan Markle has made her mark on the world. She is committed to uplifting women and shining a light on world issues that are close to her heart. Meghan carved her niche on her own even before she met her husband, Prince Harry. When it comes to uplifting people of colour, she never misses a chance to bring attention to social injustice.
She was brave enough to exit the royal family with her husband to focus on their personal development and well-being.
The Oscars are usually criticized for their lack of diversity. In 2015, a major protest was planned because all 20 acting nominees were white. Since the awards were 1st given out in 1929 only 6.4% of the nominees were non-white. And the percentage of non-white winners was much less. Halle Berry has the distinction of being the only black woman who has won the academy award for best actress.
Folorunsho Alakijais a dynamic Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist. She oversees several business endeavors such as Funfair Oil Limited which is her family’s oil exploration and production business. She is the vice-chairman of the company, a business strategist, and responsible for administration. In 2014, she was listed as the 96th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
