We are highlighting examples of Black excellence throughout the year! Feel free to send suggestions to Rachel at rstoler@frcog.org.
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Black Excellence: Wanda Irving
https://www.tedmed.com/person/wanda-irving Wanda Irving is a dedicated advocate for health equity, driven by the tragic loss of her daughter, Dr. Shalon Irving. Her mission is to create a healthcare system that includes and supports everyone, regardless of their background. For nearly three decades, Wanda worked in various sectors, including federal and…
Black Excellence: Charles Langford
https://www.charleslangfordmusic.com Charles Langford has been writing music since his teenage years. This Springfield, Massachusetts jazz man does it all…tenor, alto, soprano sax, clarinet and flute. Mr. Langford came to the Northeast United States after attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the New School for Social Research in New…
Black Excellence: Jo Sallins
The Jo Sallins Experience The Jo Sallins Experience: A Soul-Funk-Jazz Odyssey Igniting Legends and Originals The Jo Sallins Experience will deliver a high-energy set featuring one original composition, followed by dynamic renditions from the songbooks of Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Hubert Laws, Marcus Miller, and Bill Withers. Leading the ensemble…
Black Excellence: Leon Smith
https://www.binnews.com/content/2026-04-22-black-high-school-teacher-named-2026-national-teacher-of-the-year A Black high school history teacher in Pennsylvania was named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year. Leon Smith, 46, who has taught Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and African American Studies at Haverford High School for 25 years, was awarded the distinction by the Council of Chief…
Black Excellence: L. Louise Lucas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Louise_Lucas Lillie Louise Lucas (née Boone; born January 22, 1944) is an American politician serving as a Virginia state senator, representing the 18th District in the southeast region of the state since 1992.[1] Democrats won a majority of seats in the 2019 Virginia Senate election, so Lucas succeeded Republican Stephen…
Black Excellence: Thebe Magugu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thebe_Magugu Thebetsile “Thebe” Magugu[1] (born 1 September 1993)[2] is a South African fashion designer. Born in Kimberley and based in Johannesburg, he rose to prominence as the winner of the 2019 LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, and a finalist in the 2021 International Woolmark Prize. Magugu has released eleven solo…
Black Excellence: Massamba Diop
https://www.massambadiop.com/bio Perhaps best known for his collaboration on Marvel’s groundbreaking Black Panther soundtrack, where his drumming served as the heartbeat of King Tchalla’s theme music, Massamba’s influence extends far beyond the silver screen. His rhythmic prowess has graced stages across the world, from joining Mumford and Sons on their 2016…
Black Excellence: Peter Mutabazi
https://petermutabazi.com/about As a child, I ran away from an abusive home and was helped by the kindness of strangers. As an adult, I found myself in a position to be able to help foster children, so I began taking children into my home years ago to give back what was…
Black Excellence: Terrace Martin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_Martin Terrace Jamahl Martin (born December 28, 1978) is an American musician, rapper, singer, and record producer. He is perhaps best known for producing records for several prominent artists in the music industry, including Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, the Game, Busta Rhymes, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Wilson, Raphael Saadiq and YG,…
Black Excellence: Courtney Mays
https://www.essence.com/fashion/courtney-mays-on-style-size-diversity-in-the-wnba For Courtney Mays, sports and fashion are inextricably linked. As the daughter of a former NFL player, the Ohio native has always understood why and how the two industries converge. From WNBA legends Sue Bird and Tina Charles to Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Chris Paul, and more, Mays, 41,…
Black Excellence: Black Maternal Health Week
https://blkmaternalhealthweek.com Black Maternal Health Week is more than a campaign; it’s a call to action! This Resolution Guide gives advocates, community members, and elected officials everything they need to introduce and champion a Black Maternal Health Week resolution in their state. Download your copy and help us take the movement…
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Black Excellence: Bob McNeil
https://www.pw.org/node/1164487 Bob McNeil, writer, editor, cartoonist, and spoken word artist, is the author of Verses of Realness (https://tinylink.net/muF6C). Hal Sirowitz, a former Queens, NY Poet Laureate, called the book “a fantastic trip through the mind of a poet who doesn’t flinch at the truth.” Poem of the Week By Bob…
Black Excellence: Leon Thomas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Thomas Leon George Thomas III (born August 1, 1993)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. He began his career as a child actor on Broadway, appearing in the musicals The Lion King, Caroline, or Change and The Color Purple across the 2000s. He gained wide recognition…
Black Excellence: Dr. Jalil A. Johnson
https://www.bhninc.org/dr-jalil-johnson Behavioral Health Network, Inc. (BHN) has announced that Dr. Jalil A. Johnson has joined the organization as Senior Vice President, bringing more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, program development, and clinical operations to the organization. Dr. Johnson’s extensive background spans behavioral health, integrated care, primary care,…
Black Excellence: Dr. Latoya Bosworth
https://www.brendaschild.com Dr. Boz is “your favorite life coach” who holistically supports you in creating space for yourself and your joy. She specializies in helping you connect with yourself in ways that support you connecting with community and with your work. While Got HE.R.S Get More Coaching was established in 2020, Dr. Boz …
Black Excellence: Lakiesha Hawkins
Lakiesha Hawkins Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Lakiesha Hawkins is the acting deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD). In this role, she assists the ESDMD associate administrator in leading and managing human spaceflight development and operations for the agency’s Artemis campaign,…
Black Excellence: Michelle and Jonathan Ballard
https://www.michebeauty.com/pages/about-us MICHE Beauty, pronounced MEE-SH, is a clean, curl-focused haircare brand redefining textured hair routines through science-backed, moisture-first formulations. Founded in 2016 by Michelle and Jonathan Ballard, MICHE is rooted in community, education, and ingredient transparency.
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Black Excellence: Maïmouna Diouf
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/14/g-s1-113432/prisoners-women-jails-senegal Released in 2025, Diouf now volunteers to help female inmates in Senegal. The conditions that women in prison face were highlighted in events held in Senegal on International Women’s Day this past week — including the distribution of free, reusable menstrual products, which aren’t readily available to prisoners. Diouf…
Black Excellence: Jayla Jackson
https://www.jaylajackson.com/about Jayla Jackson is an Atlanta-based producer and activist whose impressive journey began in 2021. She gained national recognition as one-half of the first Black girl duo to win Harvard’s International Debate Competition, making history twice as the youngest Black female to achieve this feat. In honor of her accomplishments,…
Black Excellence: Maeva Heim
Bread Beauty Supply Makes Frizzy Hair Aspirational Ahead of the brand’s launch at Sephora, founder Maeva Heim chatted with Allure about creating products that are formulated to help people with 4C textures embrace “lazy girl” hair. https://breadbeautysupply.com/pages/about?srsltid=AfmBOoq6oeeXlUTg-EkJkcecW2RbHD8xARReglW1GziPPqH8hD7uvX_o Our founder, Maeva, spent a lot of time hanging around her Mum’s braiding…
Black Excellence: Aura V and Fyütch
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5742754/grammy-aura-fyutch-youngest-winner Aura and her dad, Harold Simmons II, who uses the stage name Fyütch, won music’s biggest prize in February. Their album, Harmony, won the Grammy for best children’s music album. Before Aura’s win, Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter had been the youngest individual Grammy winner.
Black Excellence: Jorja Smith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorja_Smith Jorja Alice Smith (born 11 June 1997) is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Walsall, West Midlands, she has been writing songs since the age of 11. In 2012, Smith’s friend uploaded her cover of Labrinth’s “Earthquake” to YouTube,[2] which led to her discovery by record…
Black Excellence: Black Reconstruction Collective
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Reconstruction_Collective The Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC) is an American architecture collective. The BRC was formed by participants in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America project which was exhibited in the spring of 2021.[1] https://www.blackreconstructioncollective.org/about Mission The Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC) provides funding, design, and…
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Black Excellence: Joshy Soul
https://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/joshy-soul-new-lover The Long Beach-based artist is recognizable for his magnetic music soaked in vibrant instrumentation and smoldering confidence. Soul is proficient in a myriad of creative talents. A performer, writer, producer, art director, stylist and model, he accomplishes each with effortless flair. That skillful sense of ease can be heard…
Black Excellence: Victor J. Glover
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/victor-j-glover Victor J. Glover was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013 and is currently assigned as the pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon. He has previously served as the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station as part of Expedition 64. Victor…
Black Excellence: Dupe Oloyede
https://news.famu.edu/2025/from-the-hill-to-hollywood-famu-drum-major-dupe-oloyede-takes-the-oscar-stage.php Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, a senior theater major at Florida A&M University, found herself in awe of the magnitude of what was unfolding in her life. The first female head drum major of the legendary Marching 100 has spent the year commanding attention on fields, stages and screens across the…
Black Excellence: Kelly Chibale
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/22/g-s1-114038/new-drugs-health-medicine-africa-tuberculosis-measles Kelly Chibale says that the hunt for new drugs is kind of like a fairy-tale quest. And it takes a lot of time and patience. “It doesn’t mean that there aren’t surprises or miracles,” he says. “They do happen, but you have to kiss many frogs before you meet…
Black Excellence: Leven Kali
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leven_Kali Leven Kali Simon-Seay, known as Leven Kali, is a Dutch-born American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work on Beyoncé’s Renaissance, Drake’s More Life and Playboi Carti’s self titled mixtape Playboi Carti.[2]
Black Excellence: Sherisse Kenerson
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/19/nx-s1-5669426/cursive-handwriting-school-controversy In Sherisse Kenerson’s after-school classroom, Sandi takes out a piece of paper and fills up a whole line to spell the word that describes a type of lung disease. The word allows her to practice cursive — her new favorite method of writing. When she becomes a doctor, Sandi,…
Black Excellence: Shamel Pitts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamel_Pitts Shamel Pitts is an American artist, choreographer, performer and teacher. He is the founder and artistic director at TRIBE which is a New York-based multidisciplinary arts collective.[1] He is best known for his creation of a triptych of multidisciplinary performance art works entitled Black Series[2] and as a cast…
Black Excellence: Master KG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_KG Kgaogelo Moagi (born 31 January 1996),[1] professionally known as Masker KG is a South African DJ, singer and record producer. Born and raised in Tzaneen, his debut studio album Skeleton Move achieved acclaim including an AFRIMA Award for Best Artist/Group in the African Electro category.[2] He is also known…
Black Excellence: Bryan Stevenson
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5753780/bryan-stevenson-montgomery-square-legacy-museum Human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson has been working to ensure evidence of America’s painful past is not erased. Stevenson’s nonprofit, the Equal Justice Initiative, opened the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Ala., in 2018, to chronicle slavery and racism in America. A new exhibit, which is both located in and…
Black Excellence: Aisha Hinds
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisha_Hinds Aisha Hinds is an American television, stage and film actress and director. She had supporting roles in a number of television series, including The Shield, Invasion, True Blood, Detroit 1-8-7 and Under the Dome. In 2016, she played Fannie Lou Hamer in biographical drama film All the Way. She…
Black Excellence: Sir David Adjaye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Adjaye Sir David Frank Adjaye (born 22 September 1966) is a Ghanaian-British[1] architect who has designed many notable buildings around the world, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Adjaye was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to architecture. He received…
Black Excellence: Immanuel Wilkins
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/g-s1-90082/immanuel-wilkins-tiny-desk-concert Always inspirational, the music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is also heavy and thought provoking. In the harmonic tension of his music you can hear sepia tones of the Black experience — an ancient and modern struggle told through melody and overlaid with hope. Complex time signatures swing…
Black Excellence: Raye
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raye Rachel Agatha Keen (born 24 October 1997), known professionally as Raye (/reɪ/ RAY), is a British singer-songwriter and record producer. She first rose to prominence after signing with Polydor Records and providing guest vocals for Jonas Blue’s song “By Your Side” (2016), which became her first entry on the…
Black Excellence: Harerimana Ismail
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5746630/hiv-aids-trump-administration-aid-cuts Harerimana Ismail hasn’t had a paycheck since the beginning of last year. He’s kept working nonetheless. When the current administration paused foreign aid and issued stop work orders in January of 2025, almost all U.S. foreign aid projects were halted. That included the termination of Ismail’s work as a…
Black Excellence: Afroman
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/19/nx-s1-5753563/afroman-lemon-pound-cake-trial Afroman was just trying to turn lemons into “Lemon Pound Cake” when he started making music videos and social media posts mocking the law enforcement officers who conducted a heavy-handed raid on his Ohio home. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afroman Joseph Edgar Foreman (born July 28, 1974), known by his stage name Afroman,…
Black Excellence: Michael B. Jordan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_B._Jordan Michael Bakari Jordan[1] (/bɑːˈkɑːri/ bah-KAR-ee; born February 9, 1987)[2] is an American actor, producer, and director. His accolades include an Academy Award, three Actor Awards, and a Producers Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Emmy Awards. Jordan…
Black Excellence: Jamal Cyrus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_Cyrus Jamal Cyrus (born 1973) is an American conceptual artist who works in a range of media, including drawing, sculpture, textiles, assemblage, installation, performance, and sound.[1][2][3] His artistic and research practices investigates the history, culture, and identity of the United States, questioning conventional narratives and foregrounding Black political movements, social…
Black Excellence: Nnedi Okorafor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nnedi_Okorafor Nnedimma Nkemdili Listenⓘ”Nnedi” Okorafor[a] (formerly Okorafor-Mbachu; born April 8, 1974)[1] is a Nigerian American writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. She is best known for her Binti Series and her novels Who Fears Death, Zahrah the Windseeker, Akata Witch, Akata Warrior, Lagoon and Remote…
Black Excellence: Tiana Major9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiana_Major9 Tiana Thomas-Ambersley (born 22 November 1995), known professionally as Tiana Major9, is a British singer. She is best known for her 2019 single “Collide” (featuring EarthGang), released on the Queen & Slim film soundtrack. Earlier that year, she signed with Motown.[1] https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/g-s1-111828/tiana-major9-tiny-desk-concert When R&B artist Tiana Major9 arrived at…
Black Excellence: Richardson Viano
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richardson_Viano Richardson Viano (born 16 August 2002) is a French-Haitian alpine skier, competing in giant slalom and slalom. Viano was born on 16 August 2002 in Croix-des-Missions [fr] in Tabarre, Ouest, Haiti.[1][2][3][4] He spent 18 months of his life in a Haitian orphanage. In December 2005, at three years of age…
Black Excellence: Darragh Hand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darragh_Hand Darragh Hand is an Irish stage and television actor. His television appearances include Heartstopper (2024) and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026). In 2023, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for his stage work.
Black Excellence: Whitney White
WHITNEY WHITE is an Obie and Lilly Award winning director, actor, and musician based in Brooklyn, New York. She is a Tony Award nominee, a recipient of the Susan Stroman Directing award, an Artistic Associate at the Roundabout and part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Her original…
Black Excellence: Vivien Thomas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivien_Thomas Vivien Theodore Thomas (August 29, 1910[1] – November 26, 1985)[2] was an American laboratory supervisor who, in the 1940s, played a major role in developing a procedure now called the Blalock–Thomas–Taussig shunt used to treat blue baby syndrome (now known as cyanotic heart disease) along with surgeon Alfred Blalock…
Black Excellence: Aisha Fukushima
https://aishafukushima.com/bio Aisha Fukushima is an award-winning Public Speaker, Singer-Songwriter, and Facilitator who founded the global RAPtivism (Rap Activism) project in 2009. By challenging oppression with expression, Fukushima amplifies universal efforts for freedom and justice. A multilingual, mixed roots African American Japanese woman, she has conducted lectures and performances worldwide, including…
Black Excellence: Shaka Hislop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_Hislop Neil Shaka Hislop CM (born 22 February 1969) is a football commentator and former player who played as a goalkeeper. Born in England, he played for the England under-21 team before representing Trinidad and Tobago at senior international level. Hislop spent majority of his playing career in the top…
Black Excellence: Sydney Kamlager-Dove
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Kamlager-Dove Sydney Kai Kamlager-Dove (/ˌkæmlɑːɡər-ˈdʌv/ KAM-lah-gər-DUV; née Kamlager; born July 20, 1972) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California’s 37th congressional district since 2023. A Democrat, she previously served in the California State Senate, representing the 30th district. She has also served in the California State Assembly…
Black Excellence: Dr. Michael Williams
MA Rep. Gentile To Honor Local School Committee Member Dr. Michael Williams will be honored this week at the Black Excellence on the Hill Awards in Boston. CONCORD, MA — A local leader will be honored this week at the Black Excellence on the Hill Awards in Boston. Rep. Carmine…
Black Excellence: Amarie Gipson
Amarie Gipson On The Reading Room, Houston’s Black Art and Culture Library One of Amarie Gipson’s many gifts is an unyielding desire to ask questions. Having worked at institutions like The Contemporary Austin, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, Gipson has cultivated a practice of…
Black Excellence: Jill Scott
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/16/g-s1-100820/jill-scott-tiny-desk-concert We have finally brought one of our most requested artists to the Tiny Desk: Jill Scott! “I thought about you so much,” Scott tells the audience. “I was, like, ‘One day, Imma be on Tiny Desk!’ ” In celebration of her new album, To Whom This May Concern, her…
Black Excellence: Laila Edwards
Laila Edwards makes history as first Black American woman to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey At just 22 years old, Laila Edwards has added her name to the history books. During the 2026 Winter Olympics, Edwards became the first Black American woman to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey,…
Black Excellence: Miles Caton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Caton Miles Caton (born March 3, 2005)[1] is an American musician and actor. He gained recognition for his role as Sammie in Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners (2025), for which he received various accolades, including the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer and nominations for two Actor Awards…
Black Excellence: Buddy Guy
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/g-s1-110938/buddy-guy-tiny-desk-concert Buddy Guy displays a youthful spirit during his Tiny Desk that makes you question if he really turns 90 this year. Once the music starts, his subtle speaking voice transforms into a mighty instrument, demanding your attention. Guy wails on his polka dot Stratocaster, reminding us of his skill…
Black Excellence: Bonnie Watson Coleman
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/about Bonnie Watson Coleman is the daughter of legendary state legislator John S. Watson, and her services in Congress continues a family legacy of public service, fighting for women, economically and socially disadvantaged populations, and other vulnerable groups in our society. Prior to her election a Representative for New Jersey’s…
Black Excellence: Nafisa Fai
https://climateintegrity.org/projects/leaders-network/nafisa-fai A refugee from Somalia, Nafisa has lived in Oregon for over 22 years. She lives in Aloha with her family. She has spent the majority of her career working in public health, first at the American Red Cross and then through roles in county government and at a statewide…
Black Excellence: Kelley Robinson
https://www.hrc.org/about/staff/kelley-robinson Kelley Robinson is a trailblazing advocate and leader in the fight for human rights. As the President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), she is the first Black, queer woman to hold this position. HRC is the largest civil rights organization in the United States, dedicated to achieving equality…
Black Excellence: Neville Richen
https://nantucketcurrent.com/people/faces-of-nantucket-neville-richen After moving from Trinidad to Brooklyn in 1945, Richen began fifth grade in the city and later attended Wingate High School. After graduating, he joined the Strategic Air Command, where he served from 1962 until 1966, when he returned to New York City. Thats where Richen discovered his passion…
Black Excellence: Issa Laborde
https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-issa-laborde-kenya-living-dream Winter Olympics 2026: Issa Laborde – Kenya’s lone ranger living his dream at Milano Cortina The Kenyan teenager, who has previously represented his country at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024, says competing in Milano Cortina is the ultimate experience: “I hope it’s the beginning of something…
Black Excellence: Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills
https://www.aarp.org/veterans/army-officer-pentagon-911 “In the heat of a tragic situation your world gets a lot smaller. You focus on your immediate environment and the comrades around you. You are in a foxhole. It was an honor to be in the foxhole with Marilyn Wills.” Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills was delivering a presentation…
Black Excellence: Dorothy Roberts
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project Almost a decade after her father’s death, legal scholar Dorothy Roberts still had 25 boxes of his research that she had yet to sort through. When she moved from Chicago to Philadelphia, she brought the boxes — and finally opened them. Roberts’ father, Robert Roberts, was a white anthropologist…
Black Excellence: Mystique Ro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystique_Ro Mystique Ro (born July 18, 1994) is an American skeleton racer. She represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Ro attended Queens University of Charlotte where she was a track and field athlete[1][2] and heptathlete.[3] When she signed up for a bobsledding recruitment event, coaches suggested her…
Black Excellence: Derron Wallace
https://www.derronwallace.com/about Derron Wallace is the Jacob S. Potofsky Chair in Sociology and associate professor of sociology and education at Brandeis University, USA. He is also a research fellow at the University of Manchester, England. A cultural sociologist of race, ethnicity and education, Derron’s research focuses on structural and cultural inequalities…
Black Excellence: Asia Marquis
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/12/1175728361/make-your-thrift-shopping-trips-a-success Asia Marquis’s love for thrifting started when she was a kid visiting second-hand stores with her mom and grandma. “I always say: I’m not new to this – I’m true to this.” Marquis grew up without name-brand clothes or designer items but quickly learned that thrifting could help her…
Black Excellence: Nancy Gardner Prince
https://nantucketcurrent.com/news/a-nantucket-tale-the-adventures-of-nancy-gardner-prince-to-become-part-of-sixth-grade-curriculum-at-cps This spring, Nantucket’s sixth-grade students will be reading a book both by and about a fellow Nantucket resident. Local historian Frances Karttunen’s graphic narrative, The Adventures of Nancy Gardner Prince, Written by Herself, tells the story of Nancy Gardner Prince, a Black 19th-century Nantucketer. Prince, who was active in…
Black Excellence: Nate Smith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Smith_(drummer) Ira Nathaniel Smith (born December 14, 1974), generally referred to as Nate Smith, is an American drummer, songwriter, producer, and two-time Grammy Award winner.[1] Nate Smith Announced as New Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival NEWPORT, RI (February 12, 2026) — Fresh off of his two GRAMMY wins…
Black Excellence: Elana Meyers Taylor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elana_Meyers_Taylor Elana Meyers Taylor[1] (born Elana Alessandra Meyers; October 10, 1984) is an American Olympic bobsledder who has competed since 2007. Born in Oceanside, California, Meyers Taylor was raised in Douglasville, Georgia and is a graduate of George Washington University, where she was a member of the softball team.[2] After…
Black Excellence: Sylvia Hoffman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Hoffman Sylvia Hoffman (born June 29, 1989, in Philadelphia[1]) is an American bobsledder who was first discovered and recruited for the national bobsled team on The Next Olympic Hopeful.[2] She is originally from Arlington, TX[3] and attended Louisiana State University Shreveport.[2] Before bobsledding she was a college basketball player and…
Black Excellence: Attorney Arnold J. Lizana III
Attorney Lizana is the great-grandson of T.J. Huddleston Sr. (featured in the photograph on the right), a prominent African American entrepreneur and community leader who is famous for having built the first black hospital in the State of Mississippi, and who is also proudly remembered as the founder of the…
Continue Reading Black Excellence: Attorney Arnold J. Lizana III
Black Excellence: Lazarus Kgasi
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/04/g-s1-107656/how-a-black-fossil-digger-became-a-superstar-in-the-very-white-world-of-paleontology Lazarus Kgasi walks with ease across a gently rolling landscape about an hour’s drive outside of Pretoria, South Africa. A few trees are sprinkled here and there but it’s mostly grass. Kgasi, a tall man with a big smile, knows the place well. “We are going to see a…
Black Excellence: Julio Gastón Ramos
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10085932/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_ql_1 Julio is known as Julito Gastón and is a percussionist and music producer. He works as Bad Bunny’s Musical Director. In April 2025 he appeared playing at the Tiny Desk with the famous Puerto Rican musician.
Black Excellence: Kaysha Love
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaysha_Love Kaysha Love (born September 24, 1997) is an American bobsledder and former collegiate sprinter. She attended and competed in track and field at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where she was a two-time Second Team All-American (2017–2018). She was Utah’s 2016 Gatorade State Girls Track and Field Athlete of…
Black Excellence: Sabrina Wanjiku Simader
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabrina_Simader Sabrina Wanjiku Simader (born 13 April 1998[1]) is an alpine skier from Kenya. Simader was born in Kilifi, Kenya and moved to Austria when she was three years old with her Kenyan mother and Austrian step-father.[2][3] Her step-father owned a ski lift and trained Simader in skiing during her…
Black Excellence: Regie Gibson
Poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator Regie Gibson has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and various other venues on two continents and in seven countries including Havana Cuba. Regie and his work appear in the New Line Cinema film love jones, based largely on events in…
Black Excellence: Stevenson Savart
Stevenson Savart, 25, made history Sunday as the first man to represent Haiti in cross-country skiing at the Winter Games. After serving as Haiti’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, Savart caught the heart of the crowd while making his Olympic debut in the men’s skiathlon. As he crossed the finish…
Black Excellence: Tye Tribbett
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tye_Tribbett Thomas Tyrone “Tye” Tribbett (born January 26, 1976) is an American gospel music songwriter, composer, singer, and multi-instrumental musician.[1] Tye Tribbett is best known for his blending in various subgenres in Gospel Music, which each aim and vision of his music serving the specific era it is in.. He…
Black Excellence: Chanea Bond
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/28/nx-s1-5631779/ai-schools-teachers-students Stacks of worksheets sit atop desks and tables in Chanea Bond’s Fort Worth classroom. Her students all have their own school-issued laptops, but Bond has swapped computers for paper — lots of paper. Each class begins with several minutes of journaling in notebooks, and nearly all assignments must be…
Black Excellence: Lila Iké
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lila_Ik%C3%A9 Lila Iké (born Alecia Tameka Grey; January 23, 1994) is a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter.[1] After releasing multiple singles, Iké released her debut EP The ExPerience in May 2020. Her debut album Treasure Self Love, released in August 2025, was nominated for a Grammy in the Reggae category.
Black Excellence: Alexandra Hutchinson
https://www.columbiaballetcollaborative.com/members-1/alexandra-hutchinson Alexandra Hutchinson was born in Wilmington, DE, where she began her ballet training at Wilmington Academy of Dance. She completed her pre-professional training at The Washington School of Ballet, supplementing her dance education with summer intensives with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Ballet…
Black Excellence: Renée Watson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9e_Watson_(author) Renée Watson (born July 29, 1978) is an American teaching artist and author of children’s books, best known for her award-winning and New York Times bestselling young adult novel Piecing Me Together,[1] for which she received the John Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Bank Street Children’s…
Black Excellence: Eleanor Holmes Norton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Holmes_Norton Eleanor Holmes Norton (born June 13, 1937)[1][2] is an American politician, lawyer, and human rights activist.[3] Norton is a congressional delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she has represented the District of Columbia since 1991 as a member of the Democratic Party.[4] She is serving her eighteenth…
Black Excellence: Ryan Speedo Green
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Speedo_Green Ryan Speedo Green (born April 1, 1986)[1][2][3] is an American bass-baritone opera singer. Life and career Green was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and grew up in low-income housing and a trailer park.[1] He has said his middle name was derived from his father: “I was born on April Fools’…
Black Excellence: Rachel Eliza Griffiths
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Eliza_Griffiths Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Lady Rushdie (born December 6, 1978),[1][2] is an American poet, novelist, photographer and visual artist who is the author of five published collections of poems. In Seeing the Body (2020), she “pairs poetry with photography, exploring memory, Black womanhood, the American landscape, and rebirth.”[3] The book…
Black Excellence: Dr. Monica O’Neal
https://www.drmonicaoneal.com Hi! I’m Dr. Monica and I am your ally in every sense of the word. I want to acknowledge the real anxiety many of you may be feeling about the incoming administration, particularly if you identify as a racial, sexual, or cultural minoritized person like I do.
Black Excellence: Robena Spangler
Robena Spangler is an innovative senior executive with over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, human services, equity and inclusion work. Most of her career has been dedicated to working within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Robena held several leadership roles in the public and private sectors.…
Black Excellence: Vilenti Tulloch
Springfield educator Vilenti Tulloch launches ‘Engage to Excel’ on how middle schoolers can find success SPRINGFIELD — Springfield educator Vilenti Tulloch knows that the middle school experience is pivotal in shaping student success. After all, it happened to him. “I was in eighth grade, and I was really having a…
Black Excellence: Etta Moten Barnett
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_Moten_Barnett Etta Moten Barnett (November 5, 1901 – January 2, 2004) was an American actress and contralto vocalist, who was identified with her signature role of “Bess” in Porgy and Bess.[1] She created new roles for African-American women on stage and screen. After her performing career, Barnett was active in…
Black Excellence: Latriece Watkins
https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/latriece-watkins-sams-club-ceo Sam’s Club is seeing a changing of the guards. Latriece Watkins is the newly appointed president and CEO of Sam’s Club, the members-only wholesale chain owned by Walmart Inc.. For decades, she’s been in Walmart’s C-suite driving growth. Watkins started with Walmart as an intern in the real estate…
Black Excellence: Sanée Bell
Sanée Bell Dr. Sanée Bell is a central office administrator and former principal. She has served as an administrator since 2005 at both the elementary and secondary levels. During her tenure as an elementary principal, Sanée was recognized as the 2015 Elementary Principal of the Year in her district. Prior…
Black Excellence: Bryant Terry
https://www.bryant-terry.com/about-bryant-terry artist. publisher. author. bryant terry is a multidisciplinary artist, chef, publisher, and author. His work has earned prestigious honors, including a James Beard Award, an NAACP Image Award, and an Art of Eating Prize. San Francisco Magazine included terry among 11 Smartest People in the Bay Area Food Scene, and Fast…
Black Excellence: Gary Dourdan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Dourdan Gary Dourdan (born Gary Robert Durdin: December 11, 1966) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Warrick Brown on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Shazza Zulu on the television series A Different World and Mickey Monroe in crime thriller Righteous Villains.[1] J. Harrison Ghee, Joshua…
Black Excellence: James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Emman_Kwegyir_Aggrey James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey (18 October 1875 – 30 July 1927) was an intellectual, missionary, and teacher. He was an influential proponent of pan-Africanism.[1] He was born in the Gold Coast, British West Africa (modern Ghana) and pursued a college education in the United States, returning to Africa after…
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Black Excellence: Theresa Kachindamoto
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_Kachindamoto Theresa Kachindamoto (23 November 1958 – 13 August 2025)[2][1] was a Malawian paramount chief and activist. Primarily active in the Dedza District in central Malawi, she had informal authority over more than 900,000 people. She was known for her forceful action in dissolving child marriages and advocacy on education…
Black Excellence: Claudette Colvin
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/13/g-s1-105927/claudette-colvin-obituary-montgomery-bus-civil-rights MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Claudette Colvin, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died. She was 86. Her death was announced Tuesday by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation. Ashley D. Roseboro of the organization…
Black Excellence: Coco Jones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Jones Courtney Michaela Ann “Coco” Jones (born January 4, 1998) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Born in Columbia, South Carolina and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee, Jones began auditioning as a child to pursue a career in entertainment. She first appeared on the competition series Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing…
Black Excellence: Patrick Weaver
Patrick Weaver is global faith leader, author and mindset coach dedicated to helping people from all walks of life and backgrounds harness the power of faith to conquer in life and create fulfilling relationships. Channeling his personal experiences with abuse, failures and successes personally and professionally, his voice strikes both…
Black Excellence: Edith Renfrow Smith
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/06/g-s1-104782/edith-renfrow-smith-pioneer-and-witness-to-history-dies-at-111 Edith Renfrow Smith died Friday at her home in Chicago. She was 111. In addition to a notably long life — she was one of a very small number of “supercentenarians,” or people who live to at least 110 — she bore witness to major events and came into…
Black Excellence: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Health, Humanity, and Justice
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Health, Humanity, and Justice More than half a century ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. issued a warning that continues to echo with unsettling clarity: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman, because it…
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Black Excellence: Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew
https://www.drlattishabilbrew.com/about-2 Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew is an Orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in Hand and Upper Extremity surgery and the first Black women Orthopaedic Surgeon to become a partner at Resurgens Orthopaedics in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Bilbrew was born in Birmingham, England as were her parents. Her grandparents were farmers in Jamaica…