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: Undra Duncan

https://citylifestyle.com/tulsa-ok/articles/beauty/step-into-the-world-of-undra-duncan If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a stunning, successful, high-fashion designer in New York, now is your chance for a glimpse. Undra Duncan, fashion designer and founder of Undra Celeste New York, shares a little bit of her world with us in her blog. Here are…

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Black Excellence: Ruben Flowers Sr. and Ruben Flowers Jr.

https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/family-affair-air-southwest-pilot-son-recreate-cockpit-photo-29-years-later/PG244FTHN5EEBDWCNVY23WDZAM/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem_manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0xnOebAG77CKtI6vLEoOOr7JykRf_-P8lODu7wN6jwIdoyL6lsaG0nCDk Family affair in the air: Southwest pilot, son recreate cockpit photo 29 years later

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Black Excellence: Bessie Stringfield

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Stringfield Bessie Stringfield (born Betsy Beatrice White; 1911 or 1912 – February 16, 1993), also known as the “Motorcycle Queen of Miami”, was an American motorcyclist who was the first African-American woman to ride across the United States solo, and was one of the few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for…

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Black Excellence: Stephen Wiltshire

https://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/biography Stephen Wiltshire MBE, Hon.FSAI, Hon.FSSAA is an artist who draws and paints detailed cityscapes. He has a particular talent for drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. He was awarded an MBE for services to the art world in 2006. He studied Fine…

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Black Excellence: Paula Kahumbu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Kahumbu Paula Kahumbu is a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect. She is best known as a campaigner for elephants and wildlife, spearheading the Hands Off Our Elephants Campaign, which was launched in 2014 with Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. She has recently in 2022 been appointed as…

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Black Excellence: Peter One

https://www.peteronemusic.com/about/#/ https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1189984754/peter-one-tiny-desk-concert One way we might understand the global Black diaspora is through the notion of arrival—the idea that Black folk in the Americas, in Africa, in Europe, and elsewhere, are and have been, in one way or another, always and already arriving. That is, they have moved or been…

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Black Excellence: Naomi Girma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Girma Naomi Haile Girma (/ˈɡərmə/GER-mə;[7] born June 14, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft.

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Black Excellence: Tamera McLaughlin

https://lifetime-little-women.fandom.com/wiki/Heather_%22Tamera%22_McLaughlin Tamera McLaughlin is a social media influencer. She has amassed over 501,000 followers on Instagram thanks to her professionally-taken photos, dance videos, and comedy videos. In Summer 2023, McLaughlin became the very first little person to walk the runway for Miami Swim Week.

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Black Excellence: Yacouba Sissoko

https://yacousiskora.com/meet-the-band/ Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko devotes his musical gift to expand the awareness of West African history and culture, spread the word of peace, and empower his listeners to take charge and realize their imagined futures. His performances have a magical effect on audiences as he skillfully transforms traditional…

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Black Excellence: Yasmin Williams

https://www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com/biography Based in Alexandria, VA, Yasmin Williams is an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and film composer. She has an unorthodox, modern style of guitar playing and utilizes various techniques including alternate tunings, percussive hits, and lap tapping in her music to great effect. Her “radiant sound and adventitious origins have made…

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Black Excellence: Samuel Nalangira

https://www.samuelnalangira.com/ A native of Uganda, East Africa; Samuel Nalangira is a folk/world musician, dancer and choreographer who has been performing since his childhood and detaching since the age of 15. He has toured across Europe, United States, Canada, and Asia performing and leading workshops in schools, universities, festivals and community…

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