Black Excellence: Simbarashe Cha
https://www.nytco.com/press/simbarashe-cha-joins-the-times/
Simbarashe has been a contributor to The Times since 2020, when he began photographing for the Metro section. He went on to write about and capture street style and fashion in his Fashion Week Diaries and Style Outside columns. He has photographed and reported for The Times from New York, London, Paris, Milan and Dakar, showcasing street style at Paris Fashion Week, Easter hats, men in pink, the layered look, Wimbledon looks and more. Simbarashe’s fresh eye and singular voice are anchored in the tradition of the beloved Bill Cunningham — in which fashion coverage comes alive through people off the runways as much as on.
Black Excellence: Patrice Clarke Washington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Washington
Patrice Washington (born 1961) is a Bahamian airplane pilot, whose career was marked by a series of firsts.
Black Excellence: Hyacinth Burrows
Hyacinth is currently pursuing her masters at NYU GPH, specializing in environmental public health sciences, where she’s also a William N. Rom climate fellow, actively working on projects related to climate change and global health. Besides all her academic pursuit, Hyacinth volunteers for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network as a Vice State Lead Ambassador. We’ll dive into this entire journey and discover her valuable insights on disease elimination strategies and building strong, better communities.
Black Excellence: John Berry and Mary Meachum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Berry_Meachum
John Berry Meachum (1789–1854) was an American pastor, businessman, educator and founder of the First African Baptist Church in St. Louis, the oldest black church west of the Mississippi River. At a time when it was illegal in the city to teach people of color to read and write, Meachum operated a school in the church’s basement. Meachum also circumvented a Missouri state law banning education for black people by creating the Floating Freedom School on a steamboat on the Mississippi River.
As a young man, he guided 75 enslaved people from Kentucky to their freedom in Indiana, a free state. Once established in Missouri, he and his wife Mary Meachum were conductors on the Underground Railroad.
Black Excellence: Allison Russell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_Russell
Allison Russell is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and activist.
Prior to her solo music career, Russell performed as a member of various music groups including Po’ Girl,[1] Birds of Chicago,[2] Our Native Daughters[3] and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon.[4]
Black Excellence: Raeghn Draper
https://www.raeghn.com/about-me
I am a writer, community organizer, and hospitality worker based in Chicago. I am the oldest of eight siblings born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in a low-income household. My younger siblings are foundational to who I am and my values. Despite facing many challenges, I graduated college with a BA in Communications and Media from Northeastern Illinois University, paying my way.
Black Excellence: Hydeia Broadbent
Hydeia Broadbent, known for raising awareness to lessen the stigma around HIV/AIDS from a young age, has died at 39 years old. She was one of the faces of children with AIDS in America, especially within the African American community.
Black Excellence: Daymé Arocena
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daym%C3%A9_Arocena
Daymé Arocena (born January 1992) is an Afro-Cubanjazz singer from Havana,[1][2][3] who has been described as Cuba‘s “finest young female singer.”[4]
She will perform at Mass MoCA on March 9, 2024!