HBCU Connect Commemorates #BHM: 29 Unforgettable Black History Moments from the Past Decade
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Posted By: S. Moore on February 03, 2024 Black people have consistently led the way in athletics, politics, and pop culture, serving as game-changers and trailblazers. Far from just grabbing headlines, their influence has shaped our culture and communities throughout the past decade. As we celebrate Black History Month in 2024, join us in revisiting the remarkable moments that have shaped and influenced Black America over the last few years. While we can't capture every noteworthy event, this thoughtfully selected list highlights several impactful moments that left an indelible mark on our culture and community. Get ready to delve into a journey to recognize and celebrate the events that defined the last ten years! 2014 1. Ferguson Unrest: The 2014 Ferguson protests were a series of protests and riots that began in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 10, 2014, the day after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed Black man, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. Sparked a national conversation about police brutality and racial injustice.  2. #BlackLivesMatter Movement: Emerges in response to the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, demanding justice and accountability. 3. Marsha P. Johnson Honored: Stonewall National Monument established, highlighting her role in LGBTQ+ rights. 4. Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me": Explores systemic racism in America, becoming a bestseller and sparking important discussions. 5. Serena Williams Wins 18th Grand Slam: Ties Steffi Graf for most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era.  2015 6. Charleston Church Shooting: Nine Black parishioners killed in racially motivated attack, leading to renewed calls for gun control. 7. #OscarsSoWhite: Campaign highlights lack of diversity in Academy Awards nominations. It was first used in 2015 by activist April Reign to criticize the lack of racial diversity in the Academy Awards nominations, where all 20 acting nominees were white. It sparked a broader conversation about racial and ethnic representation in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera. 8. Kamala Harris Elected Senator: First Black woman to represent California in the Senate. 9. Ava DuVernay Directs "Selma": Powerful film chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic voting rights march. 10. Misty Copeland Becomes First Black Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre: became the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal ballerina in ABT's 75-year history. Copeland's achievement was groundbreaking, as there have been very few African-American principal ballerinas at major companies. 2016 11. Michelle Obama's #LetGirlsLearn Initiative: Promotes global girls' education, impacting millions.  12. Black Panther Releases: First Marvel superhero film with a predominantly Black cast, becoming a cultural phenomenon. 13. Colin Kaepernick Kneels During National Anthem: Protests police brutality and racial injustice, sparking a national debate. 14. Black-ish Nominated for several Emmy Awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: First time a Black family sitcom was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards in 2016. 15. Black Girl Magic completely took over the Olympics in gymnastics, track and field, swimming, and tennis 2017 16. John Lewis Received the Congressional Gold Medal: Recognized for his lifelong commitment to civil rights and voting rights. 17. Keisha Lance Bottoms Elected Mayor of Atlanta: She became the second African American woman to serve as mayor of Atlanta, and the sixth African American overall. Her victory was seen as a major upset, as she had been considered a long shot in the race. However, she was able to capitalize on a strong ground game and a message of unity and hope. 18. Serena Williams wins her record 23rd Grand Slam singles title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over her older sister Venus in the Australian Open final. 19. Chadwick Boseman's Powerful Speech at the 2017 NAACP Freedom Fund Awards: Inspires everyone to have the spirit of conviction, find greatness within themselves, and know how to lose in order to win. 2018 20. March for Our Lives: Students lead nationwide protests demanding gun control after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. It was organized by the survivors of the shooting, who became known as the Never Again MSD movement. 21. Black Girl Magic Movement: Gained significant momentum in 2018, is a social media movement and cultural phenomenon celebrating the achievements and complexities of Black women. It is rooted in the idea that Black women possess a unique and powerful form of magic, and it serves as a source of inspiration, empowerment, and community for Black women around the world. 22. Year of the Woman: Record number of women elected to Congress, 36 new women won House seats beating a previous high set in 1992, including many Black women like Ayanna Pressley and Lauren Underwood. 2019 23. Representation Grows in Entertainment: Award shows like the Oscars see increased diversity in nominations and wins. The number of Black-led scripted shows on broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms reached an all-time high of 48. Some of the most popular Black-led shows of 2019 included "Insecure," "black-ish," "Atlanta," and "This Is Us." 24. Black Panther Wins Three Academy Awards: Including Best Original Score, marking a significant moment for Black representation in film. 25. Missy Elliot becomes the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame  26. Billy Porter was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Becoming the first openly gay black man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. 2021 27. Kamala Harris was elected as the first Black and Asian American Vice President of the United States. 28. Naomi Osaka Makes History: She was named the highest-paid black female athlete in the world by Forbes in 2021, with an impressive total of $57.3 million in earnings 2023 29. Howard Law grad Summer Lee became 1st Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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