Black History Month gives us the space to recognize figures from around the world who have made an impact on the global Black community.
The contributions of these figures, and so many others, worked to end oppressive systems, break barriers, and bring to light the challenges faced by Black people everywhere.
They’ve protested, led, marched, fought, broken barriers and should be celebrated for their sacrifice and the impact they made along the way. The legacy some have left behind has guided the paths of many leaders for generations, and some are making their mark on history right now.
Here are a few Black history makers from around the world you should know.
Kwame Nkrumah
Born in 1909, Kwame Nkrumah served as the first prime minister and president of Ghana. He led the country from 1952 through its independence from Great Britain in 1957. Nkrumah attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1935 and was heavily involved with the development of the African Students’ Organization of the United States and Canada. As a student, he also joined the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc. Later in his political career, Nkrumah headed up the Pan-African movement, serving as a founding member of the Organization of African Unity. Nkrumah died in 1972 from cancer.
Yaa Asantewaa
Queen Mother of the Ashanti Empire in the 1880s, Yaa Asantewaa continues to be celebrated for her bravery and leadership in the face of threats from the British. At the time of her rule, Yaa Asantewaa held the second highest position in the empire, acting as a prime adviser to King Asantehene Prempeh I and protector of the Golden Stool, which held major significance in the empire’s culture. In 1896, the British expelled the king and other leaders to the Seychelles Islands in response to the Ashanti people rebelling against their presence and their desire to obtain the Golden Stool.
Yaa Asantewaa didn’t back down from the threat…
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