You can change the world—and sometimes all it takes to spark a movement is a few taps on social media.
In honour of Black History Month, let’s take a look at some of the most inspiring Black activists today who use their online platforms to drive awareness for causes close to their hearts and call for change.
Say “hello” to this inspiring Black activist who quickly went from climate striking outside the White House to becoming the youngest member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. This is what dreams are made of, kids.
As the head of @blackfutureslab and co-founder of Black Lives Matter, there’s no doubt that Alicia Garza has successfully made her mark as a changemaker for her community.
You might know Ayo Tometi as one of the most influential Black activists today. Not only has she been active in social movements for nearly 20 years, but she’s also one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter. For years, she’s served as the Executive Director of the United States’ first national immigrant rights organization for people of African descent—the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI).
This artist, abolitionist, writer, and Black activist is also one of the founders behind Black Lives Matter. She’s on a mission to “invite all of us to grow toward abolition through intergenerational healing work that centers love and collective care.”
As a professional model, Black activist, trans advocate, public speaker, and writer with published work in magazines like GQ, Teen Vogue, and Allure, Devin-Norelle continues to prove that nothing can stop zim from uplifting Black and LGBTQIA+ communities.
With over 3.8 million followers on Instagram, Shaun has established himself as a true “King” of social justice causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement. His platform consistently serves as a useful resource for news and education on many of society’s most pressing issues.
On top of that, he’s also the founder of the Grassroots Law Project, which actively fights for freedom from racial oppression in the American legal system.
Many people may know Tracee Ellis Ross as a successful actress who’s starred in shows like Girlfriends and Black-ish. Behind the scenes, she’s a powerful Black activist fighting for women’s rights as the founder of the Time’s Up movement.
Fighting for what she believes in has long been on Nupol Kiazolu’s agenda. In fact, she was only 13 when she organized her first protest.
Now, at 20 years old, she’s the president of the Youth Coalition of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York. Back in 2020, when over 20,000 took to the streets of New York City in the name of Black liberation and equity, it was this young activist who organized it—and it even became one of the largest BLM demonstrations in world history.
From the age of 12, Haile Thomas had a clear mission to make an unforgettable impact in the world—and so she did just that.
She founded the non-profit HAPPY (Healthy, Active, Positive, Purposeful, Youth), which redefines youth empowerment through free holistic wellness education and plant-based nutrition in at-risk communities. To date, 90,000+ youth have been impacted through speaking and HAPPY initiatives.
Freedom March NYC is one of the largest youth led-civil rights organizations in the nation. More than that, it was founded to be a hub for marginalized communities to spark social change. And it exists thanks to Black activist, Chelsea Miller, who is a co-founder of the movement.
When Vanessa Nakate founded the Rise Up Movement, her goal was to create a platform that elevates the voices of African climate activists. One of her most well-known projects to date includes the installation of solar panels in rural Ugandan schools.
More than well-deserved, this Black activist graced the cover of TIME magazine back in 2021 and was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2022.
Zyahna Bryant is known as the youngest member of the inaugural Virginia African American Advisory Board—a position that was appointed to her by Governor Ralph Northam. Back in 2019, she was even named one of Teen Vogue’s 21 under 21 Young People Changing the World.
Changing the world one impactful movement at a time, we have Black activist Winter Breeanne. She’s the founder of Black Is Lit, which is an organization devoted to creating space for marginalized youth. This young changemaker is also behind the Power of Future Voters, which is a project that aims to inspire elementary students to see the importance of voting and civic engagement.
In the environmental activism scene, there’s no denying that “Leah Thomas” is one of the most influential names. Not only has she authored the book, The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet, but she also launched the non-profit platform, Intersectional Environmentalist—a resource hub that advocates for environmental justice and provides valuable educational resources.
Aside from being the founder of the non-profit project, Black Girl Environmentalist, Wawa Gatheru also sits on the Advisory Board for Climate Power and serves as a member of the Earth Justice Council.
If you’re a fan of the viral web series, Smarter in Seconds, then you’re bound to know who Blair Imani is. This Black Activist makes waves in online spaces and even went on to become an LA Times Bestselling author with the release of Read This to Get Smarter in 2021.
Also a public speaker, her work in activism centers on women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Next on our lists of Black activists today sparking immense change, we have Ibram X. Kendi. This #1 New York Times Bestselling author of How to Be an Anti-Racist is one of the foremost historians and leading antiracist scholars. He also serves as the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research.
With over 1.6 million followers, Rachel Cargle has built a powerful community of activists across the globe. She’s the founder of the Loveland Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to bring opportunity and healing to communities of colour, especially to Black women and girls. They continue to achieve this through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more.
You’re bound to have seen Angelica Ross as Candy Ferocity on the TV show Pose and as Donna Chambers on American Horror Story: 1984.
Beyond the television scene, she founded TransTech Social Enterprises, a nonprofit creative design firm that trains and contracts transgender individuals and other workers. Back in 2019, Ross hosted the 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ+ issues.
Laverne Cox is one of the Black activists today who continues to make history one milestone at a time. After shooting to stardom as Sophia Burset on the Netflix show Orange Is The New Black, she became the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan, Time, British Vogue, Essence, and more.
In the media, Cox is a powerful icon for activism, highlighting issues of both the LGBTQIA+ and Black communities.
This climate justice activist, speaker, and writer was an organizer for movements such as Climate Live, the Black Ecofeminist Summit, and Fridays For Future. On top of that, Dominique Palmer was also one of the speakers at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
If you also believe change needs to happen, make sure you’re heard loud and clear.
With The Influence Agency, you can easily begin collaborating with these inspiring Black activists to expand your reach and make a strong impact. As a leading influencer marketing agency, we’re here to make sure you’re seen and heard.
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