‘You Are the Foundation Upon Which I Stand’: 30 Black Women on Their Role Models

Noma Dumezweni on Josette Simon, Abby Phillip on her late grandmother, Opal Tometi on Emira Woods, and many more.

‘You Are the Foundation Upon Which I Stand’: 30 Black Women on Their Role Models

In her ode to Black women, the poet Gwendolyn Brooks wrote: 

Sisters, where there is cold silence

no hallelujahs, no hurrahs at all, no handshakes,

no neon red or blue, no smiling faces

prevail.

The poem is a call to persevere—even in the face of hardship and discrimination. But it is also a celebration. “You create and train your flowers still,” Brooks wrote. The world can be cruel, but still, we rise.

And so while women have been raised to be competitive with one another—rooted in the lie that there isn’t room for all of us to succeed—Black women understand the power of collaboration, motivation, and support. You ever noticed the pure excitement of a Black woman when one of her sisters succeeds? There is something so empowering about hearing a compliment from another Black woman. It’s the hype track to unlocking our power—a sisterhood in action.

With that in mind, we asked some of the Black women we most admire to share their own tributes to the Black women who pioneered the unthinkable and made them feel their hopes and dreams were possible. Here, over two dozen women salute those past and present icons whose achievements have inspired them. 

Cicely Tyson not only blazed the trail of the path I walk but paved it with gold as well. As described in her autobiography, her seven-decade career surpassed hurdles that most Black actresses today can hardly fathom. Yet any of us who were privileged to meet her at the end of her life could see that she not only survived but thrived with herself solely intact. She had confidence that cannot be faked. A haughtiness despite a world that undermines our worth. 

While many of her contemporaries found success with an understandable degree of conformity to European beauty standards, her complexion never allowed her such a privilege. She leaned into her beautiful Blackness, rocking cornrows and never forsaking the community she proudly represented. She was a brilliant, sexy, fearless, and versatile Black woman in Hollywood. I quite literally would not have found success if she had not only showed me what was possible but the world at large. She was, and remains, the blueprint. Thank you, Ms. Tyson. Until we meet again.” — DeWanda Wise, starring lead in the Netflix adaptation of She’s Gotta Have It, created by Spike Lee, and starring alongside Kevin Hart in Fatherhood, out in April

Grandmommy Mary, you were a supernatural woman who carried the giant spirit of a healer inside of a five-foot frame. The boundaries you broke should have never been built, but you did so gracefully, becoming a pioneer for Black registered nurses in Milwaukee. The cofounder of an organization that granted scholarships to Black women seeking careers in nursing, and the mother of 10 beautiful children raised with the kind of love, care, and wisdom that echoes for generations. Thank you for weaving that legacy into me. You are a part of everything I do. —Mereba, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer

Rihanna is simply a badass. She’s an artist, entrepreneur, and low-key a comedian. She’s always herself and uses her platform as a tool in amplifying causes worth hearing about. In short, Rihanna is everything. —Elsa Majimbo, comedian and social media sensation

Part of being a leader is, to a certain extent, allowing oneself to imagine without parameters. Linda Goode Bryant has, from my observation, never seemed to limit herself or her imagination, and this is something I have carried with me in everything I do. Her work is a profound example of how the individual artist cannot be separated from their community and vice versa. 

At 23 years old, she founded the New York gallery Just Above Midtown (JAM), which supported abstract artists of color, including Camille Billops, Norman Lewis, Fred Wilson, Adrian Piper, David Hammons, Butch Morris, and many more. She is also a filmmaker and community organizer. Project EATS, which was established in 2009, is a thriving farming initiative for Black and brown communities in NYC. She has invented templates for ways of existing over and over again, and she has inspired in me the endless and constantly evolving possibilities for both the world we live in and the world we shape. —Garrett Bradley, director of 2021 Oscar-nominated documentary Time 

When I think of the strength and power of Black women, I think of my late grandmother. She was a mother of 10, a doer of all things, and someone you would never think to mess with. Angelina Brereton taught me at an early age that there’s no task too big or too small that a woman can’t handle with determination and grace. —Abby D. Phillip, CNN’s senior political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday, where she leads an in-depth conversation on the week’s most important political storylines

I was incredibly fortunate to come of age—as both a woman and a CEO—when Michelle Obama was the first lady of the United States. From the age of 20 to 28, I didn’t have to wonder what it would mean to be a tall, dark-skinned, intelligent, beautiful, and strong Black woman. I saw it daily. This gave me confidence, but perhaps more importantly, this gave me space—space to dream of the world as it should be and knowing that my place in it is valued. —Jessica Matthews, award-winning inventor and entrepreneur, currently at the helm of Uncharted Power, a sustainable infrastructure company

Kimberlé Crenshaw’s name isn’t as well-known as Vice President Kamala Harris’s or the Nobel Prize–nominated Black Lives Matter Movement, but it should be. She coined the term intersectionality in the 1990s, long before mainstream feminism and other political movements began using it as though it had always just “been there.” And that’s just the tiniest introduction to what Kimberlé, as a civil rights thought leader, feminist attorney, and activist, has meant to me since I discovered and began following her after college. I consider her not only a heroine but a big sister beside whom I’m privileged to walk. —Sarah Jones, actress, producer, Tony and Obie award-winning performer and writer for Bridge & Tunnel 

Dr. Joy DeGruy is not only an internationally renowned researcher, educator, and author, but she is my mentor and friend. She is a luminary that radiates truth to power. Her commitment to healing generational trauma within the Black community inspires me daily and informs my work. She encourages us to search for a deeper understanding of ourselves and society at large. She is an advocate for healing and restorative care, and her work is the balm we all need. I stand in deep reverence and gratitude for her and her expertise today and every day.
Dr. Joy DeGruy, I love you and thank you. —Oge Egbuonu, filmmaker, whose directorial debut was the 2020 documentary (In)Visible Portraits

If grace, strength, humility, and joy were a person, that person would be named Serita Jakes. My mother is a constant reminder that angels walk the earth. —Sarah Jakes Roberts, best-selling author, businesswoman, and media personality who balances career, ministry, and family

I deeply respect and admire one of the world’s leading Afro-feminists, Emira Woods. She’s been a true champion for Black lives in the U.S. and throughout Africa. And her heart and courage are worthy of celebration. As a woman with roots in  Liberia, she has a worldview and commitment to justice that transcends borders. I’ve long admired her because of her kind spirit, but also her tenacity and rigor when it comes to the defense of Black lives. — Opal Tometi, award-winning human rights defender and one of three women cofounders of #BlackLivesMatter

I have a long list of Black women heroines, but today I want to shine the light on Miriam Makeba. She is my heroine because she understood her platform’s influence and power, and she used that for the greater good. She used her music, voice, and celebrity not only to entertain but to fight for the freedom of her people. Black people. Because of her I know that it is my responsibility today to pick up the torch she left and continue to use my voice to combat social ills. —Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019 and an advocate for gender equality and domestic violence

I want to honor the science-fiction pioneer Octavia Butler. Her novels showcased her visionary understanding of history, politics, the environment, human nature, and her sheer unadulterated free imagination! Her writing took me to new places, and her essays buoy me in times of doubt. She was free of the encumbrances and expectations of Black literature—free to explore anything. Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents, Fledgling, Wild Seed, to name a few. She saw the future, society, our hearts—and blew our minds. I’ve always been very interested in the environment and nature, and she managed to weave that into fascinating stories. Her words added more wonder to my world. Wonder I hope to share. —Nicole Beharie, 2021 Gotham Award winner for her starring role in Miss Juneteenth, to be seen in Solos on HBO this spring

My mother, Shaila Scott. My first image of love. My first synonym for home. Still the smile that permeates my soul with absolute joy. —Scotty Beamin, media personality, model, and cohost of Black Girl Podcast and Netflix’s Okay Now Listen

Today I honor the late, great Mahalia Jackson. Her uplifting voice was the backdrop of the civil rights movement, and her music left the world with hope and faith that “We Shall Overcome.” She was an ordinary woman who happened to have an extraordinary gift. She remained true to herself and her morals no matter how big her star rose. And believe me—it hit the stratosphere. I will be forever grateful to her for her fearlessness, steadfastness, and obedience to God. —Danielle Brooks, Tony-nominated actor and artist next starring in Lifetime’s Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story

My mother, Sylvia Aliche, is quite a remarkable woman who raised and college-educated five daughters, then went back for her own master’s degree. Despite having struggled to use her computer in the beginning, at graduation she was inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing and graduated summa cum laude. I could not be prouder of my mother. With grace and patience, she’s guided me to be my best self. —Tiffany Aliche, America'’ favorite financial educator and author of Get Good With Money

I often wonder what writer, documentary filmmaker, political activist, and educator Toni Cade Bambara would have gifted to us about the times we are in now. The Salt Eaters; The Seabirds Are Still Alive; Gorilla My Love; These Bones Are Not My Children—nobody writes with her breathtaking humor, empathy, ferocity, and surrealness. She writes from the inside of your head, whether it’s as the parent of one of the 40 murdered African American children from 1979 to 1981 in Atlanta, in These Bones Are Not My Children; or as tomboy Hazel Parker, a.k.a. Squeaky, running for pride and honor in the neighborhood in the short story “Raymond’s Run.” As a writer, her observation and humanity are timeless. As a reader, I release myself into Ms. Toni’s sure and steady hands, knowing every part of me will be illuminated by her gaze. —Adjoa Andoh, who stars as Lady Danbury in Netflix’s Bridgerton

I want to honor my grandmother Nancy Carol Palmer. I can only grow as tall as I have and as tall as I will because my roots run so deep. You are the foundation upon which I stand, walk, run, and fly. Thank you for a lifetime of love.” —Ebonee Davis, model, activist, poet, and actor known for shattering ceilings for Black women within the fashion industry

For most of my early childhood, my parents and I would make a yearly trip to New York City. Every trip, we would try to see at least two to three Broadway musicals. I always enjoyed seeing the shows on our visits, but it wasn’t until I saw Audra McDonald in the original Broadway production of Ragtime in 1998 that the whole game changed for me. I loved theater, but I never really saw myself existing in that space at such a high level. But that night, watching her on stage, captivating every single person in the audience with her magnificent storytelling, made me realize that I too could exist in that space. That I too could be a storyteller. I was 10 years old. —Emmy Raver-Lampman, who stars in Netflix's The Umbrella Academy and appeared in Hamilton’s original cast on Broadway

My great-grandma was one of the first to show me how bright my future could be if I strive to reach my greatness and potential, from her picking me up from school and telling her all my insane stories to her being one of the first to witness my talents at the age of two. She always made sure I knew my self-worth and not to take any mess from anyone. —Marsai Martin, known for her role as Diane Johnson on ABC’s Black-ish, as well as the star and executive producer of Little; at age 16, the youngest person to executive-produce a major Hollywood film

My grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin was the person I looked at growing up, who taught me what it was like to take up space without apology. Her life was a testimony to powerful womanhood and I honor her. — Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of comedy, media, and justice. Her book Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual drops March 2, 2021 and is available for preorder

Josette Simon showed me a possible reflection of myself. I was 9 or 10 years old when I first saw her in a Brit sci-fi series called Blake’s 7. I would read anything about her! As I grew, I realized she was a revered theater actor playing great roles. I never saw it, but she opened the U.K. production of After the Fall by Arthur Miller playing a Marilyn Monroe version. Always a soft spot when I see her in something. Like the first Wonder Woman film. —Noma Dumezweni, two-time Olivier Award–winning actor for Raisin in the Sun and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; she most recently costarred in HBO’s The Undoing

The one person that has influenced me the most as an actress would have to be Oprah Winfrey. I was able to meet her when I first started in the industry; she didn’t know me from anyone, but she gave everyone her undivided attention. She told me to keep working hard, and I’ve taken it to heart! —Sofia Wylie, who stars in Disney+’s High School Musical and will play the lead in Paul Feig’s new film franchise, The School for Good and Evil

I was immediately mesmerized by Janet Jackson after watching her “Rhythm Nation” video for the first time as a kid. However, it went well beyond the music. What really left a mark on me was Janet herself and her level of confidence. Watching Janet growing up taught me that it’s important to be bold and to know when and where to turn it up or tone it down. She was daring and took risks; she showed women everywhere that if you applied a fraction of that confidence into your own life, you could stand out and be noticed. —Courtne Smith, founder and CEO of social decision-making app NewNew

Seeing Halle Berry in The Flintstones as a five- or six-year-old was the first time I saw myself reflected on screen. I realize now that it was the beginning of me thinking a career in acting was possible. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the possibilities for Black and brown women in film by taking up space and showing the industry what kind of actor she can be and not who they expect her to be—which led to her being the first (and sadly the only) Black actress to win an Oscar for best lead actress. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I am part of a legacy within Hollywood because of Halle and others that came before, such as Dorothy Dandridge, and it’s a legacy that I am proud to be a part of. I saw Halle at a party once and just had to say thank you. —Nathalie Emmanuel, who played Missandei in critically acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones and most recently starred in the hilarious series Die Hart opposite Kevin Hart and John Travolta

Although I was never able to meet her, Mabel B. Little consistently inspires me. She was Little Rose Beauty Salon’s owner on the original Black Wall Street and the longest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The legacy of courage, creativity, resilience, and truth that she cultivated is something that I try to emulate every day and share with other Black Beautyprenuers. —Yene Damtew, hair stylist to the Obama family and owner of Aesthetics Salon

I wouldn’t be the smart, sassy, and super ambitious woman I am without my mother, Mary Ann Wilson. That trifecta of qualities was then recognized and uplifted by a handful of Black women in the media industry, including the incomparable Jacklyn Monk, who is currently the managing editor at the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Her impact on my career is immeasurable, but she has also been a guiding light in my personal life. For that, and so much more, I’m grateful. —Julee Wilson, beauty director at Cosmopolitan Magazine

The first woman outside of my family who I remember admiring for her beauty, grace, and authenticity is Alicia Keys. Her piano talents moved me, her genuine personality inspired me, and her simply being a Black woman who looked like me made me realize that I too had a lot to love about myself as a Black girl. —Amber Stevens West, actress, who will star in Run the World on Starz this spring

The heroine that I am spotlighting is Mrs. Opal Lee, who is a civil rights icon from Texas. At 94 years young, she has spent her life in service of others. She has been the lifeblood of creating awareness about Juneteenth, which commemorates the day that enslaved people in Texas finally found out that they were free—two and a half long years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Opal Lee was a part of the fabric of my childhood, and she always felt larger than life when I would see her proudly walking at the head of the annual Juneteenth parade, leading it through the streets of Fort Worth. She is the reason that I was able to attend the Miss Juneteenth pageant, a scholastic beauty pageant for young Black women that my film is based on. It created an opportunity for the community to invest in these young women’s futures and inspired me by celebrating young women that looked like me with hope and optimism for their futures on their faces. Juneteenth is American history, and Opal Lee continues to work tirelessly in her mission to make Juneteenth a national holiday. —Channing Godfrey Peoples, writer, director, and producer of her feature film directorial debut, Miss Juneteenth

Billie Holiday is one of the women who helped me to step into my potential. Hearing “Sugar” for the first time changed my very limited idea of what a great singer is and allowed me to eventually own my own voice and style. Hearing “Strange Fruit” for the first time stopped me in my tracks and helped me realize the power I’ve been endowed with as a black woman. —Andra Day, singer, songwriter, and actress starring in the lead role in The United States vs. Billie Holiday

My big sister, Chinyere, has always been an inspiration to me. Growing up in the same Nigerian American household, she made bold and unique choices that showed me just how endless my options truly were. An M.D. with an MBA and an MFA, she is a brave, brilliant woman who empowers those around her to walk in their own truth and pursue their passions unapologetically. —Ego Nwodim, actress and comedian on the cast of Saturday Night Live

This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Ruhama Wolle