Inspiring Black Women You Should Watch Out For In 2022

Written by Katie Johnson, WIN Staff

From working to narrow the wealth gap, to healing communities, to fighting for free and fair elections, to inspiring the masses, Black women have been pushing forward change. Obviously, this push has not been limited to the last two years as Black women have historically always been at the forefront of social movements.

This Black History Month, we are showcasing women who are making strides for the Black community through their inspiring careers or perseverance to fight for the common good. These women inspire us to step out of our comfort zone and “be the change we want to see in this world.”

Aimee Allison

Founder and President of She the People

Self-described as a “visionary champion of racial and gender justice”, Aimee Allison’s efforts to build inclusive national movements has mobilized women of color across the country. Founding She the People in 2018, and moderating the first Presidential Forum WOC, her work has garnered national press.

Rosalind Brewer

CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Rosalind has been an important and inspiring woman to watch for some time now. She most recently served as Starbuck’s first Black and first female COO and left her position to become the first CEO of the drugstore chain Walgreens. With this position, she became the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 firm in history. She is currently ranked #6 on Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and was named one of the 25 most influential women by the Financial Times in 2021.

Amanda Gorman

American Poet and Activist

Amanda Gorman performed her poem “The Hill We Climbed” at the 2020 Presidential Inauguration, and the rest is history. She became an overnight celebrity and to date has amassed over 3.8 million followers on Instagram. The youngest inaugural poet in history and one day hopes to be the President of the United States in 2036, when she’s eligible to run. In a recent article in the New York Times she said, “The truth is, hope isn’t a promise we give. It’s a promise we live.”

Jennifer King

Assistant Running Backs Coach, Washington Commanders

In 2022, Jennifer King shattered a glass ceiling when she was announced as the first Black female assistant position coach in NFL history. "The biggest thing for me is just to continue to grow to be the best coach that I can be," King said. "That's the best representation I can have and I can provide for anyone looking is to be successful. So, that's something I try to do everyday."

Marsai Martin

American Actress and Producer

While working on the Emmy Award-nominated comedy Black-ish, Marsai starred in and produced “Little,” breaking the record as the youngest Hollywood executive producer to work on a major production. She was even honored by the Guinness World Records for this achievement. At just 17 years old, she is now launching a nail cosmetics line, a production company and a forthcoming Disney series “Saturdays.”

Luvvie Ajayi Jones

New York Times Bestselling Author, Host of Rants and Randomness Podcast, Curator of LuvvNation

Starting out as a blogger, Luvvie Ajayi Jones has gone on to be a New York Times Bestselling Author not once, but twice. She’s built her career writing about culture and justice through a humorous lens. She was selected for Oprah Winfrey’s inaugural Supersoul 100 list for “elevating humanity,”

Ayọ Tometi

Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter, Award-Winning Human Rights Defender

At age 27, Ayo Tometi (formerly known as Opal Tometi) became the Executive Director of BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration). As a co-founder of Black Lives Matter in 2013, the advocate, strategist, and writer has worked continuously for racial justice in America. Her many accolades include being counted among Forbes’ 50 Most Influential Leaders, being awarded the 2020 Freedom or the Flame Award, and being named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women of the Last Century.

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Professor at the UCLA School of Law and Columbia Law School, Co-Founder and Executive Director of African American Policy Forum, Host of Intersectionality Matters with Kimberlé Crenshaw Podcast,and American Civil Rights Advocate

Kimberlé Crenshaw is the leading scholar of critical race theory. Her work has been foundational in “intersectionality” a term she coined to describe how overlapping or intersecting social identities, particularly minority identities, relate to systems and structures of oppression, domination, or discrimination. A Distinguished Professor, her studies, writing, and activism have identified key issues in the perpetuation of inequality.

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Shutzer Assistant Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute,

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett Corbett is an expert on the front lines of the global race for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and someone who will go down in history as one of the key players in developing the science that could end the pandemic. The 35-year-old viral immunologiest and research fellow led the team that designed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. "I felt like it was necessary to be seen and to not be a hidden figure so to speak," Corbett said. "I felt that it was important to do that because the level of visibility that it would have to younger scientists and also to people of color who have often worked behind the scenes and essentially [who have] done the dirty work for these large efforts toward a vaccine."

Angela Williams

President and CEO, United Way

In 2018, Angela WIlliams became the first Black female president and CEO of Easterseals, the country’s largest nonprofit devoted to disability advocacy. Her collective background in military and nonprofit work landed her a job as president and cEO of United Way, the largest privately-funded nonprofit as their first African American CEO. Angela has also been named to Forbes’ 2021 List of Women 50 Over 50 Creating Social Change at Scale, and presented with a 2021 CEO Today Healthcare Award.

Kamala Harris

Vice President of the United States of America

On January 20, 2021 Kamala Harris made history as she became first female Vice President and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first Black and the first South Asian American to serve in the role. Her career has been dedicated to public service, having been elected District Attorney of San Francisco, California Attorney General, and United States Senator.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham

American Activist and Co-Founder of Campaign Zero

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is a leader at the intersection of culture and justice. Cited by President Barack Obama as a leader whose "voice is going to be making a difference for years to come," Brittany is an award-winning educator, organizer, writer, and leader. Brittany has become a sought-after voice in the work of social change and empowerment.