It doesn’t have to be Black History Month to celebrate the many accomplishments of black women. From Rosa Parks’s fight against injustice to Shirley Chisolm’s historic bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, black women did that ― and a new hashtag is calling these milestones out.
#BlackWomenDidThat, began trending on Twitter early Friday morning when user anthoknees tweeted:
Since then, the hashtag has been used to highlight black women throughout history who have broken barriers. From Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock & roll, to Dr. Mae Carol Jemison, the first black woman in space, the hashtag has become a celebration of black woman excellence.
Below are just a few of some of the most inspiring tweets, calling attention to black women everyone should know about:
Dr.Mae Carol Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/aUe9237Mrc
— ☜═㋡ J!M (◣﹏◢) (@_JMOxQ) July 29, 2016
Ava DuVernay 1st African American Woman Director awarded at Sundance & nom at GoldenGlobes. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/nK18e0IGEM
— Lizy (@lizcriolla) July 29, 2016
Tera Poole became the first Black Valedictorian at the world's first school of dentistry. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/7snVlp43rf
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 29, 2016
Henrietta Lacks - her cells (used w/o her permission) were used to create the immortal cell line #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/GRBhuTz8qH
— Rebecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) July 29, 2016
Dr. Angela Davis taught me about prisons, white supremacy, and capitalism. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/rhoCEHtWyn
— Michael Oman-Reagan (@OmanReagan) July 29, 2016
Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book (1773). #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/ZVh8CFgqiy
— ShaiVaughn Crawley (@ShaivaughnC) July 29, 2016
#BlackWomenDidThat cracked that glass ceiling that just shattered #ShirleyChisholm pic.twitter.com/j1poFbzdPk
— #TroilusCresibo (@LeslieMac) July 29, 2016
Mary Jane Patterson. First Black woman to earn a BA degree. Oberlin College c/o 1862.#BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/Va9AWrmo6H
— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) July 29, 2016
Alice Bell. Chemist. Discovered a game-changing leprosy treatment a year before she died at 24.#BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/uZPZObAli1
— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) July 29, 2016
#ClaudetteColvin at age 15 was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus - B4 Rosa did #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/S7ixlhDKpb
— #TroilusCresibo (@LeslieMac) July 29, 2016
Italy's 1st black minister, Cécile Kyenge: "I had bananas thrown at me but I'm here to stay" https://t.co/bvpdLdk7AM#BlackWomenDidThat
— Rediet ® (@RediTweets) July 29, 2016
Florence Flo-Jo, the fastest woman alive&a sis who ALWAYS slayed💅🏾💅🏾no matter the occasion💁🏾#Blackwomendidthat pic.twitter.com/dTwrRuw9Wj
— Vintage Honey (@thesoulasylum) July 29, 2016
Rosa Parks tackled sexual violence and rape culture against BW during The Civil Rights Movement. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/zFa2JzB5bn
— Jasmine Michaelis (@_skippingdays) July 29, 2016
Biddy Mason. Born into slavery, sued for her freedom, became one of the richest people in L.A. #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/Ly6X3grgh6
— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) July 29, 2016
Mo'Ne Davis - 1st girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in LL World Series history #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/cQHO3P9Qym
— Not Glorious Leader (@SSDPRKWriter) July 29, 2016
#BlackWomenDidThat Claudia Alexander directed NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter :https://t.co/gSHzpd8xVW
— WhatFreshHellisThis? (@LisaBolekaja) July 29, 2016
Gabby Douglas is the first African American woman to become an All Around champion #BlackWomenDidThat pic.twitter.com/tAG1eG9h4x
— #1 1000 Hands Stan (@harmonizer_135) July 29, 2016