Introduce your class to the brilliant and influential Black women and girls who have made history. Whether it’s in the arts, leadership roles, STEM, sports, activism, and everything in between, these women have made a mark on the world through their courage, their work, and their tenacity.

Plus, check out this free activity sheet for When Black Girls Dream Big.

Teach your students about these heroes’ lives and the endeavors that made them each a household name through biographical spotlights as well as historical fiction. Whether you’re focusing on historic figures such as civil rights activist Rosa Parks or studying the works of contemporary poets like Maya Angelou, spotlighting Black women throughout American history will inspire your students to achieve their dreams. 

Mae Jemison

When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Determined to dance among the stars, Jemison achieved her goal through grit, perseverance, and the support of her loving family. Hired by NASA, Jemison was also a talented engineer and physician. She made history as the first Black woman in space when she served aboard the space shuttle Endeavor in 1992. 

Bellen Woodard

Remind your students that young people also make history. Eight-year-old Bellen Woodard was in elementary school when she noticed something big was missing. When her friends would ask for the “skin-color” crayon, she knew that they really meant peach, even though her own skin wasn’t peach. Determined to fix this gap so that all kids could be included in their artwork, Woodard became the very first skin-color activist and pioneer. Using her own money to create crayons in a vast array of different skin tones, Woodard founded and launched her own brand, More Than Peach, which made its way into the hands of her classmates and community, and eventually, the entire nation.

Yolanda Renee King

As the granddaughter of civil rights movement leaders Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Yolanda Renee King comes from a long line of storied authors, activists, and creators. At just fifteen years old, King is already an accomplished public speaker and published author. Walking in the footsteps of her grandparents, King teaches young people that they can carry their elders’ legacies while also forging their own path and following their own dreams.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

As the first Black woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made history with her nomination and confirmation in 2022. Driven by her parents’ support and the knowledge that she “can do anything and be anything,” Justice Jackson attended Harvard University as an undergrad, followed by Harvard Law School, and was appointed to the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. by President Barack Obama prior to taking her historic seat on the Supreme Court. 

Chaunté Lowe

As a child in California, the odds seemed stacked against Chaunté Lowe. Her family experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and even domestic abuse. But despite all of these challenges, Lowe became inspired when she turned on the TV one day to see Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo, set records at the Olympics in track and field. Lowe immediately knew what her calling was. From that moment on, Lowe worked hard both in the classroom and on the sports field to make her biggest dream come true: her own place on the podium at the Olympics.