Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

rbrnmw

(7,160 posts)
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:08 PM Dec 2015

(from SheShe2)15 Remarkable Women of Color Who Rocked 2015

15 Remarkable Women of Color Who Rocked 2015
It's been a big year for these 15 changemakers from the worlds of political activism, art, literature, fitness and entrepreneurship.

Miriam Zoila Pérez DEC 28, 2015 2:31PM EST
Rebecca Cohen's now-iconic rendering of activist and artist Bree Newsome as Wonder Woman. Newsome climbed up a flagpole at the South Carolina State Capitol and removed a Confederate flag on June 26, 2015.
Illustration: Rebecca Cohen/@Gynostar via Tumblr
SHARE THIS!



Since you loved our 2014 list of 14 women of color who rocked, we thought it was only right in 2015 to present 15 incredible activists, organizers, artists, writers, builders and entertainers who made major moves in 2015. Check out our list—which is in no particular order and in no way exhaustive. And feel free to add more WOC who rocked in 2015 in the comments!

1. Misty Copeland


Misty Copeland debuts in Broadway's "On The Town" on August 25, 2015. Brad Barket/Getty Images
Misty Copeland brought even non-ballet lovers' attention to the world of dance in 2015 when she was promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland is the first African-American woman to take the starring position. She also made her Broadway debut in "On the Town," and a documentary about her groundbreaking career, "A Ballerina's Tale," dropped this year. Clearly Copeland had a banner 2015.

2. Bree Newsome


Bree Newsome takes down the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina statehouse on June 29, 2015. Colorlines screenshot from YouTube video "#KeepItDown Confederate Flag Takedown"/The Tribe,
Artist and activist Bree Newsome scaling a flag pole at the South Carolina state house and taking down the Confederate flag was definitely one of the most triumphant moments of the year. Newsome garnered nationwide media attention and the stubborn state removed the racist flag just two weeks after her heroic action. South Carolina's retreat was part of a wave of states and businesses finally backing away from the racist flag in the aftermath of Dylann Roof's White supremacist massacre at Charleston's Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal church,

more at link
http://www.colorlines.com/articles/15-remarkable-women-color-who-rocked-2015

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
(from SheShe2)15 Remarkable Women of Color Who Rocked 2015 (Original Post) rbrnmw Dec 2015 OP
Rec from me. MeNMyVolt Dec 2015 #1
Thanks rbnmw and sheshe2. lovemydog Dec 2015 #2
k and r niyad Dec 2015 #3
Great article, thanks you and sheshe. George II Dec 2015 #4
I've only read 1 and 2 and I'm already nodding so hard my earrings are jangling Number23 Dec 2015 #5
The comment about Tangerine was interesting Number23 Dec 2015 #6
Yes, agreed, that was odd. TygrBright Dec 2015 #10
And I heard not only is it one of a kind but the type of filming was also incredibly innovative Number23 Dec 2015 #12
Yep, shot on iPhone. TygrBright Dec 2015 #14
Thanks so much for your feedback and comments Number23 Dec 2015 #15
k&r Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #7
Wonderful OP from sheshe.. Mahalo, rbrnmw! Cha Dec 2015 #8
Love. <3 Starry Messenger Dec 2015 #9
Great list. zentrum Dec 2015 #11
K & R Iliyah Dec 2015 #13
K&R betsuni Dec 2015 #16
how have I missed this thread? tishaLA Dec 2015 #17
K&R ismnotwasm Dec 2015 #18

lovemydog

(11,833 posts)
2. Thanks rbnmw and sheshe2.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:14 PM
Dec 2015

Happy holidays to both of you!

Here's another link that worked better for me.

http://www.colorlines.com/articles/15-remarkable-women-color-who-rocked-2015

Look at this awesome woman, Ariell Johnson:

?itok=WjQWxQTu

11. Ariell Johnson

"You may remember Ariell Johnson from Sameer Rao's "Breaking" piece about her plans to open a comic and coffee shop in Philadelphia. Starting a small business was enough of a feat on its own, but Johnson's Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse got extra attention for focusing on marginalized communities not often featured in the comic industry. Johnson's shop is just one example of how 2015 has been the year of embracing geek-of-color culture. After several renovation setbacks, Johnson's Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse, opened on December 14."

I love people like her and I love stories like this one.

George II

(67,782 posts)
4. Great article, thanks you and sheshe.
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:40 PM
Dec 2015

This drawing is particularly poignant, I love it!

Rebecca Cohen's now-iconic rendering of activist and artist Bree Newsome as Wonder Woman. Newsome climbed up a flagpole at the South Carolina State Capitol and removed a Confederate flag on June 26, 2015.

?itok=C18xvcLb×tamp=1451338135

Number23

(24,544 posts)
6. The comment about Tangerine was interesting
Mon Dec 28, 2015, 11:52 PM
Dec 2015
this year's breakout independent film about two trans women of color surviving on the streets of Los Angeles. While that description may sound like a played-out trope, Rodriguez and Taylor brought authenticity, direction and heart to this film

Why in the world would this sound "played out?" Who the hell would this be "played out" to?? In the history of film, how many movies have there been about trans people of color?? That just sounded a bit weird and sort of oddly dismissive.

TygrBright

(20,756 posts)
10. Yes, agreed, that was odd.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 12:45 AM
Dec 2015

It was a completely awe-inspiring film and in craft, quality, and story there was nothing "played out" about it.

I was enthralled.

I suppose if you really wanted to stretch, you could place it in the "films from the street/down and out" area and say that yes, there have been others. But "Tangerine" was really in a class by itself.

appreciatively.
Bright

Number23

(24,544 posts)
12. And I heard not only is it one of a kind but the type of filming was also incredibly innovative
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 12:52 AM
Dec 2015

Shot on an iPhone wasn't it??

There doesn't seem to be ANYTHING about this film that says "played out trope." I am beyond glad that these ladies took their stories to Hollywood when Hollywood couldn't (as usual) be bothered to come to them. Too busy making the same Spiderman/Batman/Superman movies 629 times.

TygrBright

(20,756 posts)
14. Yep, shot on iPhone.
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 02:29 AM
Dec 2015

But you completely forget that as you're watching. You get just drawn in, it's amazing storytelling.

See it if you can, it's the antidote to yet another Marvel explode-a-thon.

helpfully,
Bright

Number23

(24,544 posts)
15. Thanks so much for your feedback and comments
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 04:01 AM
Dec 2015

This is one I will definitely try to get my hands on.

Cha

(297,123 posts)
8. Wonderful OP from sheshe.. Mahalo, rbrnmw!
Tue Dec 29, 2015, 12:07 AM
Dec 2015

Charlene Carruthers (at center) by Sarah-Ji Rhee

Charlene Carruthers, national director of Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), isn't typically in the spotlight, but her work has been a consistent drumbeat toward, in her own words, "getting freedom and justice for all Black people." BYP100 uses a queer feminist lens, something informed by Carruthers' decade of movement work. The Chicago-based organizer was part of a strong push for the city to release a graphic dashcam video of police shooting Laquan McDonald. She co-organized several major demonstrations against the city's apparent cover-up of the video, leading to the ouster of police superintendent Garry McCarthy. Carruthers also faced police violence herself in 2015: During a late November protest she reported police throwing her to the ground and yanking her hair.

tishaLA

(14,176 posts)
17. how have I missed this thread?
Wed Dec 30, 2015, 02:52 PM
Dec 2015

Yeah, I've been sick but that's no real excuse.

Thanks for posting! And thanks (and hugs) to Sheshe.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»African American»(from SheShe2)15 Remarkab...