As we commemorate Black History Month, it’s crucial to recall that not all Black experiences are uniform, and many notable African-American families have made their mark, establishing distinctive legacies that continue to shape our world.
It is crucial to remember that Black families’ experiences vary throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. “The Black family has no single location, as family reunions and genetic genealogy searches indicate the dispersion of family members over states, nations, and continents,” claims The Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The family provides a rich tapestry of pictures for exploring the past and present of African Americans.
Without different images of the Black family, it is impossible to comprehend the actual depth of Black people’s contributions to American culture. Sade Lythcott, the executive director of the National Black Theatre in Harlem, feels that adopting a “collective family” inside our communities has a therapeutic effect.
Lythcott states, “I have long been intrigued by the language of the Black Arts movement, which used the names Brother and Sister to refer to each other.” “Making a rallying cry to our community that we are more than just neighbors, but family. This has always struck me as an effective medicine. Reclaiming our agency in the creation of our own destinies holistically, we are in it together regardless of what may occur. That’s strength.”
Having a Black family in the United States is not a uniform experience. Yet, some well-known Black families have consciously sought to become pillars of American culture, whether in sports, entrepreneurship, the performing arts, education, or politics. While we remember the accomplishments of Black men and women, we should evaluate what these families can teach us about the past and how to construct a more equitable future.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Jay-Z (Music)
While Jay-Z and Beyonce are well-known for topping the charts and being pioneers in the music industry, they have continually used their influence and wealth to provide opportunities for marginalized populations. From Beyonce’s Beygood Foundation to Jay-Shawn Z’s Carter Foundation, this power-parenting couple continues to establish infrastructures for the distribution of aid to those in need.
Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee (Actors, Activists)
The vitality of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were mainstays of the film industry and the performing arts community. The couple, who were married for decades until Davis’s death in 2005 and Dee’s death nine years later, frequently performed in movies together but also lived a life dedicated to social activity. Throughout the civil rights movement, they battled for the rights of African Americans, and they were close friends with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and many other notable personalities. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were inducted into the NAACP Image Hall of Fame, given the National Medal of the Arts, and honored by the Kennedy Center.
Ciara & Russell Wilson (Sports, Music)
Russell Wilson is a highly decorated NFL quarterback, whereas Ciara is a singer, songwriter, and dancer. Millennial parents have repeatedly made business decisions that demonstrate what it means to build generational wealth, invest in the lives of others, and nurture their own families. Wilson established the Why Not You Foundation in 2014, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching and empowering youth.
Harry T. & Henrietta Moore (Social Activism)
The assassination of Harry T. and Harriette Moore on December 25, 1952, was a crucial trigger for change in the civil rights movement. Harry T., a schoolteacher, established the first NAACP branch in Brevard County, Florida. His wife, Harriette, was a teacher as well. The pair played a significant part in the fight for equal rights in the South, housing equality, eliminating barriers to voter registration, and numerous other causes. Their murder contributed to a nationwide outcry against racial injustice against African-Americans.
Cookie and Magic Johnson (Sports, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy)
Five-time NBA champion Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a legendary figure. But, his work off the court with his wife Cookie continues to influence history by uplifting Black communities economically. Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a net worth of over $1 billion, aspires to bring quality entertainment and products to disadvantaged and ethnically diverse sections of the country.
Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee (Film Industry, Literary Arts)
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee are well-known for influencing cultural narratives without promoting negative stereotypes or attributing filmic caricatures of Blackness. These parents of two young adults continually produce content that educates, raises, and inspires the public. Their films include Crooklyn, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, BlackkKlansman, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham, adapted by Lewis Lee.
Barack & Michelle Obama (Government, Politics)
Being Black and educated is not a novel concept. Until recently, however, this demography was unrepresented on a global basis. As the nation’s first African-American president and first lady, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have left an indelible impression on American history. Together with their daughters, they altered profoundly ingrained thought patterns that systematically destroyed the Black family dynamic in the United States, paving the path for future generations to do the same.
Vivian Burey Marshall and Thurgood Marshall (Judicial System, Activism)
As the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund leader, Thurgood Marshall was the lead counsel in the seminal Brown v. Board of Education case, which ended school segregation. Marshall and his first wife, Vivian Burey Marshall, were married for 25 years until her death; Thurgood credited Vivian with helping him become a better student and prominent attorney. Marshall later became the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Curry, Stephen & Ayesha (Sports, Entrepreneurship)
Stephen Curry is widely recognized as one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, but it is his character and love for his wife Ayesha Curry that is creating a lasting impression on the current generation. Curry’s production company Unanimous Media helped produce the faith-based film Breakthrough, Emanuel, and the animated version of Good Times, the first television sitcom to showcase a two-parent Black household.
Geoffrey Holder & Carmen de Lavallade (Dance, Performing Arts)
Geoffrey Holder made numerous contributions to Black culture and the performing arts as an actor, director, singer, artist, and costume designer. He collaborated closely with Alvin Ailey and The Dance Theatre of Harlem on the Tony-winning Broadway productions House of Flowers and Firebird. Carmen de Lavallade, who performed as the prima ballerina in Samson and Delilah and Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, was Holder’s wife. Holder and de Lavallade were married for nearly 60 years before his passing in 2014. Carmen and Geoffrey’s relationship was depicted in the documentary Carmen and Geoffrey.
Al Roker & Deborah Roberts (Journalism)
Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have maintained a reputation for treating others with the highest deference throughout their respective careers in media. They’ve been married for 30 years, and their distinct careers demonstrate their integrity and dedication to work and family. Roker, who is currently the weather forecaster on Today, has worked for NBC for four decades. Roberts is a reporter who has won an Emmy for her work as an ABC News Correspondent and her appearances on numerous programs, including 20/20, Good Morning America, The View, and Nightline.
Johnson, John H., and Johnson, Eunice (Literary Arts, Publishing)
John H. Johnson left a legacy by becoming one of the most successful African-American publishers in the history of the United States. After graduating from college, Johnson founded the journal Negro Digest, and he later founded Ebony and Jet, both of which came to be influential in Black culture. His publishing partner, Eunice Johnson, was best recognized as organizing the annual worldwide Ebony Fashion Fair, showcasing fashion for Black women.
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