To celebrate Black History Month, TheBlack.Blog and HeavieTalk Media curated our second Black Representation Matters Series. This series emphasized the importance of Black representation and the impact it has on the Black community.
Whenever ‘the first Black’ is quoted it’s a stark reminder that we have so much further to go. Everyday work is being done to break through color barriers in various different fields and facets of life. It’s important to highlight those who are setting an example and paving the way for their peers and further generations to come. The impact of seeing someone that looks like you in different positions is not to be overlooked.
Black representation is powerful. Black representation is necessary.
The series highlighted Black representation in five specific areas: entertainment, education, sports, politics, and inventions. Each week we focused on an area offering informative facts both past and present day.
The facts were posted to our social media platforms.
Series Overview
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2024 Black Representation Matters Series was showcased:
Week 1: Entertainment
Week 2: Sports
Week 3: Inventions
Week 4: Politics
Week 5: Education
Entertainment
Written by the Founder and CEO of HeavieTalk Media & TheBlack.Blog, Heaven Charniece
It is important for me to highlight the need for representation in the entertainment industry because entertainment consumes so much of our life from music, to radio and television. I often think that the impact entertainment has on stereotypes and stigmas is overlooked and underestimated. I firmly believe entertainment shapes our perceptions subconsciously and consciously in various different ways. We need Black representation in entertainment to create authentic and positive depictions of the Black experience.
Sports
Written by the Founder and CEO of HeavieTalk Media & TheBlack.Blog, Heaven Charniece
It’s important for me to highlight Black representation in sports because growing up and even to the present day I haven’t seen many people that look like me in league front offices despite the fact that many of the sports leagues I watch are dominated by Black athletes.
Inventions
Written by the Founder and CEO of HeavieTalk Media & TheBlack.Blog, Heaven Charniece
Inventions from Black people came about as a result of Black people trying to figure out more efficient ways to improve our quality of life. The various different inventions we have from Black inventors were created out of dire need for better things. I believe it’s important that we continue to foster Black inventors so that we can continue to develop solutions that are inherently important to our community and the lives we strive to live.
Politics
Written by the Founder and CEO of HeavieTalk Media & TheBlack.Blog, Heaven Charniece
For decades, our ancestors fought for our right to vote which allows us to exercise our voice and power. Today in several states in the U.S., policies are being enacted putting barriers in place to limit the Black vote. In addition to that, laws are being passed that specifically target minorities and adversely impact our quality of life. I found it critically important to highlight Black representation in politics, because aesthetics aside, we need people in office with similar backgrounds, familia experiences, and upbringings.
Education
Written by the Founder and CEO of HeavieTalk Media & TheBlack.Blog, Heaven Charniece
Black representation in education is important to highlight for me because growing up I didn’t experience that many Black educators from elementary school all the way to high school. The few Black educators that I had left a lasting impression on me, not only because of the representation in itself but due to the different learning styles and curriculum that was taught.
Black History Facts
Take a look at February’s daily Black history facts!
TheBlack.Blog 