Colin Kaepernick, because the dude does not quit.
You gotta give mad props to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of his unwillingness to back down, even when caught in the crossfire. Kaepernick, who helped his team make it to the Super Bowl, received death threats because of his decision to take a knee during the national anthem as a way to protest the racial injustices of America. Though much hatred was thrown Kaepernick’s way, many other athletes, activists, performers, and students banded together in support of his cause. #TakeAKnee became a hot trend on Twitter, while kneeling protests in support happened around the nation. Kaepernick (now a free agent) showed that taking a stand and agitating via social media can prove to be incredibly powerful. We’re still kneeling with ya, Colin.
Nafessa Williams, because she’s our fave TV badass.
Over 2 million people tuned in to watch actress Nafessa Williams make history playing the first Black lesbian superhero on television, on The CW’s Black Lightning. Comic book fans had waited eagerly for weeks to see the Marvel character come to life on the small screen—and superfine Williams made it worth the wait. Williams plays Anissa, a Harvard grad who channels her superpowers to become Thunder. Along with her sister Jennifer (a.k.a Lightning), they inspire their dad—the original Black Lightning—to rise up and help save their city from crime and corruption. Her role in being part of TV’s first Black superhero family doesn’t come without humility. “I have always wanted to play a superhero. It’s a God thing,” she told The Advocate. “I grew up in the inner-city [Philadelphia], so this means a lot to me for young Black girls to see me come out of the same place they are in, and go off to be a superhero… Ultimately, my goal is to inspire little brown girls that look like me, who are sitting on the porch wearing cornrows, to see me and say, ‘I can do it. I can make it out of here.’” Word.
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