From Zendaya and Storm Reid to Simone Biles and Jerome Foster II, young Black artists, athletes and activists have expressed wisdom far beyond their years
Anthony RobledoUSA TODAY
With Black History Month beginning on Tuesday, it's time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans, including the many strides made by artists, athletes and activists in recent months.
"Abbott Elementary" creator and star Quinta Brunson became the second Black woman ever to win an Emmy for lead actress in a comedy last month. In November, Tracy Chapman became the first Black person to win song of the year at the Country Music Awards for her 1988 folk anthem, "Fast Car."
Also in November, then-19-year-old Laila Edwards became the first Black woman to play for the U.S. senior national hockey team. And at just 21, LGBTQ activist Jerome Foster II is the youngest White House advisor in history, advising the Biden administration on climate change.
Edwards and Foster are among the youngest Black Americans consistently breaking records and reaching milestones. Here are inspiring quotes from them and other young Black artists, athletes and activists as we kick off Black History Month.
"I use my platform for more than just myself. Art is a reflection of human emotions. To neglect the political is to neglect what essentially is your job of storytelling. I would rather be known for the content of my character than for the project that I did."
– Zendaya, 27, two-time Emmy-winning actor
"I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it."
– Simone Biles, 26, most decorated American gymnast in history
"Just proving I'm here, I belong, and being the best player in the world, I just intend to keep coming out every single night and just play hard."
– Joel Embiid, 29, Cameroonian professional basketball
"There are two things I know for sure. One, we will not be silent and two, we will vote in the millions. Two degrees is what separates us from living or dying."
– Jerome Foster II, 21, American environmental activist and White House's Environmental Justice Advisory Council member
"When you go out, go out with a bang, anything you do."
– Playboi Carti, 28, American rapper and record label founder
"It’s not that I fell out of love with storytelling, but I think my role in'The Last of Us'really reinforced my love and passion to be able to tell meaningful stories and to be a representation for young women, young Black women, young, queer Black women."
– Storm Reid, 20, Emmy-winning actor
"I genuinely believe that to my core. I think that the number of fields we can create change and influence are so broad that when we get together and we set these goals and these aims I don't think there’s a limit."
– Midge Purce, 28, American soccer player and founder of Black Women's player's collective
"Accomplishing one of my dreams made me realize also that I'm more than an athlete that I have so much to offer, I want to show the world that women belong in hockey."
– Sarah Nurse, Canadian ice hockey player
"It’s an honor to be the first Black woman on the national team, but this team’s been around for a long time. And not to sound ungrateful, but it would have been nice to have someone that looked like me on that team before me. I’m glad that I’m able to be that someone for another little Black girl out there."
– Laila Edwards, 20, the first Black woman to play for the U.S. senior national hockey team
"When people talk about diversity and inclusion, sometimes there’s a bit of an eye-rolling mentality of ticking boxes. But I feel like that’s kind of necessary at times because the playing fields are not level in the first place."
– Ncuti Gatwa, 31, BAFTA-nominated actor
"The first thing I say when someone hits a barrier, is to tell somebody, it’s hard to get yourself out of the hole, because once you’re there you feel stuck, so having other people help you get out is probably the best way, and for that you need to be vocal."
– Noah Lyles, 26, American track and field athlete and gold-medalist
"After years of being seen as aggressive and loud for fighting for what I believe in, I’ve started to reclaim being an Angry Black Girl."
– Isra Hirsi, 21, American environmental activist
"It’s important for me – not just as an artist, (but) for me as myself – to know I deserve to have agency, to be an active participant in my own life."
– Ayo Edebiri, 28, Emmy-winning actor
“I feel like, when people realize that they are the only person they need to impress, everybody’s life will be a lot smoother."
– Megan Thee Stallion, 28, Grammy-winning rapper
