Sheena was the glue. Everyone said it, and most days she wore that title like a crown. But as December settled over Brooklyn with its flashing lights, long grocery lines, and endless WhatsApp messages from family, the crown began to feel more like a chain.

For centuries, patriarchal society has shaped how we see God—often through a lens that suppresses womanhood and erases Divine Womanhood itself. This imbalance has fueled mistranslations, misinterpretations, and theological silencing of the feminine dimensions within Scripture. One of the most striking examples of this distortion is the Hebrew title El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי), commonly rendered "God Almighty." Yet beneath this narrow translation lies a far more intimate and femi

Introduction Black women’s bodies have never simply existed in America—they’ve always been dissected, debated, labeled, and controlled. From the moment Saartjie Baartman was paraded through 19th-century Europe as a spectacle of anatomy rather than a human being, the world began its long obsession with turning Black femininity into public discourse. What should have been sacred and sovereign became public property. Our curves, our hair, our skin, our style—nothing was exempt

Born on a Cotton Plantation Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, on a cotton plantation in Delta, Louisiana, Madam C.J. Walker's life was destined to become a powerful story of perseverance, vision, and impact. As the first child in her family born into freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation, Walker’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of America’s first self-made millionaires is a testament to the indomitable spirit she carried within her. Early Hards

Maya Angelou’s life was a testament to the power of resilience, artistry, and truth. A poet, author, singer, dancer, and activist, she left

Bessie Coleman was born on January 26, 1892, in a small town in Texas called Atlanta. The tenth of thirteen children, she grew up in a famil

College of Fine and Applied Arts Early Life and Foundation Sheila Crump Johnson was born on January 25, 1949, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Maywood, Illinois. The daughter of a neurosurgeon and an accountant, Johnson was raised in a household that emphasized education, hard work, and ambition. A gifted violinist, she pursued her passion for music, earning a degree in performance from the University of Illinois. Her artistic background would later influence her e

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree around 1797 in Swartekill, New York, into a life of enslavement. The youngest of 12 children, she

Born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, Zora Neale Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Florida—the first all-Black incorporated town in t

In 1921, she shattered barriers by becoming the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the Univ

Coretta Scott King, born on April 27, 1927, in Heiberger, Alabama, emerged as one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 20th c

Rosa Parks is often referred to as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”

During World War II, an army battalion of Black women marched into history, armed not with rifles but with determination and excellence.

Top: Ethel Waters , studio, portrait, USA, 1930. Early Life and Hardships Ethel Waters was born on October 31, 1896, in Chester, Pennsylvania, to a single mother, whom she described as a “hard, strict woman.” The circumstances of her early life were challenging; she faced poverty and racial discrimination from a young age. By the age of 14, Ethel had left home, seeking independence and a better life. Despite her struggles, she found solace in music, often singing in church ch

Early Life and Hardships Mahalia Jackson was born on October 26, 1911, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a family steeped in the rich traditions of African American gospel music. The daughter of a Baptist minister, she was exposed to the power of spiritual song from a young age. Jackson faced numerous hardships throughout her childhood, including poverty and the challenges of growing up in the racially segregated South. At the age of four, she lost her mother and was raised by he

If you haven’t noticed, since the emancipation of chattel slavery, Black Women have been on the rise destined for success and rulership.  The portrayal of powerful Black women have seen a significant rise in recent years, marked by influential figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, fictional characters such as Shuri from Marvel's Black Panther, and historical representations like those in The Woman King. When we think about the complicated history of Womanhood, and more s

Early Life and Hardships Fannie Lou Hamer was born on October 6, 1917, in Montgomery County, Mississippi, as the youngest of 20 children in a family of sharecroppers. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Hamer faced significant racial and economic hardships. The systemic oppression and poverty of her early life instilled in her a deep awareness of the injustices faced by African Americans. Despite her challenging upbringing, she was determined to make a difference in her communi

Credit: Dr. Mae C. Jemison in aircraft from Blerds. Dr. Mae C. Jemison, an extraordinary figure in the realms of science and space exploration, has inspired countless individuals with her groundbreaking achievements and relentless perseverance. As the first African American woman to travel in space, Dr. Jemison's journey is marked by triumphs and struggles that have shaped her legacy. Early Life and Education Born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, Mae Carol Jemison mo