Black In 518

Hey BlackIn518 family!

Thank you for helping me to make this idea into a reality and please keep sharing the stories on this account! If you’re interested in continuing to create space to empower Black students in the capital region through BlackIn518 please reach out!

Black history = Everyone’s History

Meet Huey P. Newton! He was a Black revolutionary and the co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Yesterday would have been his 79th birthday! While we view these figures from Black history as being from the past, in reality their activism was only from about one generation ago! The actions of Newton were monumental in the struggle for Black liberation but the fight still continues today.

Meet Andrea Jenkins! She is the first openly Black trans womxn to be elected into public office. Her work is so important and gives representation to so many young people in the country.

Meet Alvin Ailey! He was a Black dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ailey popularized multi-racial and modern dance around the world and helped shed light on Black dancers!

Meet Richard and Mildred Loving! They were an in*******al married couple from Virginia. At the time, in*******al marriage was illegal so they got married in Washington, D.C. When they came back to Virginia they were exiled for their actions. Mildred and Richard Loving fought these repercussions through the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court Case which they eventually won. The actions of this couple led the way for LGBTQ+ activists as they fought for and won the case for marriage equality in 2015.

This couple as well as many others remind us that Love is Love.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and have a great weekend!

Meet Stokely Carmichael! He was a civil rights organizer and had a great impact on the Black nationalist movement in the United States. After some time, Carmichael left the United States and dedicated the rest of his life to Pan-African Unity. Throughout his life, Stokely Carmichael made many contributions to the civil rights movement and helped to further Black liberation!

Meet Bayard Rustin! He was the brains behind the March on Washington in 1963. Because of his sexual orientation, Rustin’s career as an activist was more behind the scenes. Regardless, his contributions were extremely important to the moment!

Meet Ella Baker! Her career of activism spanned over 5 decades where she was able to help develop many different young activists through different organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Baker was extremely influential during the Civil Rights Movement and established herself among men like W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Meet Henrietta Lacks! After being diagnosed with cervical cancer, her stolen cancer cells were instrumental in the many different kinds of scientific research. Despite the fact that scientific research is important, it is important to note that the healthcare system has had a history of racism and discrimination when it comes to Black womxn. Racism impacts many things including the healthcare system.

Meet Marsha P. Johnson! She was a Black trans womxn who dedicated her life to LGBTQ+ rights and had a huge role in the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Later on in her life she founded an organization dedicated to helping trans youth experiencing homelessness.

created a video to amplify the stories and experiences of students in their school. It’s our responsibility to listen to these stories, respect these experiences, and find ways to make a difference in our own communities. To watch the video check out or check out our instagram story.