What It Means To See 18 Black Women On The Forbes #30Under30 List
It was the vision board I needed and couldn’t create with tape and magazine clippings alone: the Forbes 2016 30 Under 30 list. When I saw a tweet about the list–Forbes’ annual curation of millennials changing the game in industries ranging from sports to social entrepreneurship–it was the jolt I needed to ground myself for the year ahead.
But, in the millisecond it took the page to load, this pit of skepticism built a home in the middle of my stomach. A question flashed across my mind: “Am I going to see any women on this thing who look like me?”
It’s the question that envelops me any time I see these sorts of lists. It’s why I make a conscious and concerted effort to uplift Black women any time the opportunity presents itself. Because too often, mainstream media gives a standing ovation to monochromatic and male-dominated success. Black women get pushed to the sidelines, or worse, tossed out of the running before we’ve even laced up. I’m beyond glad that the Forbes 2016 30 Under 30 list defied my expectations.
This year’s 30 Under 30 class, selected from more than 15,000 nominations and representing 600 winners across 20 industries, includes 18 Black women. I dug through every section of the list, and each woman’s story gave me one more feel-good chill than the next. There’s Nailah Ellis-Brown, 26, who went from selling Jamaican tea out of the trunk of her car to now having her product in Whole Foods. Then there’s Mo’ne Davis, 14, who is the first African-American girl to play in the Little League World Series. Or there’s Candace Mitchell, 28, who stands at the helm of transforming the $3 billion dollar African-American haircare market with her company Techturized.
But, then there were moments when this list really hit home for me. I saw Kimberly Foster, 26, the juggernaut behind For Harriet, a website I have penned for and frequently read. I noticed Angelica Nwanda, 25, whose brainchild, The Shade Room, boasts 2.5 million followers via Instagram and is a regular topic of conversation when I talk to my sister. My loudest gasp materialized when I saw Dr. Constance Iloh, 28, who is a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Irvine and also served as my alma mater’s Black Student Union president during my sophomore year.
When I read about these beautiful Black women sending ripple effects through the world, it gave me that moment of “YES.” It’s the same YES I felt when Viola Davis won the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama. It’s the same YES I felt when Serena Williams’ graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as its sportsperson of the year. And, it’s the same YES I felt when Shaniece Williams eased on down the road in NBC’s The Wiz LIVE! That YES with all caps reminds me that in a world where Black women’s bodies become war zones and our voices fall silent, there are Black women who say “No more.” There are Black women who, to paraphrase Dr. Maya Angelou, do not simply survive, but also thrive. There are Black women who succeed on their own terms and in their own ways.
That success is finally being recognized in places where it is far too often ignored.
To check out the full Forbes 2016 30 Under 30 list, click here.
Tyece Wilkins is the voice behind the award-winning blog Twenties Unscripted. She is also the author of Twenties Unscripted: A Journey of Womanhood, Writing, and Relativity. Connect with her on Twitter @tyunscripted.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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