
Why Black Girls Rock [Photos]
On Sunday (November 3) the annual Black Girls Rock Awards show aired on BET. Each year the show honors Black females who have broken barriers and allowed the existence of the black women to still stand strong in media and everyday life. This year the show honored Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Mara Brock Akil, Venus Williams, Marian Wright Edelman, Misty Copeland, and Ameena Matthews. If you missed it, I'm sure it will come on again, but each performance and honoring moment was successful and well deserved. However with every triumph there is always negativity not too far behind. Unfortunately while the show was on television and a trending topic on twitter, another topic sparked a trend, #whitegirlsrock. Throughout the night, some twitter users using the hashtag gave opinions and asked questions of why African American woman were worthy of our own show. Well Vixens, we've put together a few reasons why black girls rock. Check them out after the jump!
Aja Brown, Mayor of Compton
Like the many African American women in politics who came before her, Aja Brown is a force to be reckoned with. Don't let her young age of 31 fool you, the newly-elected mayor of Compton is making changes in her home city of Compton.
Photo Credit: BET
Primetime's newest diva and the rumored mom-to-be has been winning us over for 3 seasons on ABC's Scandal. Not only is she beautiful but has the brains as well, as she is a women's cancer activist and political supporter of President Obama, just to name a few.
Ever wondered how they created the shot for polio or came up with gene mapping? We have Henrietta Lacks to thank. If that is not a Black Girl Rocking, I don't know what is! Lacks, an ordinary woman diagnosed with cervical cancer passed away in 1951, but her cells did not. Considered by doctors to be "immortal", Henrietta's cells were apart of some major medical breakthroughs!
Gabrielle Turnquest
As the youngest person to pass the bar exam in the UK, this Florida teen is one of the greatest reasons why Black Girls Rock, she's educated. Gabrielle Turnquest graduated from Virgina's Liberty University at 16 and is now a qualifying barrister in the UK and Bahamas. Let's just keep in mind that the average age of a lawyer is 27.
Photo Credit: Huffpost
Janelle Monae
Taking the music game by storm and changing the average appearance for female singers, Janelle Monae is definitely rocking! A previous BGR award recipient, Monae, released Electric Lady, her second studio album earlier this fall. As one of the newest faces of CoverGirl, Janelle Monae is dedicated and all about her craft!
Michelle Obama
With her heroic qualities she captivates the world and contrary to what Kanye thinks she is definitely an influence to many, Michelle Obama rocks! During her time as First Lady, not only has she implemented initiatives and spearheaded events, but been a great mom all while doing it. She is the quintessential woman!