21 Black Women That Need to Be Heard

Now is the time to educate ourselves, transform our old ways of thinking, and help amplify the many diverse voices of the Black community that need to be heard. We encourage you to follow, listen, and learn from the following Black activists, educators, and writers on Instagram. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we are committed to diversifying the accounts that we follow on social media and hearing from a variety of voices:

PATRISSE CULLORS-BRIGNAC: @osopepatrisse

Patrisse is a founder of Black Lives Matter, Reform LA Jails, Dignity & Power Now (a non-profit organization dedicated to securing dignity and power for all incarcerated people, their families, and communities), and The Crenshaw Dairy Mart.

LAYLA F SAAD: @laylafsaad

Layla is an educator and author; she’s the NYT best-selling author of “Me And White Supremacy,” host of the Good Ancestor Podcast, and founder of the Good Ancestor Academy, a learning environment for those who aspire to become Good Ancestors.

AMANDA SEALES: @amandaseales

Amanda is a comedian, actress, writer, producer, and more. You may recognizer her from stand-up comedy, her roles in the TV series “Insecure” and “Black-ish,” or for from her weekly podcast series Small Doses.

TAMIKA D. MALLORY: @tamikadmallory

Tamika is a civil rights activist, community organizer, and co-founder of Until Freedom, a group of activists, movement lawyers, artists, and survivors of racial injustice.

RACHEL CARGLE: @rachel.cargle

Rachel is a writer, lecturer, and public academic. She’s the founder of The Loveland Foundation, which offers mental health support and therapy for Black women and girls, the creator of The Great Unlearn, a monthly self-paced syllabi teaching anti-racism and more, and the owner of Elizabeth’s Book & Writing Center, which highlights and honors the work of writers traditionally found on the margins of cultural, social, & academic canons.

ELAINE WELTEROTH: @elainewelteroth

Elaine is a journalist, the former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue , and the author of her memoir, “More Than Enough.”

AURORA JAMES: @aurorajames

Aurora is the founder of the eco-luxe footwear and accessories brand Brother Vellies. She’s also the voice behind the 15 Percent Pledge, a petition calling on major retailers to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.

YARA SHAHIDI: @yarashahidi

Yara is a young actress and activist—you may recognize her from her roles in the TV series “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish.”

STEPHANIE YEBOAH: @stephanieyeboah

Stephanie is a writer, content creator, and body and self-love advocate. She’s the author of “Fattily Ever After: The Fat, Black Girls’ Guide to Living Life Unapologetically” (currently available for pre-order).

CANDICE BRATHWAITE: @candicebrathwaite

Candice is a writer and the founder of Make Motherhood Diverse, a platform trying to challenge the single story of motherhood. She’s also the author of “I Am Not Your Baby Mother.”

ANGELA RYE: @angelarye

Angela is a political commentator for CNN and the CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political strategy firm with a cutting edge approach to achieving client’s goals in the Nation’s Capital and beyond.

TARANA J. BURKE: @taranajaneen

Tarana is an American activist and the founder of the Me Too movement.

BRITTANY PACKNETT CUNNINGHAM: @mspackyetti

Brittany is an activist, writer, and contributor to NBC News and MSNBC.

ALISHIA MCCULLOUGH: @blackandembodied

Alishia is a licensed mental health therapist, a social justice warrior, and a promoter of racial healing. She is one of the co-founders of the #AmplifyMelanatedVoices challenge on Instagram.

JESSICA WILSON: @jessicawilson.msrd

Jessica is an activist, consultant, and dietitian. Her work centers around the experiences of those most marginalized in conversations about food and bodies. She is also a co-founder of the #AmplifyMelanatedVoices challenge on Instagram.

MYISHA T. HILL: @myishathill

Myisha is an author, speaker, and coach whose work centers around justice and mental wellness. She’s the founder of Brown Sisters Speak, which offers peer support and empowerment for BIPOC women, and Check Your Privilege, a book, podcast, and courses for people to help dismantle their relationship with systems of domination.

BREA BAKER: @freckledwhileblack

Brea is a writer and contributor to Elle Magazine. She writes about culture, politics, and activism.

ERICKA HART: @ihartericka

Ericka is a sex educator, writer, breast cancer survivor, and a racial/social/gender activist.

IJEOMA OLUO: @ijeomaoluo

Ijeoma is an activist and the author of “So You Want To Talk About Race.”

PHOEBE ROBINSON: @dopequeenpheebs

Phoebe is a comedian, actress, and the author of “You Can’t Touch My Hair” and “Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay.”

AUSTIN CHANNING BROWN: @austinchanning

Austin is a writer, speaker, and the author of “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In a World Made For Whiteness.”