Week 14: Celebrating Melenated Excellence: Looking Towards the Future

By Michael Mitchell

This week, we take a moment to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Melenated excellence and dream boldly about the future we can shape together. From pioneers who paved the way to today’s trailblazers and tomorrow’s visionaries, Melenated communities have always exemplified resilience, brilliance, and creativity. The question is: how do we continue this legacy and push it even further?

Throughout history, excellence has been a cornerstone of Melenated communities. Visionaries like Madam C.J. Walker, who became the first self-made female millionaire, and Katherine Johnson, whose calculations sent astronauts to the moon, remind us that greatness is our heritage. Today, this excellence shines in every field, from literature and the arts to technology and politics. Figures like Amanda Gorman, whose poetry ignited global audiences, and Kizzmekia Corbett, a leading scientist in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, demonstrate the boundless potential of Melenated brilliance.

Looking forward, building a brighter future means actively uplifting individuals and communities. Organizations like Black Girls CODE and AfroTech are creating pathways for underrepresented youth to thrive in STEM and innovation. Grassroots movements like The Movement for Black Lives continue to fight for justice, equity, and systemic change.

However, celebrating Melenated excellence isn’t just about acknowledging success—it’s about supporting the structures that sustain it. Supporting Melenated-owned businesses, advocating for policy reform, and creating spaces for Black creatives to thrive are actionable steps we all can take. This is not just a celebration of individual achievement but a commitment to collective empowerment.

As we look to the future, let us remember that the work of uplifting Melenated excellence is ongoing. Together, we can create a world where every child sees their potential reflected in history books, classrooms, and boardrooms. The legacy of Melenated excellence isn’t just a testament to the past—it’s a promise to the future. Let’s fulfill that promise by continuing to uplift, invest, and believe in one another.

References

1. Bundles, A’Lelia. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. Scribner, 2001.

2. Shetterly, Margot Lee. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race. William Morrow, 2016.

3. “Kizzmekia Corbett’s Role in the COVID-19 Vaccine Development.” The New York Times, 2021.

4. “About Black Girls CODE.” Black Girls CODE. https://www.blackgirlscode.com.

5. “AfroTech Conference 2024: Bridging Innovation and Culture.” AfroTech. https://www.afrotech.com.