With Black History Month here, it’s time for us to reflect and educate ourselves about the most inspiring Black small business owners, creators, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. This month is a celebration of Black talent, culture and values – and we’re so glad to celebrate it with everyone.
Let’s chat a bit more about Black History Month and how recent events have made it more popular than ever.
In this article, we’ll share ten of those admirable influencers to follow on Instagram, learn from, and draw inspiration from.
Let’s dive straight in!
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual observation and celebration of the great achievements of African Americans in the past. Every February, people all over the U.S. and Canada take the time to recognize and appreciate these leaders’ and freedom fighters’ fundamental roles in U.S. history.
Black History Month, or African American History Month, is an event created from ‘Negro History Week,’ created by Carter G. Woodson and other noteworthy African Americans at the time.
Since 1976, every U.S. president has entitled the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries like Canada and the United Kingdom have followed suit. The strength of the event has grown over the years and continues to be supported by people around the world.
Black History Month Theme for 2022
This year’s theme for Black History Month is one that is very fitting to what people have faced over the past two years. The theme is ‘Black Health and Wellness,’ which looks at how American healthcare has more often than not, underserved Black communities.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that a disparity of access to good-quality healthcare has directly impacted the health outcomes for Black people and other minorities.
But the issue began centuries before COVID-19.
Slavery was the start of many years of African-Americans not having access to medical care. Until former President Barack Obama got the Affordable Care Act passed by the Obama administration after many negotiations with the health insurance industry.
Today, the U.S. still struggles to keep up with the rest of the world to provide affordable health care to its citizens. As a result, Blacks and other minorities remain vulnerable and exposed.
2022’s theme of ‘Black Health and Wellness’ acknowledges the legacy of Black medical practitioners and scholars in Western medicine and other ways of knowing (for example, midwives, birthworkers, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African movement. The month celebrates the activities, initiatives, and rituals that Black communities have done to maintain good health for everyone.
How Can You Show Your Support?
You may be thinking that if you’re not in the medical field, you can’t support Black History Month. But this isn’t true. There are plenty of ways to commemorate the month right from the comfort of your home.
Here are our suggestions for how to support Black History month in 2022:
Support a Black-owned business
Since the recent pandemic, there has been a surge of small businesses – but not all companies are as privileged as others. Many Black-owned enterprises are still facing structural racism that threatens their lifespan. To counter this, people are encouraged to support these businesses – any product purchase helps them keep afloat and keep their service to communities alive.
Donate to charities supporting equality
Many charities support anti-racism equity, particularly due to the fight against police brutality over recent years. These charities are always on the lookout for donors and anyone willing to support the Black community in their will to seek justice. Some charities to consider include the Bread and Roses Community Fund, the Black Youth Project, the Black Girls CODE, and the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Sign up for online classes or events
Supporting and learning from online educators is an invaluable asset to have. Learn about their history, stories, and contributions to protecting and helping Black communities around the country. Most influencers are creators or entrepreneurs, so learning from them is always of great value. Sign up to online classes hosted by Black instructors – this way, you get to interact with an inspiring influencer and learn a new hobby all at once.
10 Black Influencers and Creators
In light of Black History Month, we bring you our top ten Black influencers that we feel you should be following on social media. These influencers are talented creatives that believe in a better tomorrow. Let’s celebrate them!
1. Nana Agyemang
@itsreallynana
45.7k Instagram Followers
Nana Agyemang is an entrepreneur and multimedia journalist contributing editor to NY Mag, and later, she joined The Cut. She was the first Black person on their social media team when she arrived at The Cut, and she made an effort to hire other Black people once she was there. Nana Agyemang saw a lack of representation in media which created a vision for her current business. She now owns EveryStylishGirl, a platform that is dedicated to amplifying women of color. Nana also hosts a #SipNSlay digital conference, a conference that is filled with educational sessions for anyone interested.
2. Kayla Jeter
@fitandfullbykayla
16.6k Instagram Followers
Chicago City Ambassador, Kayla Jeter, is a professional fitness and wellness advocate and former professional volleyball player. She is now also a Lululemon ambassador, and she loves to share her health and wellness journey on Instagram. We love her IGTV #WellnessWednesdays tips – a series that covers topics like food, mental health, and anxiety – things we can all relate to. On a personal side, Kayla enjoys helping her clients reveal mental blocks and practicing self-love. She also strongly believes in exploring body love through movement and good nourishment.
3. Polly Irungu
@pollyirungu
37.5k Instagram Followers
Polly Irungu is a multimedia journalist and self-taught photographer. She is also the founder of Black Women Photographers, a worldwide online community of Black women and photographers. Her photography work has been published in many publications, including BBC News, Global Citizen, and The Washington Post, to name a few. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and after many travels and experiences globally, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Polly Irungu believes in supporting and educating Black women about photography, social media, podcasting, and media diversity.
4. NickSaysGo
@nicksaysgo
7.7k Instagram Followers
Nicholas Bailey, aka NickSaysGo, is a creator who shares content on everything from home décor to grooming, fashion, and skincare. He is all about sharing tips and tricks on Instagram and YouTube for people to follow and learn from. Nicholas is also a great influencer if you’re looking to engage with someone who understands a male millennial audience in 2022. Take a look at some of his content on his website nicksaysgo.com
5. Amina Barnes
@aminabfit
8.7k Instagram Followers
Say hello to Amina Barnes – certified personal trainer, spin instructor, and very busy mama! Amina Barnes uses her Instagram handle as a health diary. She gives us an insight into how she manages her daily life while still achieving her wellness goals. Juggling family, health, and wellness pods in our lives can be tough, but Amina is a great resource to help you get by and excel at all different aspects in your life. People love her because she is relatable and shares real stories and experiences. What’s not to love?
6. Tae-León
@alittletaeste
252k Instagram Followers
If you’re looking for a fitness, lifestyle, and medicinal influencer to follow – Tae-León is it! She is currently a content creator for all things fitness and is currently also a medical school student at UCLA. She does a range of vlogs on her YouTube channel about her fitness journey, including tips and tricks. Tae-León’s posts also let you choose your level of challenge – and she believes in modifying fitness according to your needs and abilities – a beautiful thing to see as someone wanting to stay fit and healthy the simple way!
7. Isis Woods
@isisbreanna
74.8k Instagram Followers
Isis Woods is just the right influencer to follow if you’re looking for a business coach. She frequently shares invaluable information for Black female entrepreneurs looking to break out of their shells and get that extra boost of confidence to grow their budding business. Isis shares anything from how to create engaging content for your potential customers to how to speak confidently to prospective investors and consumers on-screen. She coaches entrepreneurs and helps them elevate their business to the next level with absolute robustness. Check out more of her success stories on her website.
8. Medina Grillo
@grillodesigns
186k Instagram Followers
Medina Grillo is a little different from the other influencers on this list – she is all about interior design. If you’re looking for someone to give you practical DIY tips and home décor inspiration, Medina Grillo is the person to follow. Medina shares crafty hacks, decorating ideas, and how-to tutorials on her blog and social channels. She is a healthcare professional by day, but Medina says she sees that as her ‘part-time gig.’ She is also a blogger, published author and loves to upcycle things! A great mama driven by creativity – you can read more about her blogger journey here.
9. Rōze Traore
@rozetraore
76.1k Instagram Followers
Who says money makes the world go around? Food does! And if you’re anything like us, having a strong and entertaining chef on your Instagram feed is always so inviting. Meet Rōze Traore, a chef, entrepreneur, and media personality who creates unique dining experiences for clients like Louis Vuitton and The New York Times. He enrolled in Le Cordon Blue and went on to work at some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world. He continues to collaborate with food brands across the country. Definitely, a handle to follow if you want some dining or entrepreneurial inspo!
10. Jenné Claiborne
@sweetpotatosoul
381k Instagram Followers
If you’re looking for a vegan chef with fresh and enticing meal ideas – then Jenné Claiborne is the influencer for you. She has created the Sweet Potato Soul food blog that shares delicious, affordable, and simple vegan meals. The best part? Jenné adds that Southern twist to her meals. In 2018, she released her first cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul, and continues to thrive on her health and wellness journey.
Support Experienced and Talented Black Influencers this February
Now that we’ve shared our top ten Black influencers, it’s time for you to get out there and engage with them. These influencers all have such vast backgrounds, inspiring stories, and thought-fulfilling advice. It’s time for us to celebrate them, appreciate them, and most of all – celebrate them beyond just Black History Month. These entrepreneurs need all the passion and support from their followers to keep going.
Get the Tools You Need to Share Your Knowledge
Health and Wellness is a trending topic in the U.S., especially for people of color. It’s time for us to start making a difference and stand with the Black community to help in the fight against systemic racism and oppression experienced in America.
So, how do you want to support Black History Month? If you’re a creator or educator, speak to us at Mastera, and we’ll be happy to help set up your online video streaming platform. This way, you can quickly and efficiently host live classes and on-demand content for your subscribers. We help you monetize your video content and keep your creations available and ready for anyone willing to learn more about them.
Happy Black History Month! Stay safe, and remember, health and wellness always come first.
Co-Founder, Gleantap & Mastera