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Happy Black History Month! Which Black rising stars do you admire most? Please nominate your top 5, so we can celebrate them on The Dots.

We still have a way to go when it comes to conquering the lack of diversity in the creative/tech/digital industries – which is why it is so important for us, as a platform, to use our force for good.

We celebrate and promote Black talent all throughout the year, including via our list of brilliant Black leaders:
https://the-dots.com/users/search/list/1357#noscroll

This is definitely not an exhaustive list, so we’re always looking to unearth more incredible rising stars to feature and promote, so we can help them get the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
With this in mind, we’d love to know who are your rising stars, so we can celebrate those transforming the industry of today and inspiring the generation of tomorrow.

We’ll then feature this incredible talent throughout Black History Month – including publishing our annual rising stars list for 2020!

To nominate your top 5 (feel free to add more if you prefer), simply @ mention them in the comments below.

Thank you so much in advance for this!

Pip
Pip Jamieson
Pip Jamieson
Founder The Dots | Delightfully dyslexic, excuse typos!

Replies85

  • Marina Gonzalez Vasquez
    Marina Gonzalez Vasquez
    Recent graduate in International Relations and Japanese
    @Nicole Krystal Crentsil - Cultural Curator and CEO of Black Girl Fest
    @Paula Akpan - Freelance Journalist for Teen Vogue, British Vogue, i-D, Vice UK and The Independent
    Chanté Joseph - Author, Social Creative and Host
    Bolu Babalola - Author of 'Love in Colour'
    Sophia Tassew - Author, Creative, ASOS Curve Insider and Founder of Khula Store
    Extra: Lavinya Stennett - CEO and Founder of The Black Curriculum
    All of them are doing incredible in their own fields and can't wait to see what the future holds for them!
  • Azaz Afzal
    Azaz Afzal
    3D animator & Unity C# programmer
    1. Bilal Ibn Rabah, companion of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), first black Muslim in history as well the first person to call out for prayer.
    2. Muhammad Ali
    3. Malcolm X
    4. Wesley Snipes
    5. Will Smith
  • Darby Roberts
    Darby Roberts
    Senior Creative/Creative Director/creative Strategist
    JESSIE OWEN.

    Born in the racist state of Alabama, and a KKK stronghold, any achievement for a black in that US state and time would be considered heroic. But...

    In 1935, Jesse Owens made sporting history when he broke five world records and equalled a sixth in the space of 45 minutes. One of these world records, 8.13m in the long jump, would last for 25 years.

    At the 1936 Berlin Games, Owens won four gold medals, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the long jump. He managed to break or equal nine Olympic records and also set three world records. One of those world records was in the 4x100m relay. The quartet set a time that wouldn’t be bettered for 20 years.

    ...and most importantly...
    Adolf Hitler hoped that the 1936 Berlin Games would prove his theory of Aryan racial superiority. Instead, Owens’ achievements led the people of Berlin to hail him, an African-American, as a hero.

    How d'you like them apples Adolph?
  • Susan Jean
    Susan Jean
    Design Entrepreneur
    @Susan Jean oops I forgot to @ them...

    @Kerby-Jean Raymond

    @Otegha Uwagba

    @Abisola Omole

    @Aja Barber

    @Lindsay Peoples Wagner
  • anthony grant
    anthony grant
    Consultant
    Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr
    Bernard Alexander Montgomery Grant
    Stuart McPhail Hall
    Charles Ignatius Sancho
    Mary Jane Seacole
    Val Irvine McCalla
    Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte
  • george crisp
    george crisp
    Freelance writer, translator, editor
    In chronological order:
    Scott Joplin (pianist, composer -- America's first great original composer)
    Bert Williams ('the greatest actor in the world' -- Charlie Chaplin; subject of Caryl Phillips's novel, Dancing in the Dark)
    Paul Robeson
    Mary Lou Williams (pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger)
    Charles Burnett (film director)

    Too many others to mention
  • jan lewis
    jan lewis
    Art Director
    @jan lewis Oops, I didn't read it properly. They have to be a DOTS member. I'll see about signing him up! Then we can celebrate him.
  • Rowena Hay
    Rowena Hay
    Digital Marketing/Project/Content Manager
    Idriss Andu - Tech Innovator and Developer Architect
    Akala - Artist, Writer, Author, Academic
    Jamal Edwards, Channel creator, Philanthropist
    Ralph- infinite waters (YouTube)
    Stormzy (Philanthropist and Artist)
    SideMan - Comedian, Ex BBC radio host
    Gina Yeshere - Comedianne, Producer Writer
    Veronica MacKenzie- Producer, Writer
    David Olusoga- Writer, author, Producer
    Afua Hirsh Writer, author, Producer
    Dr Shola Writer, author, Producer
    Menelik Shabbaz- Writer, Director, Producer
    Amanda Seales- Actor, Academic
    Charlameng tha God- Producer, radio host
    Dr Sebi- Holostic Healer
    Queen Afua- Holistic Healer
    Erykah Badu - Artist, Creator
    Jill Scott- Artist, Creator
    Gill Scott Heron - Artist, Activist
  • jan lewis
    jan lewis
    Art Director
    I've been working with a photographer called Agenda Brown. He's been running a portraits project called The New Chieftains (thenewchieftains.com). we designed a series of 4-sheet posters to raise awareness and encourage nominations for his latest chapter BLACK RESILIENCE. He's looking to celebrate black lives with tenacity but I'd like to nominate him to be celebrated here.
  • Julia Fryer
    Julia Fryer
    Illustrator
    (Hope I get these names right)

    Lenny Henry, Ignatus Sancho, Rosa Parks, Barrack and Michele Obama and all those people who, dispite being amazing, have slipped through the cracks of history.
  • Rowena Hay
    Rowena Hay
    Digital Marketing/Project/Content Manager
    Idriss Andu - Tech Innovator and Developer Architect
    Akala - Artist, Writer, Author, Academic
    Ralph- infinite waters (YouTube)
    Stormzy (Philanthropist and Artist)
    SideMan - Comedian, Ex BBC radio host
    Gina Yeshere - Comedianne, Producer Writer
    Veronica - Producer, Writer
    David Olusoga- Writer, author, Producer
    Afua Hirsh Writer, author, Producer
    Dr Shola Writer, author, Producer

  • Jason Regan
    Jason Regan
    Graphic designer,
    Marvin Gaye, Gil Scott-Heron, Betty Davis, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, James Baldwin, Ava Duvernay, Janelle Monae, Berry Gordy, Sylvester, Clarence Avant, Gordon Parks, Prince – could go on all day...

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