Black Excellence in 2022

This February and beyond, we’re celebrating Black creators who continue to push boundaries by crafting new futures in science, sports, education, and design. Black creators who are making history. Today.

Majora Carter

Majora Carter is a renowned urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer, MacArthur Fellow and Peabody Award winning broadcaster who views urban renewal through an environmental perspective. She draws a direct link between ecological, economic and social degradation. She was one of the first of six speakers on the TEDTalks series. Her company, the Majora Carter Group utilizes the green economy to unlock the potential in low income communities.

Nicholas Johnson

Hailing from Montreal, Nicholas graduated from Princeton in 2020 and became the first Black valedictorian in the school’s history. Breaking barriers has long been part of this 23-years-old’s story, and we can’t wait to see where his greatness leads him.

Alia Atkinson

Alia Shanee Atkinson is the first Black woman to ever win a world swimming title. The 5-time Jamaican Olympian and 4-time breaststroke World Champion has raced internationally for nearly two decades and her two world record swims from 2016 and 2018 remain the two fastest swims in the event on record.

Jewel Ham

Jewel Ham is an artist to her core. Through her artwork, she aims to be an encouraging force for other young people interested in creating art. She’s also the origin point of Spotify Wrapped’s new story format, a change she suggested as a former intern.

Chidiebere Ibe

After going viral in 2021 for his illustration of a Black fetus in the womb, Chidiebere Ibe, a Nigerian first-year medical student, helped spark a much-needed conversation on ethnic representation in the medical field. He’s also the creative director of the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons.

Feben Vemmenby

This Britain-based fashion designer knows how to push the edges of her craft. She draws inspiration from her experiences navigating through the world as a black woman. Her pieces are personal, humorous, and avant-garde while “reclaiming Black identity through a surrealistic approach.”