UnShaded Revelations

Listen, if there’s one thing about Black women, it’s that we are going to make a way…whether the world is ready for us or not. We’ve been doing it for generations, across every space imaginable, from the pulpit to politics, from business to social justice. And even though history doesn’t always give us the credit we deserve, that doesn’t change the fact that we’ve been out here shaking tables, building legacies, and breaking chains.

This Black History Month, I want to highlight some women who were unleashed and unapologetic, walking boldly in their purpose even when society told them to sit down and be quiet. And I can’t talk about history-making Black women without talking about the ones in my family, because that’s where my foundation was laid.

My Mother & My Grandmothers: Faith That Moves Mountains

Before I ever knew about any other woman, I knew about my momma—a woman who walked with faith so strong it could move mountains. She’s the kind of woman who has always believed in me, pushed me, and prayed over me even when I didn’t always see what she saw. She’s been my example of grace and strength, of what it means to trust God even when things don’t go as planned.

And then there are my grandmothers, women who lived out their faith with resilience and love. They didn’t need a stage because their lives were a message. Their prayers still cover me, their lessons still guide me, and their strength still runs through my veins.

Black women like my mother and grandmothers don’t just live history…they make history every single day.

Jarena Lee

Before women were widely accepted in the pulpit, Jarena Lee was already out here preaching with fire. Born in 1783, she became the first Black woman licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. But let me tell you—it wasn’t easy.

When she first expressed her calling, she was told “no.” But years later, while sitting in a service, she was so overcome by the Spirit that she got up and started preaching right in the middle of the sermon. No microphone, no pulpit, no title—just a calling she couldn’t hold in. And that moment changed everything. Bishop Richard Allen finally recognized her gift, and she went on to travel thousands of miles, preaching at a time when both racism and sexism were working against her.

Her story reminds me that when God calls you, you don’t need human permission. The world may not be ready, but that’s not your problem. Your only job is to walk in purpose—unapologetically.

Claudette Colvin

Most people know Rosa Parks, but before her, there was Claudette Colvin—a 15-year-old girl who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Nine months before Rosa.

Claudette was arrested, but the Civil Rights leaders at the time didn’t rally around her the way they later did for Rosa Parks. Why? Because she was young, dark-skinned, and had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Respectability politics pushed her to the shadows.

But her story still matters. She was part of the Supreme Court case that ended bus segregation, even if history didn’t give her the credit.

Her story reminds me that pioneers don’t always get the recognition, but their impact still stands. You may not be the one they write about, but that doesn’t mean your work wasn’t essential.

Fannie Lou Hamer

If faith and fire were a person, it would be Fannie Lou Hamer. She grew up the youngest of 20 children in a sharecropping family and didn’t even know she had the right to vote until she was 44. But once she found out? She made it her mission to fight for voting rights.

She was fired from her job for trying to register to vote. Beaten in jail for fighting for justice. And yet, she never backed down. She co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and stood before the entire nation demanding justice.

Her famous words still hit home today: “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Fannie Lou reminds us that sometimes, the work God calls you to won’t be easy, but it will be necessary. Faith isn’t just about personal blessings—it’s about fighting for what’s right.

Madam C.J. Walker

Before Instagram hair influencers and billion-dollar beauty brands, Madam C.J. Walker was doing it first. Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 to formerly enslaved parents, she became the first Black woman millionaire in America and she did it with her own two hands.

She saw a need, hair care products specifically for Black women, and built an empire. But she didn’t just get rich; she made sure she brought others with her. She created jobs for thousands of Black women, funded scholarships, and supported the fight for Black rights.

Her story reminds us that our gifts can make room for us (Proverbs 18:16). She didn’t wait for someone to create opportunities, she created them herself.

Walking in Their Footsteps

These women, both the ones history remembers and the ones who raised me, are proof that Black women don’t just exist in the world; we shape it.

• Jarena Lee shows us that when God calls, you don’t need permission.

• Claudette Colvin reminds us that impact isn’t always recognized, but it still matters.

• Fannie Lou Hamer proves that faith and justice go hand in hand.

• Madam C.J. Walker reminds us that our gifts can create legacy and wealth.

• And my mama and grandmothers? They remind me every day that faith, love, and resilience will always be my foundation.

So as we honor Black History Month, let’s remember that we aren’t just looking back at history, we are actively writing it.

Black women have always been unleashed and unapologetic and it’s our job to keep it that way.

Because their legacy is ours to continue.

Grace & Love,

Chels