Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, is an annual celebration that originated in the United States and was officially recognized in 1976. This month to honor people of African descent started off as Negro History Week in 1926, established by historian Carter G.Woodson. Among its many meaningful dimensions, this annual observance serves as a time to honor souls whose impact radiates throughout the world despite the history of marginalization and oppression people of African descent have faced. In 2025, The League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville will highlight the lives of three influential individuals of African descent whose achievements have inspired millions throughout the world.

Adrian Piper

Adrian Piper is an American conceptual artist and Kantian philosopher born on September 20th, 1948, in Harlem in Manhattan. Piper grew up in an upper-middle class Black family and attended the School of Visual Arts (1966-1969), The City College of New York (1970-1974) and Harvard University (1981) where she earned her PhD in philosophy. Her body of work utilizes an extraordinary range of traditional and non-traditional media and is widely considered to have “profoundly influenced the language and form of Conceptual art.”  Piper explores subjecthood, human agency, human identity in metaphysical and political contexts, race, gender, class and social justice to challenge societal norms. Through powerful pieces such as “My Calling (Card) #1” and “Cornered,” Piper confronts viewers with revelatory truths about invented notions of race, racism, and socially-constructed human identities in general. In 1979 and 1981, Piper was awarded visual arts fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1987, Piper became the first African-American woman tenured professor in philosophy at Georgetown and had taught at other prestigious universities, including Stanford, Harvard, UCSD and Michigan. She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1989 and has continued to receive innumerable forms of recognition throughout the 21st century as well, leading up to her most recent receipt of the Harvard Arts Medal in the United States in 2023. By connecting art and philosophy, Piper has influenced generations of artists and scholars to  confront social constructs, such as “race” as it is used to reify and promulgate racism – a destructive false belief system, socioeconomic structure and phenomenon.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was born on January 24th, 1874. He was a historian, writer, curator and activist who brought awareness to the contributions that African Americans have made to society. He was born to Mary Joseph, a freeborn Black midwife, and Carlos Federico Schomburg, a merchant and son of a German immigrant.  In 1891, he moved from Puerto Rico to New York City and became an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. As a dedicated collector, he gathered a large collection of books, documents and artifacts that highlighted the contributions of African and Afro-Caribbean people. His efforts provided a foundation for scholars to learn more about African history. His collection became part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, at the New York Public Library branch in Harlem. Schomburg’s work continues to inspire the study of the African Diaspora and African-American heritage today. 

Queen Nefertiti

Queen Nefertiti was an iconic figure of ancient Egypt, she reigned at what was arguably the wealthiest period of ancient Egyptian history. She was born in 1370 BCE and ruled Egypt from 1353 to 1336 BCE. She was queen alongside her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten. She symbolizes Black excellence, leadership and beauty, inspiring generations of African-Americans to learn about ancient African civilizations, most of which have been entirely excluded as subject matter in the American public education system despite Africa being the birthplace of human civilization. 

Nefertiti and her husband played a key role in the religious revolution that promoted monotheism. She was made famous in the 20th century by the discovery of her ancient bust. This bust is now in Berlin’s Neues Museum and is one of the most copied artworks of ancient Egypt. Nefertiti’s legacy continues to influence and inspire pride in African heritage, reinforcing the historical roots of Black civilizations and their impact as humans migrated across the world. 

-Tasya Xiao