Death to the single story! Lena Waithe ( the homie in our head) gathered 62 black women writers to be apart of The Hollywood Reporter's largest shoot ever! The Black Women Who Brunch crew discussed how the industry can better understand black women in Hollywood and the importance of black women writing our own narratives. This year, also proved the immense value that black women have in entertainment. Sister Ava Duvernay secured a $100 million dollar deal with Warner Brothers Television in which she will produce TV projects for every platform — including broadcast, cable, and streaming services.

This year’s fashion week was dubbed #NYFWNOIR after Harlem’s Fashion Row  held it’s 11th Annual Style Awards and fashion show in partnership with Nike and Lebron James. The show was Black as fuck  from the music to the fashion in which it was revealed that LeBron James  collaborated with three Harlem Fashion Row designers on his first women’s basketball shoe with Nike. The three black women were Fe Noel, Undra Celeste and Kimberly Goldson.

It took Black Panther 26 days to pass $1 billion at the global box office ( and we’re still counting). The film cleverly touched on African history and AfroFuturism challenging industry norms about films with black casts, directors, writers and producers. The fictional world of Wakanda was a groundbreaking celebration of black culture and black pride that touch moved and inspired the world. Black Panther was also the most tweeted movie in history- fans used hashtag #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe to unpack how they personally connected with the film. Companies finally realized that representation can and will make a profit. The film inspires people of all backgrounds to dig deep and find the courage to be heroes of their own stories, proving that #Wakanda will forever live in our hearts.

Cory booker passionately argued his case on capital hill at the Kavanaugh hearing while his aide Tona Boyd ( she’s his Chief Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee) who rocked a perfectly coiffed afro made sure the world knew that she wasn’t feeling the lies and disrespect of this case #awholemood. Let’s also not forget that 2018 proved to be a historic win for black women in politics. For the first time in US history, more than 20 black women will serve in Congress.

In 2017 Maxine Waters taught us how to reclaim our time, this year we affectionately crowned her Auntie Maxine. We all have no nonsense Black Matriarchs in our lives. Often times when faced with a decision we ask ourselves What Would They Do? because they navigate situations articulately with venom laced words. Maxine Waters is no different. No one can top her telling the world SHE AIN'T NEVER SCARED and how dope is it when an elder embraces the youth so effortlessly?

If there was anyone else at Coachella this year.. We couldn’t tell. Beyonce brought the HBCU experience to life for an all out celebration that spawned a collaboration collection with Balmain and dance routines to last every happy hour for all of 2019!

Just to be clear standing up in the face of injustice is nothing new as a black person in America. But Ms. Stacey Abrams was so close to making history, she refused to concede knowing there had been foul play. Although Abrams ending up not winning the Midterm race in Atlanta, she rallied an unprecedented amount of voters and showed them that a black woman is nothing to play with.

This past July, Lebron James made our hearts overflow with the opening of this I Promise School in Akron, Ohio. A PUBLIC INSTITUTION which means it directly services the community in which it takes up space. On top of that James has pledged college tuition for each graduate. What a way to pay it forward.

Time and time again Black women are the juice and the squeeze, which we receive zero credit for. In 2018, Tarana Burke finally became the face of the movement she founded, #MeToo. Her newfound recognition has landed her at the top of the Root 100 and on the 2018 Time’s 100 list, all long overdue

There’s no doubt about it, Serena Williams is the best athlete of our generation. To be honest, I dare say of all time. No one has shown the dedication and the conviction both on and off the court like Serena. Let’s be honest who would even watch tennis if our girl wasn’t out there killing it? But as a Black Woman not even being the best can protect you from outright bias and racism, with all being said, Serena keeps her chin up and there’s nothing Blacker than that.