In honor of Black History Month, we're celebrating some of the most influential and professionally powerful African-American females. From novelist Toni Morrison to the multitalented Beyoncé Knowles, we admire these 11 women for their hard work and strength, as each has become a leader in her industry. Take a look at our some of our favorite African-American female role models, then share your own in the comments below.
Oprah Winfrey: Honor Your Calling
To celebrate Black History Month, we're featuring a series of inspiring quotes from movers and shakers who have paved the way and made a difference in the lives of African Americans today.

Source: Flickr User paul (dex)
Harriet Tubman: You Have It Within You to Change the World
To celebrate Black History Month, we're featuring a series of inspiring quotes from movers and shakers who have paved the way and made a difference in the lives of African Americans today.

Source: Flickr User Pink Sherbert Photography
Whitney Houston: Live Your Beliefs
To celebrate Black History Month, we're featuring a series of inspiring quotes from movers and shakers who have paved the way and made a difference in the lives of African Americans today.
We're all saddened by the passing of the singing legend, Whitney Houston. Her lyrics and passion for music have inspired us throughout the years. Her amazing talent will be remembered and celebrated for decades to come.

Great Books to Inspire Conversation For Black History Month
In honor of Black History Month, we've rounded up five of the best books around to inspire conversation with your kids. From President Obama's Of Thee I Sing, a tribute to the people and ideals that shaped our nation, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's brand new book, What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors, there's something to inspire dialogue with kids of every age and interest.
A Celebration of Black Female Athletes
History is marked with talented black athletes who asserted their civil rights and defied segregation to play professionally. To celebrate Black History Month, here is a look at noteworthy black female athletes who have risen to the top and the women who helped pave their way.
The Snowy Day Celebrates 50 Years of Breaking Racial Boundaries
While a parent reading The Snowy Day to their child in 2012 might not think twice about its societal impact, the book broke racial barriers when it was published 50 years ago. The story itself is a sweet, straightforward one that tells the tale of Peter, the young protagonist, exploring his neighborhood on a snowy day, but the fact that Peter is African American was a bold departure from the standard for children's books in 1962.
In honor of the The Snowy Day's 50th anniversary, Viking has released a special anniversary edition of the Caldecott Medal-winning kids classic. And if you live in Amherst, MA, or San Francisco, CA, bring your kiddies to "The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats," a touring exhibition that celebrates the important history of the little book that tells a big story.
Honoring Some of Our Favorite Geeks For Black History Month
We may have Valentine's Day on the brain, but February also marks an important time of the year — Black History Month. In honor of Black History Month, let's take a look at some of our favorite geeks, both past and present. Everyone on this list has made vast contributions to furthering tech as we know it.

- Dwayne McDuffie — The recently passed McDuffie wrote comic books for both Marvel and DC (including Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, the Fantastic Four and the Justice League of America) before founding his own company, Milestone Media, which helped pioneer the use of multicultural characters as its heroes.
- Mark Dean — Nerd alert! Without Dean, there may not have been a PC — he holds three of IBM's original nine PC patents, leading the teams that developed the ISA bus and the first one-gigahertz chip.
- Mae Carol Jemison — It doesn't get much geekier than space travel; Jemison was the first black woman to travel in space.
- Philip Emeagwali — We can all blame Emeagwali for our Internet addiction. He developed the fastest supercomputer software in the world. His IQ is too high to be measured by conventional standards, and he's won a Gordon Bell Prize, which is like the Nobel Prize for computer science.
See the rest of the notables when you read more.
Michelle Obama Honors Black History Month
Michelle Obama invited 200 schoolchildren into the East Room of the White House yesterday to celebrate Black History Month. While she was impressed with the students' knowledge of black history, she encouraged them to look beyond the names in history books to the people in their day-to-day lives, like parents, teachers, and grandparents.
The all-female a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock, performed to the cheering group, which included the first lady's daughters, Sasha and Malia, and mother, Marian Robinson.



