FWLE Honors Black History Month 2023 Part II

To salute a legacy of leadership and empowerment, we are proud to announce the launch of #WomenMakingHistory spotlight during #BlackHistoryMonth

As we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we must always honor the colossal achievements of black women throughout history who have shaped black communities and made an indelible mark on American society and the world. From women’s rights to women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement to Black Lives Matter and more, black women have been at the forefront of social justice and progress, paving the way for generations to come.

Arlan Hamilton

We are proud to recognize Arlan Hamilton during #BlackHistoryMonth. She is a venture capitalist, founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital (“BC”), tech inclusion activist, author and podcaster (“Your First Million”). After founding her BC fund in 2015 she built it from the ground up, prioritizing marginalized high-potential founders who are people of color, women and/or LGBTQ – all while being homeless, without a finance background or a college degree. In 2018 she co-founded Backstage Studio to run new enterprise accelerator programs in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and London, and became the first non-celebrity Black woman to be featured on the cover of Fast Company. Her book It’s About Damn Time shares her career lessons on how to make being underestimated your biggest advantage. Since its founding BC has raised “from the dirt” more than $20 million and invested in 200 startup companies (as of mid-2022). Despite its initial success BC is struggling to grow – but has already made history!

June Bacon-Bercey

To conclude our #WomenMakingHistory spotlight during #BlackHistoryMonth, we honor June Bacon-Bercey. Since the dawn of TV broadcast meteorology has been the domain of white men, excluding women and particularly women of color. June Bacon-Bercey became the first Black woman TV meteorologist in the 1950s, but in the 70 years since hurdles remain for Black women reaching beyond for the chief role. Now Black women who have fought for decades during their careers are earning top TV meteorology roles – reflecting the diversity of their TV audiences. Accolades to these scientists who are making history as the first Black women chief meteorologists at their TV stations Emmy-award winner Veronica Johnson (Washington, D.C.); Karlene Chavis (San Diego); and Betty Davis (South Florida)!