2. Black Girls Rock!
Beverly Bond wants black girls to know that they rock and to understand a woman’s worth. (Black Girls Rock Inc.)
Beverly Bond created Black Girls Rock! in 2006 to “enrich the lives of girls aged 12 to 17 years old through mentorship, arts education, cultural exploration and public service.” In the process, the former model and DJ wants to improve their self-worth and self-image at a time when they are being bombarded with all sorts of messages. Programs include Saturday Enrichment Institutes and a series of Queens’ Camps for Leadership & Excellence on college campuses. Black Girls Rock! has grown to include an annual awards show on BET to honor past and present sheroes. Bond recently hosted a town hall on race, gender and media messaging in Harlem. She also called out racist critics, saying that they have “blind spots associated with white privilege” and reminding everyone that there’s room for all girls to rock.
