Screaming Happy Black History Month!!

I know i’m 21 days late but for the remaining days of February I will be shining a light on a successful Black man or woman with careers in either; music, tv/film, art, fashion, etc…basically anything in the Arts!

My first spotlight shines on Ms. Ava DuVernay.

If you’ve ever wondered who the writer and producer behind OWN’s Queen Sugar is look no further…it’s Ava DuVernay. The director and producer behind Selma?Ava DuVernay. Director of one of Netflix’s most talked about documentaries, 13th? Who but the genius that is Ms. Ava DuVernay. 

In 2012 Ava DuVernay became the first Black woman to win the best director prize at Sundance Film Festival! She has also won awards for her work such as; the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for her 2013 film Middle of Nowhere, Critics Choice Documentary Award for Best Director, BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, NAACP Image Award Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series for Queen Sugar, NAACP Image Award for  Entertainer of the Year, and not one, not two but FOUR EMMYs for 13th. DuVernay is also the first African-American woman to direct a film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. 
Before the history she’s made, Ava DuVernay worked as a publicist and marketer for 14 years. She serviced many notable films such as; I, Robot, Beauty Shop, Waist Deep, and Dream Girls. DuVernay has had huge success and she is showing no signs of slowing down. For her new film A Wrinkle In Time (releases March 9th) iconic singer, Sade will be releasing her first song in 8 years! Not only that, but she is making history AGAIN as the first Black woman director to have a $100 Million dollar budget for a film. Ava continues to set the bar and serve as an inspiration to every girl around the World (including this girl right here). 

Ava DuVernay’s emotional speech at the ESSENCE Woke Awards.

Originally published 2/22/18.