It’s no secret that this past year has been a divisive one. Democrat or Republican, black or white, citizen or immigrant, male or female, gay or straight, it seems no matter who we are or what we believe its ‘wrong’. We can no longer live as one and it has been disheartening to watch. However, some pretty incredible things have happened this year and since they have been overshadowed by our nation’s drama, I’m here to remind you – and these are just a few!
- After the successful release of A Wrinkle In Time, Ava DuVernay became the first black female director whose movie grossed more than $100 million.
- The #MeToo movement brought sexual harassment/assault to light and with the arrests of Harvey Weinstein, canceled R. Kelly concerts, firing of Les Moonves, sentencing of Bill Cosby and imprisonment of Larry Nasser, it proved that no matter how ‘powerful’ you are, you will be held accountable for your actions.
- Gina Rodriguez gave away her Emmy Award campaign money to fund a scholarship for an undocumented high school student. The student is now able to go to Princeton tuition-free.
- The beautiful Laverne Cox became Cosmopolitan magazine’s first transgender cover model.
- Adam Rippon made history as the first openly gay American to medal at the Winter Olympics.
- A group of teenage students from Parkland, FL got the country to take action against gun violence and displayed more courage than most of our country’s adults.
- The 2018 midterm elections made big waves in our country’s history, electing Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland as the first Native American women in Congress, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar as the first Muslim women in Congress and Jared Polis as the first openly gay man elected governor.
- Lebron James opened a new school in Akron, Ohio to help more than 200 at-risk third and fourth graders. His “I Promise” school will provide free uniforms, meals, transportation and guaranteed tuition for all graduates to the University of Akron.
- Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and became the first American citizen to marry into the royal family. (She also became the U.K.’s first black Duchess.)
- Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, donated $1.8 billion dollars to John Hopkins University. The money is to be used for financial aid, allowing qualified students to attend who couldn’t previously afford the tuition.
