Michelle Obama, Claressa Shields, Oprah Winfrey, and Rosa Parks all have something in common.

They are all influential black women who have made history.

Since before we were born, women and other minority groups have been fighting for equal rights. Influential and brave women like the ones listed above have used their powerful platform to spread the message of equality and continue to fight for that equality.

Since it is Black History Month, these women, as well as many others, deserve a big kudos for all the amazing things they have done for this movement.

Obama was the first black first lady, alongside her husband and former president, Mr. Barack Obama, who was the first black president of the United States.

Being the first black first lady is an amazing accomplishment on its own, but Mrs. Obama used her platform as first lady to spread the word about female equality.

In 2015 she and her husband launched the “Let Girls Learn” initiative. This was to help young girls around the world gain access to schooling so they can grow up without depending on the government or the educated parts of the communities to provide for them.

Shields, an Olympic gold medalist from Flint, has made some amazing achievements during her boxing career. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal for boxing.

From her rough upbringing in Flint to winning multiple Olympic gold medals, Shields has made history for women and the black community.

Winfrey is an inspirational black woman. She has her own TV network and is the face of many advertisements.

She is one of many women you think of when you’re asked, “Who is one of the most influential black women you know?” Oprah is known for promoting equality for all minority groups.

The final and, perhaps, most influential woman on this list is Rosa Parks.

In school you are taught about Parks from a young age and into adulthood.

She is known mostly for the Montgomery Bus Boycott where she would not give up her seat for a white person and, in turn, was arrested. This sparked a movement for desegregation and pro-equality movements that moved our nation.