In celebration of Black History Month, Shondaland has partnered with theSkimm on a video series to honor pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Told through the lens of personal stories from Chandra Wilson, Michael Strahan, Leslie Odom Jr., Tika Sumpter, William Jackson Harper, Jason George, and Cynthia Erivo, the weekly series will enlighten viewers on moments in current history and how they are often connected to cultural events that preceded them.
Frederick Douglass, Shirley Chisholm, Condoleeza Rice, and Barack Obama — what do they all have in common? They each broke a barrier, and became a "first" in their field. First black man to be nominated for president. First black woman to become a congresswoman. First black woman to be named secretary of state. First black man to become president of the United States. They've paved the way for so many other people, and politicians like Kamala Harris, Karen Bass, and Terri Sewell so proudly continue to carry the torch handed down generation after generation.
In the video above, Station 19 star Jason George takes a moment to reflect on what these "firsts" mean to him, on the importance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and what it was like to watch President Obama's inauguration with his children. This Black History Month, it's important to keep fighting for all the progress we've yet to make, but it's just as important that we look back and remember the progress already made and those who worked so hard to achieve it. Take a moment to thank our forebears, and let their spirits inspire you to keep pushing forward.
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