It’s Social Media Week, again. Yay! And for all my tweeting, Tumblring, pinning and Facebook posting community of peeps out there, it’s a time for us to geek out about the wonderfulness of social sharing. And what better way for MadameNoire to celebrate than to highlight powerful and influential black women with huge social media followings.
Fast Company magazine omitted popular black women from the “Smartest Women on Twitter” list about a month ago, but we’re showcasing 12 more black women (in addition to these picks) some love for social media’s most important week.
Soledad O’Brien (@Soledad_OBrien),
Journalist and Documentarian
Now she was definitely one of the first media personalities and journalists I followed during my Twitter beginnings. She stepped up to the plate for black folks and other folks of color when it came to producing meaningful news documentaries on OUR issues, and for that she has earned her following.
Source: Twitter
Jenna Wortham (@jennydeluxe)
NY Times Technology Reporter
Wortham made a name for herself writing about technology and media startups, which undoubtedly helped in increasing her own following. If you’re in the fields of technology or media startups, you should follow her, clearly! But with nearly 500,000 followers on Twitter, I think tweeps get that point.
Source: Twitter
Crystal Washington (@cryswashington)
Social Media Strategist | Speaker
This couldn’t be a list of smart black women with huge social followings if someone like Washington wasn’t on it. She might not be a popular personality, but as a social media consultant, I think she knows a thing or two about social business and social sharing. And although, she’s not a personality, she has a huge following to back up her skills.
Source:
http://succeedasyourownboss.com/
Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady)
Entrepreneur
If Forbes can recognize a black woman’s influence then why can’t Fast Company magazine? Anyways, she’s Forbes #1 influential woman for entrepreneurship and for good reason too. She teaches #succeedasyourownboss. And that’s #realboss.
Source:
http://about.me/digitalsista
Shireen Mitchell (@digitalsista)
Social Strategist
She brings diversity to technology, politics and media as a social strategist. As a gamer, she created TechnoDemic to help youths learn about technology. See, good things can come from being a gamer. Mitchell has been creating and merging a range of fields like the ones mentioned above.
Issa Rae/’The Awkward Black Girl’ (@IssaRae)
Web Series Creator, Actress, Producer, Director
Now she’s the epitome of building a brand via social media, YouTube and Twitter to be exact. Her web series, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” has blown up, and we all know her now as the face of black girl awkwardness. Heck, she’s the face of black girl genius to be behind representations that weren’t present beforehand.
Necole Bitchie (@necolebitchie)
Entertainment Personality
Necole Bitchie might blog about celebrities and call herself… well… bitchy, but her following is not only huge on the blogosphere, she’s now a celebrity in her own right with plenty of Facebook postings and community interaction. And let’s not forget, she’s verified on Twitter. Werk!
Source: Twitter
Lovette Ajayi (@Luvvie)
Pop Culture Blogger
She’s another blogger that adopted an appropriate alter ego or entertainment personality. And that’s ‘Awesomely Luvvie’ of her. If you love all things entertainment, specifically TV… OK specifically “Scandal” then follow her. She’s brings humor to her commentary and brand.
Source: Twitter
Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile)
Political Analyst
She’s our representation for political analysis a lot of times. She’s usually the only black woman, but Brazile has been in politics for quite some time, and has built a community of political followers behind her.
Source: Twitter
Valeisha Butterfield-Jones (@valeisha)
Political Strategist
This young woman worked for the Obama Administration, and has been profiled by a variety of black publications as a leading executive in the US! She’s also co-founded a women’s entertainment network. All the while, she hasn’t forgotten to tweet about public affairs and politics.
Source: Twitter
Saran Kaba Jones (@sarankjones)
Founder of Face Africa
Jones built a following as she’s the founder of Face Africa, focused on gender inequality and sustainability and bringing clean water to Liberia. You see, doing good things can give you quite the following.
Source: Twitter
Anthea Butler (@AntheaButler),
Univ. of Pennsylvania Professor
And of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without a smart black woman who specializes not only in education, but in religion. In fact, Butler credits herself of relieving Twitter of its ignorance. That’s a job all of us smart people should be helping her complete.
