February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and recognize how African Americans have contributed to society. In celebration, here are a few actors, sportsmen, and singers who are changing their industry, encouraging others to share their stories, and find success. Actors and actresses are accustomed to living out different personalities through their work, but Chadwick Boseman and Taraji P. Henson aren’t forgetting who they truly are by speaking on topics that are important to them.

On February 15, the highly anticipated movie “Black Panther” will be shown on the big screen. The film is just in time for Black History Month as it is the first Marvel movie to have the main plot to be centered around a black hero. Actor Chadwick Boseman is playing the Black Panther. Boseman has starred in other predominantly black films such as “Get on Up” and “42”. The next Marvel film the Black Panther is going to be featured in “Avengers: Infinity War” debuting on May 4, 2018. The 41-year-old actor expresses support for other black actors and professionals, including showing support for the NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.

“You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure,” Boseman said.

Actresses are stepping up and speaking their mind on important issues, one is Taraji P. Henson. Taraji P. Henson has stepped through the big screen into television and vice versa multiple times. Henson has challenged the Hollywood business by proving that she will not be constricted to one genre. Late 2016, Henson introduces us to Katherine Johnson in the historical drama “Hidden Figures”. In January 2018, Henson starred in the movie “Proud Mary”. Where instead of her usual drama enriched settings, we see Henson as an action hero and revolutionary woman.  She supports the fight against AIDS, HIV, and supports human rights.

“I’m always interested in challenging myself and pushing and seeing how far I can go,” Henson said.

The sports world is changing too as more diverse athletes are not staying silent any longer, including Simone Biles.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simone Biles dazzled the crowds and the judges with her impressive gymnastic routines winning 14 medals in her first experience at the world championship. Even after the Olympics, Biles is making a name for herself. She has written books about her journey, competed on “Dancing with the Stars”, and has her own biography movie on Lifetime network. She is partnering with Mattress Firm to support a cause that really means a lot to her- kids in foster care. Being a foster child herself, Biles wants to motivate other kids to live out their dreams just like her. Through donations, she’s given away clothes and school supplies.

“It’s amazing that I can inspire little kids to know that you can be short or tall, and your body type doesn’t matter because you can do anything,” Biles said.

The music business is always changing. Everyone wants to pick up on the next trend to continue to be relevant.

Chancelor Johnathan Bennett better known as his stage name Chance the Rapper is not only changing the music game but has made a big impact in the city he grow up by making donations to schools and programs that will encourage youth empowerment. The Chicago based rapper has used his success and resources to help children in his hometown. Chance looks towards the future and in the present to find the needs of the kids while giving them a  platform to prepare for their careers. Through donations, he has contributed coding and technology advice, partnered with Google to give 1.5 million dollars to endorse STEM in Chicago Schools. He also donated three million dollars to Chicago Public Schools.

“Something I try to instill in others is to just be a good person. It’s a decision you make a million times a day. But if you just keep trying, good stuff comes to you in an ordained way,” Chance the Rapper said.

Another musical legend who is helping others is Snoop Dogg.

From cooking shows to video game streaming, Snoop Dogg is doing some big things in multiple industries, including releasing new music. Snoop Dogg has diversified his careers and pushed the limits of a rapper. Snoop has a cooking show with the legend herself Martha Stewart,  a game show called “The Joker’s Wild”, his own youth football league. He plans to drop a new album devoted to a different category of music, gospel. In the different ways that Snoop is making his brand even more popular, he still remains humble. Snoop Dogg has made contributions to tons of charities such as Habitat For Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and 21st Century Leaders.

“It’s so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs… we should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics,” Snoop Dogg said.

I hope these celebrity stories inspired you to follow your dreams, stay humble, help out others.