would your workplace exist without these black women?

Tomorrow is Juneteenth. And it’s so much more than just that additional holiday your company added to the calendar a few years ago. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It’s a day of celebration, remembrance, and reflection. And here at Tennie, we’re taking a moment to honor the Black women throughout history whose courage, brilliance, and resistance shaped the world we live in.

It’s easy to forget that the freedom to work - to earn a wage, own a business, run for office, make impactful corporate decisions - is the result of relentless effort by people who weren’t always invited in. Many of those people were Black women. They weren’t just fighting for a seat at the table; they were building a brand-new freaking table and then pulling up seats for other women.

Here are 5 Black women whose work made today’s workplaces possible:

Harriet Tubman

Freedom. Service. Empathy.
You’ve heard of her incredible bravery leading people to freedom through the Underground Railroad, but did you know she also worked as a nurse, spy, and scout for the Union Army? Her life redefined what women could do in service, strategy, and leadership and reminds us that true leadership isn’t measured by how far you can go alone, but by how many people you bring with you.

Quote to inspire you: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.”

Ida B. Wells

Integrity. Journalism. Accountability.
Before there were employee activism campaigns, whistleblowers, or DEI reports, there was Ida B. Wells. With fearless integrity, she exposed racial violence when most people refused to acknowledge it. She had the courage to speak up, no matter the consequences - because the truth matters.

Quote to inspire you: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

Madam C.J. Walker

Entrepreneur. Ownership. Trailblazer.
As the first self-made female millionaire in America, Walker didn't just build a beauty empire; she created jobs for thousands of Black women and modeled what economic independence could look like. Her legacy lives in every woman who chooses to work for herself (very resonant for Team Tennie).

Quote to inspire you: “I got my start by giving myself a start.”

Pauli Murray

Legal equality. Intersectionality. Precedent.
We love a Pride/Juneteenth crossover! A queer, Black, nonbinary legal genius who laid the groundwork for the very laws that protect women and marginalized people at work today. Icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited Murray’s scholarship in her Supreme Court arguments for gender equality. Their fingerprints are on every HR policy that dares to be inclusive.

Quote to inspire you: “When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them. Where they speak out for the privileges of a puny group, I shall shout for the rights of all mankind.”

Shirley Chisholm

Representation. Politician. President(ish).
The first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek a major-party presidential nomination, Chisholm showed up unapologetically as herself. Her campaign slogan said it best: “Unbought and Unbossed.”

Quote to inspire you: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

These women created the blueprint for liberation at work and beyond. So today, we’re not just remembering history, we’re living in the world they made possible.

If you’re trailblazing a new path, advocating for greater inclusion efforts at work, or showing up authentically in your professional space, just know: these women have your back, and they are so proud of you. So keep going!