This year has been wrought with murders of unarmed black youth and attacks on those who peacefully try to change a broken system. Although the black community has suffered extreme loss and pain this year, we’ve held our heads high and created some pretty awesome headlines. Here are just 10 of our many shining moments from 2015.

1. The Obamas shutting down their China State Dinner

Correction: Michelle shutting down the China State Dinner in her custom-made Vera Wang gown that was admired and envied by all. On September 26, the Obamas reminded us that they are indeed still fly with their ability to be effortlessly stunning and silly at the same time. From Michelle’s loving bowtie fix to Barack’s “yeah, I got this” face, this couple served us with ultimate relationship goals for the 5011th time and we still weren’t ready.

2. 50th Anniversary of the Selma March

In March 1965, thousands of people marched from Selma to Montgomery two weeks after the attack on Edmund Pettus Bridge that came to be known as Bloody Sunday. In March 2015, President Obama, Congressman John Lewis, and thousands of participants marched across the bridge again to commemorate those who had fought for equal voting rights so long ago. It was a moment for us to be proud of how far we’ve come, but also a somber moment in recognizing how much work we still have to do.

3. #BlackOnCampus

This year, college students across the nation stood up and fought for equality on their respective campuses. Between hunger strikes, protests, and the organizing of all members of college life, students were able to request and achieve specific demands from their university presidents. These students were able to introduce concrete, long-lasting changes in a timely manner to create the campus atmosphere they deserve. What a time to be alive.

4. Taking over the travel game

Somewhere in #Cartagena. #HighCouncil member @bgreene3 enjoying the views. There are several #Tribe members here so let’s connect. #Colombia. #Nomadness

A photo posted by Nomadness Travel Tribe (@nomadnesstribe) on Dec 4, 2015 at 11:11am PST

If you’ve been on social media at all in 2015, you’ll notice that black folk are flying. Travel Noire, Nomadness Tribe, Black Adventuristas and dozens of other wanderlust pages have taught us that we deserve to see every corner of this globe. Our timelines are filled with black people slaying travel pictures in Dubai, Greece, Thailand and more. Consider our horizons officially expanded.

5. Black Girl Magic all over The Emmy Awards

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Buckner/Variety/REX Shutterstock (5120845fr) Viola Davis ('How To Get Away With Murder' - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series) 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, Show, Los Angeles, America - 20 Sep 2015 — Mandatory Credit: Photo by Buckner/Variety/REX Shutterstock (5120845fr)
Viola Davis (‘How To Get Away With Murder’ – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series)
67th Primetime Emmy Awards, Show, Los Angeles, America – 20 Sep 2015

The Emmys this year brought out the absolute best in black women. Taraji taught us how to be the ultimate cheerleader while Viola let the world know she and her superstar friends aren’t done breaking the glass ceiling. Uzo made us cry and love her even more than we knew possible. Black women across the country let out a resounding “yasssss” after that award show.

6. Black Girl Magic all over everything

In June, Misty Copeland became the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater. In February, Haben Girma, Harvard Law’s first deafblind graduate, was named a White House Champion of Change for her work in advocating for individuals with disabilities. Lloiminica Hall, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles continued to raise the bar for gymnasts around the world. I am so happy to say this list of exceptional black women is truly endless.

7. Storming the silver screen and the big screen

Our TV screens have been full of melanin this year and it’s pure bliss. Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Empire continued to give us our drama fix, but newcomers such as Rosewood had us loving Morris Chestnut all over again. Black-ish finally seemed to reach the point where we were reminded of our beloved late ’90s black family-centered shows. If that wasn’t enough, movies such as The Perfect Guy and Concussion had us running to the theaters. It was so refreshing to see Hollywood casting black actors in “traditionally white roles,” as they did with Michael B. Jordan in Fantastic Four and Creed, and John Boyega in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Haters aside, it felt like Hollywood was turning a new leaf.

8. 1-800 Hotline Bling

Drake gave us pure magic with his “Hotline Bling” video and the Internet repaid him 100-fold with arguably the best memes of 2015. The Champagne Papi became Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, and a Wii tennis player all within the span of a week. When we weren’t distracted by these hot new dance moves, we were blessed with new albums from Kendrick Lamar and Curren$y, and Chance the Rapper became the first independent artist on Saturday Night Live. As per usual, we didn’t disappoint musically this year.

9. #ThanksgivingClapback / #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies

Black Twitter graced us with the best Thanksgiving entertainment ever in 2015 with these two hashtags. The world became privy to the sacred traditions of Thanksgiving dinners in black households, such as extended prayers and your auntie’s perpetually elevating wig game. Black Twitter didn’t stop there, though. They went on to share the ultimate Thanksgiving Clapbacks. Those memes got everyone hype and ready for battle among the family’s gossip queens. Thank you, Black Twitter.

10. The Wiz Live!

Forty years after The Wiz originally appeared on Broadway, NBC rebooted the classic play in a nationally broadcasted live performance. On December 3, The Wiz Live! became the most-tweeted live special program ever, with an estimated 1.6 million tweets during the broadcast. The extra-talented cast delivered a performance that featured impeccable costumes and soul-touching voices. The play connected all aspects of black life in just three hours and showed just how beautiful black truly is.

What were your favorite moments in 2015? Let us know in the comments below!

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