• Black History Month badge

Here Are 15 Of The Best Black Excellence Moments From This Week

So much excellence this week! I could barely type fast enough!

Ehis Osifo
by Ehis Osifo

BuzzFeed Staff

1. CALLING ALL THE STARS!! Taraji P. Henson is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Come January 28th, this Empire star will be getting a star of her very own. Can wait to take a when they install it.

2. Shantell "Shannie" Pooser is American Airlines’ first flight attendant with special needs.

3. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani will be starring in an upcoming romantic comedy called The Lovebirds!

Jerod Harris / Getty Images, Matthew Simmons / Getty Images

The movie centers on a couple who is on the brink of a breakup, but before they can do the deed, they get involved in a murder mystery and all the hijinks that come with it. There isn't a release day for this yet, but I will be refreshing my Fandango page CONSTANTLY until tickets are on sale.

4. Jaylen Hands showed amazing sportsmanship to one of his teammates during a tough game.

ESPN

In a game against Oregon, UCLA player Moses Brown made a bad pass with minutes left. But before he could get too dejected, fellow teammate Jaylen Hands came up to him and *physically* lifted his head up when he was down. If that's not the definition of keeping your head up high, then I don't know what is. Keep up the good sportsmanship, Jaylen!

5. Missy Elliott made history as the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame!

Gary Gershoff / Getty Images

Yaaaasssss Missy!! You better "work it"! Congrats, queen!

6. Congrats to the Essence Magazine's "Black Women in Hollywood" honorees!

Essence

The four women — Jennifer Lewis, Kiki Layne, Amandla Stenberg, and Regina Hall — will each be gracing the cover of Essence Magazine in February. Love all these black queens!

7. Congrats to Nasa Camera Designer Shelby Jacobs for finally getting recognition for his work that lead to the success of the Apollo 6 launch.

8. Congrats to Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III for becoming the first black couple to dance lead for the American Ballet Theatre!

9. Shoutout to Juliana Stratton for becoming the first black Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

Joshua Lott / Getty Images

Serve in excellence, Lieutenant!

10. To honor the late and great Muhammad Ali, Louisville, Kentucky has renamed its airport after him.

Harry Benson / Getty Images

Looks like I'm taking a trip to Kentucky so I can say I've touched down in Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

11. It was announced that living legend Alicia Keys will be hosting the Grammys this year!

Gary Gershoff / Getty Images

Oh, you know this is gonna be a good show!

12. In award season news, congrats to Regina King, Mahershala Ali, and Thandie Newton for their respective awards!

Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images, Kevin Winter / Getty Images, Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

King took home Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk, Ali took home Best Supporting Actor for Green Book, and Newton took home Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the Critics Choice Awards. Well deserved, if you ask me!!

13. Congrats to Barry Jenkins for winning the Critics Choice Award for Best Adapted Screenplay!

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Annapurna Pictures

Barry deserves all the awards AND MORE for this film. My goodness. So good.

14. Congrats to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for winning the Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature!

Marvel

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE, GO AND SEE IT RIGHT NOW! LIKE, THIS MINUTE.

15. And, last but certainly not least, congrats to Black Panther for its three Critics Choice Awards!

Marvel

It won the : Product Design, Costume Design, and Visual Effects awards, to which I say "duh." Everything visual about this movie was spectacular.

Wowza. What a WEEK! Tune in next week to see if we can top all this ex-so-llonce!

Marvel