Black History Month is kicking off just in time to catch the tail end of Kerry Washington’s 36th birthday!
And Kerry’s overwhelming contributions to the spirit of black women in America will not go unrecognized. Washington continuously creates black history by permanently paving the way for other black actresses to make a name for themselves in Hollywood.
PHOTOS: Where Were All the Young Black Actors at the 2013 Golden Globes?
Washington was the first black woman to appear in a lead role on ABC in the last forty years. Her NBC show, Scandal, now in its second season, has been getting record-breaking ratings. According to the New York Times, the show now has 8.4 million viewers, 3.52 million aged 18 to 49.
Scandal’s groundbreaking success is highly attributed to Washington’s casting. The show has started a discussion among the academic community and fans about whether this marks the beginning of post-racial television, where cast members are diverse but not given roles defined by their ethnicity.
PHOTOS: Kerry Washington Talks About the End of “Scandal’s” Story Line As We Know It
In addition to making historical strides in film and television, Washington is a notable style icon. She has most recently been seen stealing the red carpet in J. Mendel, Miu Miu, Marchesa, and Dior.
So to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, who better to usher us into a new post-racial America then the flawless Kerry Washington?!
