15 Black Women Who, Quite Frankly, Did the Damn Thing in 2020

Ella made history in June, becoming the first Black person and the first woman to serve as the mayor of Ferguson, MO. The accomplishment came nearly six years after the Missouri town ignited calls for social justice following the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Ella's momentous election win also came amid global demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. "I know the people in Ferguson are ready to stabilize their community, and we're going to work together to get it done," Ella told a local reporter after her victory.