Honouring Black Brilliance: How Black Leaders with Disabilities Are Shaping Our Future
Black History Month 2026 is guided by the theme: “Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations - from Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme reminds us that Black excellence is not only part of our past; it is also leadership happening right now, shaping the future in real and lasting ways.
This month often invites us to look back. But some of the most powerful stories are the ones still unfolding today.
A few years ago, a Canadian law professor walked into a room at the United Nations as an expert. Her name is Professor Laverne Jacobs. She became the first Canadian ever elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
This moment carries deep meaning.
The United Nations plays a key role in shaping how countries support and include people with disabilities. The decisions made influence laws, access, and opportunities around the world. As a member of this committee, Professor Jacobs helps review how countries respect disability rights, and question governments about how they remove barriers in areas such as education and employment.
It is worth taking a moment to reflect on this.
A Black Canadian woman with a disability is helping guide global human rights.
Professor Jacobs’ journey did not begin at the United Nations. It began in classrooms. It continued through years of research, teaching, and writing. She helped shape new ways of thinking about disability law in Canada. Her work also contributed to the creation of the Accessible Canada Act.
This is a part of Black history.
It is a history that includes building systems, shaping laws, and leading change. It is a history of vision, expertise, and leadership.
Professor Jacobs’ story is part of a wider movement.
In the United States, Haben Girma also chose law as her path. She became the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School.
That achievement opened doors far beyond her studies. Today, she works as a human rights lawyer and speaks around the world. She supports organizations in building accessible services and stronger communities. Her advocacy helped encourage greater accessibility in digital reading platforms, supporting access for people who use screen readers to read books and information.
She often shares that disability can lead to new ideas and creative solutions. Through her work, access to digital information has improved, helping more people read, learn, and take part in everyday life.
When these two stories are placed side by side, a clear picture emerges. Black people with disabilities are among those leading change. They are shaping international law, improving access to education, influencing technology, and helping communities grow more inclusive.
This is Black brilliance in action.
Black History Month is a time to honour that brilliance. It is also a time to learn.
Learning can begin with simple actions:
- Reading about leaders like Professor Jacobs.
- Listening to talks by advocates like Haben Girma.
- Supporting accessibility in workplaces and communities.
- Making inclusion part of everyday decisions.
These actions help carry their work forward.
There is also something deeper to reflect on.
When Professor Jacobs takes her seat at the United Nations table, she represents more than herself. She represents knowledge, lived experience, and possibility. She shows what can happen when talent is recognized and given space to grow.
Like her peers, her work helps reshape how the world understands disability. It also helps shape how Canada sees itself.
Although it is called Black History Month, history is still being written today.
