Six Black icons who can inspire teenagers

Black History Month is marked in the UK every October, giving people the opportunity to share, understand and celebrate Black culture and heritage.

There have been so many amazing Black icons throughout history, but we thought we’d look at a few current icons who are super inspirational to see what we can learn from them to help you in the classroom, or in life.

Shine bright like Rihanna

You may know global pop superstar Rihanna from her songs like Umbrella, We Found Love and Diamonds, but the Bajan singer is also a very successful businesswoman, officially becoming a billionaire in 2021.

While you may not be able to make a billion whilst you’re still at school, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a start and earn some extra cash alongside your studies. If you're aged 13 to 16 in the UK, you can legally do part-time work – so long as it’s safe, local, and follows the rules. Financial journalist, Iona Bain gave us some top tips to earn some extra funds that can help build confidence, help you learn new skills and might even help you figure out what you want to do for a living one day. You can check out her top money making tips here.

Be like Sir Mo and don't say no!

Sir Mo Farah is known for his Olympic heroics at London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Mo never gave up in his quest for gold, and despite falling over in his 10,000m race in Rio, he recovered and went on to win the gold medal, picking up a total of four golds across the two Olympic games in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

You may face setbacks during your studies, but it’s how you deal with them that matters. Showing resilience in the face of a setback, like Sir Mo, is one thing that can help, especially during revision season. Dr Anna Colton told us: "A setback doesn't define you. Use the feedback to help you understand any errors or misconceptions and then clear them up. Whatever happens, don’t panic, there will be an option for you – even if it’s not the exact one you were working towards."

You can find out more about showing resilience during your studies here.

Overcome rejection like Alison Hammond

TV presenter Alison Hammond has brand endorsements and presenting opportunities falling at her feet, but it wasn’t always this way. Alison first found fame on the third series of Big Brother in 2002, but she was evicted from the house after just 12 days, coming in 11th place. However, Alison didn’t let the disappointment of her early eviction bring her down, and has gone on to have one of the most successful careers of any Big Brother contestant ever, with appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celeb, and presenting gigs on The Great British Bake Off and This Morning!

Dr Martha Deiros Collado told us: “rejection is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives and yes, the sting can hurt. But it doesn't mean it's the end, nor is it a reflection of your worth.” You can read some more tips from Dr Martha about how to succeed if you’ve been rejected here.

Knuckle down like Idris Elba

Golden Globe winning actor and anti-knife crime campaigner Idris Elba has appeared in some big budget movies including Thor, Cats and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where he played Knuckles the Echidna. So our next tip is to ‘knuckle down’ when you are studying!

If you are doing homework, our experts say that it is best to get it done as soon as you get in from school as you’ll feel so much better once it's done and you can enjoy your evening without that homework dread hanging over you. When it comes to revising, making a revision timetable can really help you keep focussed, make sure you get rid of any micro-distractions, like your phone. If you must use your phone for homework, or revision, we recommend turning off all notifications.

Be motivated to succeed like Stormzy

Despite once admitting that he was "a very naughty child, on the verge of getting expelled”, BRIT Award winning rapper Stormzy did pretty well in his exams, achieving six A*s, three As and five Bs at his GCSEs. The Blinded By Your Grace singer was also recently given an honorary degree from Cambridge University for his work helping Black students get into higher education, so he knows the importance of education and working hard during exam season.

But we know that you will sometimes feel unmotivated whilst revising for tests and exams. So why not try setting yourself some goals to help motivate you to revise? Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. For example, when you are studying English, you could aim to learn three Shakespeare quotes by the end of your revision session and then take a break. We recommend making your goals short-term – short chunks of work will make things feel less daunting and more achievable for you. You can find more tips to help you stay motivated during your exams here.

Speak out like Alex Scott

Alex Scott is a former Lioness with over 140 appearances for England and she is also the presenter of BBC’s Football Focus. But despite her successes on both the pitch and the screen, Scott has faced abuse and trolling on social media; previously telling Newsround that she won't let online negativity get her down. After winning the Royal Television Society Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Award, Alex said she was "blown away by winning this award" but had questioned walking away from the industry due to the challenges of being a Black female in a male dominated space.

Bitesize Study Support recently spoke to some sixth form students who have all experienced cyber bullying at school. One student, called Sam, told us: "There's no stop to it. It could be the person that's bullying you is sitting two rows in front of you in class and is messaging you." If you experience cyber bullying, then Martha Evans from the Anti-Bullying Alliance recommends to: "Tell someone what's happening – talk to an adult you trust like a parent or teacher. You are not alone!" You can find more support for what to do if you are being bullied online here.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.