A remarkable 5-year-old girl from Kent, Washington, is celebrating Black History Month in style. Lola and her mom Cristi have joined forces to recreate iconic photos of notable black women for Black History Month — and they are awesome.
Cristi and Lola gather items from around the house to help Lola create her costume. Once Lola is satisfied with her look for the day, her mom snaps a picture and posts it to her social media accounts.
Day 21. Black History Month photo project. #tonimorrison#blackhistorymonth#blackhistoryisamericanhistory#beloved#blackgirlsrockpic.twitter.com/Y6Qqh3UX27
— Cristi Smith-Jones *Order 'That They Lived'!* (@MsKittiFatale) February 21, 2017
The pair have developed quite a following. Even my 9-year-old daughter and I check my phone each morning to see which brave and courageous woman Lola has decided to honor that day.
Day 10. Black History Month photo project. #RosaParks#blackhistorymonth#blackgirlsrock#blackhistoryisamericanhistory#blackgirlmagicpic.twitter.com/dxFdOTiSlQ
— Cristi Smith-Jones *Order 'That They Lived'!* (@MsKittiFatale) February 10, 2017
Cristi told Komo 4 News in Seattle that Lola was enthralled by a video on Martin Luther King Jr. shown in school last month. So Cristi decided to turn her enthusiasm into an opportunity to teach Lola more about civil rights.
By actually becoming the women she was learning about, Lola has created a project that has the potential to change the way she views her place in this world for the rest of her life. “And it is extremely helpful that Lola truly emulates the women she’s portraying,” Cristi told Komo 4 News. “She gets into character and just nails it.”
Day 16. Black History Month photo project.#nikkigiovanni#blackhistorymonth#blackgirlsrock#blackhistoryisamericanhistory#blackpoetrypic.twitter.com/RB2MbeI90Z
— Cristi Smith-Jones *Order 'That They Lived'!* (@MsKittiFatale) February 16, 2017
And who are some of these iconic role models Lola has chosen to get into character and honor? The poet Maya Angelou, pilot Bessie Coleman, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, politician Shirley Chisholm, singer Josephine Baker, and Ruby Bridges — one of the first African-American children to attend an all-white school — are just a few of the talented, brilliant and powerful women Lola is learning about.
Day 13. Black History Month photo project. #angeladavis#blackhistorymonth#blackgirlsrock#blackhistoryisamericanhistorypic.twitter.com/o5bYVN95hn
— Cristi Smith-Jones *Order 'That They Lived'!* (@MsKittiFatale) February 13, 2017
But the one woman Lola smiles about the most is astronaut and scientist Dr. Mae Jemison.
Day 7. Black History Month photo project. #maejemison#blackhistorymonth#firstblackwomanastronautpic.twitter.com/WRLiK1tuld
— Cristi Smith-Jones *Order 'That They Lived'!* (@MsKittiFatale) February 7, 2017
Her mom told the news station that becoming Jemison has taught Lola she can be anything she wants. And based on the incredible time, detail and passion Lola puts into transforming herself each day, it doesn’t seem like a stretch to imagine this extraordinary 5-year-old will someday be inspiring little girls with her own example.
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