If you are Black and American, it’s hard not to feel targeted for anything more than being Black. So we love to see the underdog win, and what better time than now, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some examples of good things happening to good people who deserve it. These examples have recharged our sense of optimism by showing us that perseverance can lead to some big wins, and hopefully, it’ll do the same for you…
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Maurice Hastings:
After spending 38 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, 72-year-old Maurice Hastings received $25 million in the largest wrongful conviction settlement in California’s history. Though it’s no substitute for lost time, Hastings is finally a free man with a lot more money in his pocket.
Jennifer Hudson:
If anyone deserves a win, it’s Jennifer Hudson who has faced unimaginable tragedy, yet continues to achieve success. In 2008, she endured the murders of her mother, Darnell Donerson; her brother, Jason Hudson; and her 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. Donerson and Jason Hudson were found shot to death in their home. Julian King was found dead in a car after an Amber Alert was issued. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister, Julia, was convicted of the murders in 2012. Fast forward and Hudson now has EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) and her own talk show. Good on you, Ms. Hudson.
Pearlie Mae Smith:
Pearlie Mae Smith was left speechless when she realized that she and her seven adult children had won the $430 million Powerball jackpot back in 2016. A pastor who rarely gambled, the family split the money and planned to help people in need as they always have, According to the New York Times.
Mychal Threets:
Mychal Threets is a librarian who was bullied on social media for sharing his love for books. Despite this, Threets continued posting, and now he is the new host of “Reading Rainbow,” and there is nobody more deserving.
Ncuti Gatwa:
Ncuti Gatwa had a rough upbringing. His family fled Rwanda for Scotland in 1994 because of the genocide, and he spent five months homeless in London while auditioning for acting roles, per The Independent. However, Gatwa eventually found success on the Netflix show “Sex Education,” and in 2022, he made history as the first Black actor to play the lead role of Doctor in “Doctor Who.”
Ashley Jones:
Ashley Jones went on “Shark Tank” looking for a $300,000 investment from the sharks for her business Tones of Melanin and was faced with four rejections. This did not shake Jones, who continued to smile in the face of failure, and secured her win when Mark Cuban gave her business the $300,000 investment it needed.
Nelson Mandela:
The late Nelson Mandela is a true testament to the power of perseverance. While opposing apartheid in South Africa, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. And yet, even that prison sentence did not stop Mandela from becoming the president of South Africa.
Daymond John:
Before getting a seat on “Shark Tank,” Daymond John was hustling as a young boy in Queens, New York. John would sew together hats in the morning that he would then sell on the streets in the evening, per ABC News. It’s these humble beginnings that first gave John his business sense and have led him to be one of America’s most successful businessmen.
Stevie Wonder:
Stevie Wonder had the odds stacked against him as a blind Black boy from a poor family. However, these odds didn’t stop Wonder from doing the things he loved. He taught himself how to play drums, piano, and harmonica, which eventually led to him auditioning for Motown Records co-founder, Berry Gordy Jr, per Biography. Now, Wonder is one of the greatest musicians today, and his songs have been sampled by many.
Lanny Smith:
Just 33 days after signing his NBA contract, Lanny Smith would suffer an injury that would end his basketball career, per The Shade Room. However, Smith transferred his passion for basketball into a Black sportswear brand, Actively Black. The clothing line has become Smith’s success story, which he often showcases on the NYFW runways.
Terence “Bud” Crawford:
Growing up, boxing was Crawford’s way of escaping life in an unhappy and abusive home, per sports news site Heavy. Now, Crawford is the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world, and another example that perseverance can get you far.
Coco Jones:
After her career as a Disney star ended, Coco Jones went through a period where she struggled to get acting jobs. It wasn’t until she got the role of Hilary Banks in the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reboot, “Bel Air,” that the actress and singer started to find success again. Now, Coco Jones is back to making music and even received a Grammy nomination for her song “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” at the 2025 Grammys.
Renaldo Webb:
Renaldo Webb is a Shark Tank contestant who received only rejections for his business, PetPlate. However, that hasn’t stopped Webb from becoming incredibly successful. PetPlate has been featured in publications such as Forbes and Business Insider as the best dog food on the market. The sharks may not have understood Webb’s vision, but in the end, he didn’t need their approval.
Christian Cooper:
When Black American science writer, editor, and birdwatcher Christian Cooper was accused by “Central Park Karen” Amy Cooper of threatening her, Cooper was extremely lucky that he had his camera rolling. The footage proved Cooper as an innocent man, and the recorded incident went viral, capturing the attention of folks at Disney, who turned the distressing incident into a career opportunity for Cooper by launching the National Geographic documentary series “Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper.”
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