LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Lexington woman is using her artistic talent and social media following to spotlight black history month. Specifically, she is celebrating women of color from Kentucky, who are considered trailblazers.
Erinn Foglesong opened Lexington Lettering, a few years ago. What turned from a hobby to a business, now has thousands of followers and orders she fulfills. The artist is using her passion for digital drawing to teach her followers about African American women from Kentucky, who have paved the way for future generations.
"I really wanted to celebrate black women because they have the odds stacked against them," explained Foglesong.
It was something Erinn says she feels was missing from social media. Each day during Black History Month, Erinn will post a drawing of a woman and her story. "The more that I was researching, I was just like 'oh my gosh!' Some of these women, this one woman was the first woman in Kentucky to teach an all-white class."
Foglesong has drawn women like Anna Mac Clarke, who was the first black Kentucky woman to enlist during WWII, Alice Dunnigan, who was the first black female correspondent to receive White House credentials and Nancy Green, a missionary who is best known for being the inspiration for Aunt Jemima.
"It's so cool that they did 'xyz' before they were 25. You know, White House correspondents, the first African American teachers in Kentucky. "
You can view all the drawings here.
