Shawna Davis '12 and Tiffany Mickel '12, who majored in Materials Science (Course 3), created the Heiritage playing card set that celebrates history-making black women. 

“Cards are a staple in Black households, but we don’t have our own kings and queens on our decks,” Davis told Blavity of the duo’s inspiration. “We wanted to create a movement that empowers the African American community of the greatness, [through learning] our past culture and history, and helping players realize the endless possibilities and potential of just being born into the Black culture.”

Each woman on the Heiritage playing cards has a story that coincides with their card’s corresponding number. Bessie Coleman, for example, is displayed on the eighth card, which pays homage to the eight-meter biplane she learned to fly in. 

The founders’ creative style was bred from their degrees in material science, which focuses on the creation of new materials or improving upon existing ones.

Blavity, February 2019