The discussion of diversity in sports often focuses on athletes on the field, on the court or on-air. When the LA-based sports and entertainment attorney Jaia Thomas, Esq. founded Diverse Representation, the mission was to increase the hiring and exposure of Black attorneys, managers, agents and publicists in the sports and entertainment industries.
The organization saw the need to raise awareness and celebrate the accomplishments of Black women within the sports industry. Last year on July 7, Diverse Representation created an annual holiday, National Black Women In Sports Day.
This year, the event was commemorated on social media with the hashtag #BlackWomenInSports where women working with NFL teams, sports agencies and more were uplifted. Diverse Representation also hosted a luncheon this year in New York to celebrate. This year marked the second annual celebration.
Looking ahead in March 2025, Diverse Representation will open an inaugural art exhibit in Washington, D.C. The exhibit will be free and open to the public. It will feature various artworks highlighting Black women’s impact in the sports industry.
The art exhibit will serve as a platform to attract up-and-coming artists and aspiring professionals entering the sports industry to network and share common experiences.
Thomas said that while several exhibits highlighted individual Black women in sports, there hasn’t been one showcasing their collective accomplishments, especially from those working behind-the-scenes.
“Our goal with this exhibit is to not only educate and raise awareness about Black women in sports but to also inspire action towards greater gender and racial equality in the world of sports,” she said.
Diverse Representation will start accepting proposals from artists on September 1 directly on the website. More information can be found on the Diverse Representation and Black Women in Sports websites.
