Misty Copeland received theGrio Award for Trailblazer Icon, which makes perfect sense because she is breaking down walls in the world of ballet and making it more accessible for Black and brown people and she’s doing this with style.

Copeland has been called the Jackie Robinson of classical ballet because she is the first African-American principal dancer in the 75-year history of American Ballet Theatre. The 2015 documentary “A Ballerina’s Tale” reveals that before her, there was never a Black female principal dancer in a major international dance company. She is incredibly meaningful to Black people because she is winning on a stage where they have not let us win before. And she has paved a path that so many dream of walking on. Her success has been a beacon to others who love ballet, and it has been a message that you can achieve anything. Her story says: Don’t let some old white gatekeepers keep you from your dream.

But amidst all of the ground that Copeland is breaking, she never forgets that her success is possible only because she is following giants. In her theGrio Awards speech, she said, “I am very much aware that I stand on the shoulders of countless trailblazers. It’s their courage, determination and resilience that have paved the way for my own accomplishments,” she said. “So every accolade I receive is a collective celebration of our progress and an affirmation of what’s possible when we support one another.”

I love that. All modern Black success stands on the shoulders of the ancestors and all of those fought in their own way to make our lives a little easier. No Black person can say that they succeeded alone. We have the chance to succeed because others opened doors for us. It’s crucial to have the humility to understand that our opportunities come from all the Black freedom fighters who came before us.