The year 1992 was rich. Rich in style, rich in originality, and rich in moments that not only defined Black culture in the US, but also impacted the global zeitgeist at large. Thirty years later, ’92’s massive imprint set the stage for decades of commentary and reinvention — in fashion, in music, on screens, and in politics and sports. After this year, nothing was ever the same. So for Black History Month in 2022, we reflect on how 22 events from 1992 still affect our world today.
JANUARY 17
“Juice” premieres in theaters starring Tupac Shakur. He joins a class of rappers turned actors: LL Cool J, Will Smith, Ice T, and Ice Cube. The film rakes in $20 million, and its soundtrack goes gold — propelling the dual impact of hood stories and hip-hop music.
A jury acquits all four LAPD officers involved in the brutal beating of Rodney King, sparking the LA riots. Police violence remains pervasive for the next 30 years, sparking the #BlackLivesMatter movement and protests in response to George Floyd’s murder.
APRIL 29
Sir Mix-A-Lot releases “Baby Got Back” to challenge beauty standards that celebrate skinny white women. It spends five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, sparking a heightened (and still present) obsession with big booties.
MAY 7
Terry McMillan releases her bestseller “Waiting to Exhale.” The film adaptation grosses $82 million and earns 11 Grammy nods. The story centers Black women’s perspectives on love and life and scores major success, a trend that inspires titles like “Girls Trip.”
MAY 28
February 7, 2022
By Iyana Robertson
Surya Bonaly becomes the first woman to attempt a quadruple toe loop at the Winter Games. Though criticized for her tenacity, Bonaly inspires other women to attempt the feat. The four-revolution jump remains one of the most difficult in figure skating.
FEBRUARY 21
Atlanta R&B trio TLC drop their debut album, “Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip.” They become the bestselling American girl group ever, inspiring future acts from Destiny’s Child to the Spice Girls.
FEBRUARY 25
With a second NBA championship in tow, Michael Jordan takes the court at the Summer Olympic Games with the Dream Team for the first time. He releases an Olympic colorway of his Jordan VII sneaker. The Jordan brand paves the way for athletes like LeBron James and Steph Curry to land multi-million dollar sneaker deals.
JULY 26
Mary J. Blige releases her debut album, “What’s the 411?,” executive produced by Puff Daddy. Blige is later dubbed the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Along with acts like Mariah Carey, she helps popularize the hip-hop remix as a winning recipe in R&B.
JULY 28
“Bebe’s Kids” debuts in theaters. The animated comedy makes way for commentary on racial justice through the story of a group of Black children at a theme park. Director Bruce W. Smith goes on to create Disney’s “The Proud Family.”
JULY 31
Martin Lawrence debuts his eponymous sitcom on Fox. The show centers hip-hop culture and features the life and times of a group of Black friends — a format that would be updated for generations and even adopted by shows like “Friends.”
AUGUST 27
“A Different World” begins its final season with a two-part episode addressing the LA riots. The show leaves a legacy of TV centered on the college experience of Black students, making way for hits like “Grown-ish” and “Dear White People.”
SEPTEMBER 24
“The Bodyguard” soundtrack is released, featuring six songs performed by the iconic Whitney Houston, including “I Will Always Love You.” It wins the Grammy for album of the year and remains the bestselling album by a woman in music history.
NOVEMBER 17
Denzel Washington stars in “Malcolm X.” Directed by Spike Lee, the film is an adaptation of Alex Haley’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” The film educates a new generation on the civil rights icon and cements “Denzel” as a household name.
NOVEMBER 18
Buju Banton’s debut album, “Mr. Mention,” is released independently in Jamaica before being distributed worldwide. Buju breaks Bob Marley’s No. 1 singles record in Jamaica, springboarding dancehall, reggaeton, and new genres like dem bow.
JANUARY 1
Inspired heavily by hip-hop culture, stand-up series “Def Jam Comedy” premieres on HBO and launches the careers of Leslie Jones, Sommore, Chris Tucker, Bernie Mac, and Tracy Morgan, artists whose work remains integral to the legacy of Black comedy.
MARCH 7
Vocal powerhouses En Vogue return with “Funky Divas.” The sophomore album explodes, with “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Free Your Mind” capturing new waves of sex positivity and rock-heavy protest music in R&B.
MARCH 24
Rosie Perez stars as Gloria in “White Men Can’t Jump” — a role originally envisioned for a white actress. The sole Afro-Latina lead in 1992’s top 20 films, she later receives an Oscar nod for “Fearless,” making way for Black Latinx actors like Ariana DeBose.
MARCH 27
OCTOBER 13
Four years after Jean-Michel Basquiat’s death, the Whitney Museum opens an exhibition of his work. Basquiat’s work is commodified by wealthy collectors; paintings now sell for upward of $100M and appear in ads like Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s Tiffany & Co. campaign.
OCTOBER 23
SWV emerge with their debut, “It’s About Time.” The album and single “Weak” go platinum, placing Coko’s long, luxurious nails at center stage. Though originally critiqued, the style is later mimicked by pop stars and remains a staple in hip-hop culture.
OCTOBER 27
Prince releases his “Love Symbol” album. The true title, an unpronounceable symbol, later becomes synonymous with Prince’s fight with Warner Bros. to own his masters. For years to come, artists like Taylor Swift wage battles against labels for their masters.
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Fresh off their “Cooleyhighharmony” debut, Boyz II Men release “End of the Road” for the “Boomerang” soundtrack. The single spends a record-breaking 13 weeks at No. 1 and becomes a seminal ballad for boy-band auditions for the next three decades.
JUNE 30
“Boomerang” hits theaters with an ensemble cast featuring Eddie Murphy, Robin Givens, Halle Berry, Grace Jones, and Eartha Kitt. The film earns over $131 million worldwide, setting the tone for Black rom-coms to follow decades later.
JULY 1
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