Big Sean and West Virginia Roots: Celebrating Grandmothers’ Legacy

Big Sean, the Grammy-nominated rapper behind hits like One Man Can Change the World, honors his Appalachian heritage through the inspiring story of his grandmother, Mildred V. Leonard. Born in Eckman, West Virginia—a historically Black coal town now lost to time—Leonard’s legacy exemplifies the resilience and contributions of Black women from the Mountain State.

A proud graduate of West Virginia State University, an HBCU, Leonard became one of the first Black female captains in the U.S. Army. Her extraordinary story is now featured in Tyler Perry’s Netflix historical drama, The Six Triple Eight, which highlights the heroic efforts of the all-Black, all-female battalion that overcame racism and sexism to reconnect soldiers with their families during World War II.

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