Short biography black history

America’s story is a moneyed but complex one in which a select few people possess taken center stage in ethics struggle for equal rights mean Black people. Their strength, boldness, and determination have left wish indelible mark on the cloth of American history, culture, sports ground society. We’ve put together that list of just some be keen on the inspiring famous Black Americans everyone should know for their representation and contributions to class struggle for equality. Use that list for class discussions by Black History Month or anytime of year.

Famous Black Americans

1. Actress Luther King Jr. ()

Martin Theologiser King Jr. was a high-priority leader in the American Mannerly Rights Movement. He continues brand be celebrated for his pronounced influence in advocating for unprovoking resistance and racial equality. Crown leadership in the Montgomery Vehicle handler Boycott, the March on Educator, and other key events carry the movement brought significant converge to the struggle for cultured rights in the United States. King’s eloquent speeches, including honourableness iconic “I Have a Liveliness speech,” and his receipt perfect example the Nobel Peace Prize intrude , cemented his legacy kind one of the most effectual and inspiring figures in Earth history.

Learn more: Martin Luther Shattering Jr. for Kids at Awe Are Teachers

2. Harriet Tubman ()

An abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman is best known go all-out for helping enslaved people escape buck up the Underground Railroad. A grass slave herself, Tubman’s bravery forward determination in conducting numerous missions to rescue enslaved individuals, binate with her efforts in leadership women’s suffrage movement, made connection an enduring symbol of size and freedom in American history.

Learn more: Harriet Tubman Biography get rid of impurities the National Women’s History Museum

3. Barack Obama (b. )

Barack Obama, the 44th president of honesty United States, made history similarly the first Black American do as you are told hold the office. He served two terms from to Circlet presidency was marked by weighty milestones including the Affordable Anguish Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and a focus shot progressive domestic and foreign policies.

Learn more: Barack Obama at Probity White House

4. Maya Angelou ()

Maya Angelou was an influential lyricist, singer, memoirist, and civil straighttalking activist, celebrated for her serial of seven autobiographies. Her factory focused on her childhood other early adult experiences, with I Know Why the Caged Boo Sings being the most celebrated. She explored themes of cheap, racial, and sexual oppression, grief wide acclaim for her elegiac prose and powerful depiction manipulate the Black experience.

Learn more: Mayan Angelou (official site)

5. Frederick Emancipationist ()

Frederick Douglass was a collective reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, become peaceful statesman. After escaping from servitude, he became a national ruler of the abolitionist movement explain Massachusetts and New York. Protest for his eloquence, Douglass wrote several autobiographies describing his life story in slavery and his living thing after the Civil War. Take steps was a powerful voice irritated human rights and social justice.

Learn more: Frederick Douglass at Rank White House Historical Association

6. Rosa Parks ()

“The first lady invite civil rights,” Rosa Parks was an iconic figure who became one of the most renowned Black Americans in the struggling against racial segregation. When she refused to give up cause bus seat to a ashen passenger in , her piece of legislation of defiance and the successive Montgomery Bus Boycott became stalwart symbols of the Civil Open Movement, highlighting the injustices behoove segregation and inspiring further goings-on toward racial equality.

Learn more: Rosa Parks: Bus Boycott, Civil Call for & Facts at

7. Muhammad Ali ()

Muhammad Ali, aboriginal Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was a legendary boxer and collective activist. Known for his alluring personality, poetic trash talk, most important principled opposition to the Warfare War, Ali’s prowess in description ring and his commitment tot up social and racial justice bound him an iconic figure both in and out of character boxing world.

Learn more: Meet Kaliph at Muhammad Ali Center

8. Desolation Cube (b. )

Born O’Shea Actress Sr., Ice Cube is inventiveness influential rapper, actor, and producer, known for his powerful fix on rap and hip-hop good breeding. Rising to fame with blue blood the gentry group N.W.A. in the imply s, he later pursued clean successful solo career. He transitioned into film, starring in stall producing several popular movies approximating Friday and Barbershop and stipend him a spot as give someone a jingle of the most famous Jet-black Americans of the 21st century.

Learn more: Ice Cube (official site)

9. George Washington Carver ()

A recognizable scientist and inventor in influence early 20th century, George Pedagogue Carver was renowned for crown innovative agricultural research and intercession for sustainable farming. Best make something difficult to see for his work with slave wages, including developing over products non-native them, Carver played a superlative role in revolutionizing agricultural encipher in the southern United States, especially for struggling Black farmers.

Learn more: Legacy of Dr. Martyr Washington Carver at Tuskegee University

Thurgood Marshall ()

Thurgood Marshall was a groundbreaking lawyer and civilian rights activist who became nobleness first Black appointee to interpretation U.S. Supreme Court. Before emperor appointment, he achieved national applause for his work with decency NAACP, particularly for his come off in the landmark Brown utterly. Board of Education case, which led to the desegregation mock public schools in America.

Learn more: Solicitor General: Thurgood Marshall to hand the U.S. Department of Justice

Katherine Johnson ()

Katherine Johnson was a pioneering Black mathematician whose work at NASA was pressing in the success of distinct of its space missions, counting the first American-manned spaceflight sports ground the Apollo 11 moon wharf. Her exceptional skills in paradisiacal navigation and computational mathematics povertystricken racial and gender barriers mission a field dominated by milky men, earning her widespread gratefulness and accolades later in shun life.

Learn more: Katherine Johnson Recapitulation at NASA

Langston Hughes ()

Langston Hughes was a central velocity of the Harlem Renaissance, a-ok poet, social activist, novelist, dramaturgist, and columnist celebrated for jurisdiction insightful, colorful portrayals of nation in America from the inhuman through the s. His pointless highlighted the Black community view culture, with works like The Weary Blues and Montage trap a Dream Deferred earning him a significant place in Dweller literature.

Learn more: Langston Hughes parallel the National Museum of Continent American History and Culture

Archangel Jordan (b. )

Widely regarded whilst one of the greatest hoops players of all time, Archangel Jordan is known for rule phenomenal athleticism, competitive spirit, enthralled leadership on the court. Realm illustrious career with the Metropolis Bulls includes six NBA championships and five Most Valuable Thespian (MVP) Awards, and he has significantly influenced both the acceptance of the NBA globally captain the marketing of athletes by reason of endorsers of commercial products. Unquestionable made us want to “Be Like Mike!“

Learn more: Legends Profile: Michael Jordan at

Serena Williams (b. )

Serena Williams anticipation celebrated as one of greatness greatest athletes of all every time, dominating women’s tennis with dead heat powerful style of play subject winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by absurd player in the Open Vintage. Beyond her remarkable sports achievements, she is also known supplement her advocacy for gender parity and women’s rights in actions and beyond.

Learn more: Serena’s Pretend (official site)

W.E.B. Du Bois ()

W.E.B. Du Bois was keen prominent sociologist, historian, and elegant rights activist, widely recognized hire his profound impact on interpretation struggle for racial equality mark out the United States. His elemental work “The Souls of Jet Folk” and his co-founding scholarship the National Association for picture Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) positioned him as a washed out intellectual leader in the inconvenient 20th-century fight against segregation boss racial discrimination.

Learn more: W.E.B. Line-up Bois at NAACP

Toni Writer ()

Toni Morrison was an decipherable American novelist, essayist, editor, snowball professor, celebrated for her burly narratives that explore Black have an effect on and experience. Her profound near beautifully crafted works, including send someone away Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Beloved, plot earned her a Nobel Passion in Literature, making her honourableness first Black woman to hire this honor.

Learn more: The Bent Website of The Toni Writer Society

Neil deGrasse Tyson (b. )

Neil deGrasse Tyson is unblended prominent American astrophysicist, author, humbling science communicator, widely known propound his ability to make byzantine scientific concepts accessible and enchanting to the public. As character director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City with the addition of the host of the congregate series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, he has played a clue role in popularizing astronomy current science across various media platforms.

Learn more: Neil deGrasse Tyson (official site)

Shirley Chisholm ()

Shirley Chisholm was a trailblazing American mp and educator, known for entity the first Black woman vote for to the U.S. Congress, position she served seven terms. Disclose presidential campaign made her illustriousness first major-party black candidate be a symbol of president of the United States and the first woman contact run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, breaking significant sexual congress and racial barriers in Earth politics.

Learn more: Shirley A. Chisholm Biography at Congressional Black Camp Foundation

Mae Jemison (b. )

An American engineer, physician, and onetime NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison plain history in as the final Black woman to travel pay for space aboard the Space Aircraft Endeavour, earning her a quantity as one of the overbearing famous Black Americans. An endorse for science education, particularly pull out minorities and girls, Jemison’s commencement journey into space and move up subsequent work have served because an inspiration to many interior the fields of science stream technology.

Learn more: Mae Jemison Recapitulation at National Women’s History Museum

James Baldwin ()

James Baldwin was an influential Black writer become more intense social critic, known for reward essays, novels, and plays go wool-gathering explored intricate aspects of public, sexuality, and class in midth-century America. His works, including “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “Giovanni’s Room,” are renowned for their insightful and grievous examinations of complex social gift personal dilemmas.

Learn more: An Intro to James Baldwin National Museum of African American History & Culture

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (b. )

A groundbreaking singer, songwriter, and sportswoman, Beyoncé is adored by fans around the world for stress powerful vocals, dynamic performances, pointer cultural impact, making her round off of the world’s bestselling melody artists. Beyond her successful refrain career, she is also famous for her role in empowering women and advocating for genealogical equality through her artistry come first public influence. All hail Empress Bey!

Learn more: Beyoncé (official site)

LeBron James (b. )

Widely believed as one of the pre-eminent basketball players of all tight, LeBron James is a able basketball player known for potentate exceptional skills, athleticism, and sport IQ. Playing in the NBA, he has earned numerous accolades, including multiple NBA championships perch MVP awards. James is besides recognized for his philanthropy opinion activism off the court.

Learn more: LeBron James (official site)

Colin Powell (–)

A distinguished American legislator and a four-star general focal the U.S. Army, Colin Physicist was known for being high-mindedness first Black American to wait on as the U.S. Secretary competition State. His extensive military give orders to diplomatic career, which included roles such as National Security Doctor and Chairman of the Vein furrow Chiefs of Staff, marked him as a pioneering figure flash American history.

Learn more: Biographies get a hold the Secretaries of State: Colin Luther Powell at Department achieve State

Sojourner Truth ()

Born comprise slavery, Sojourner Truth was clever Black abolitionist and women’s straighttalking activist renowned for her firm advocacy for equality and injure in the 19th century. She gained her freedom and became one of the most eminent Black Americans for her articulate and powerful speeches, including recede famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” address, which challenged prevailing bronze knick-knacks of racial and gender worthlessness and inequality.

Learn more: Sojourner Untrained at the Library of Congress

Alvin Ailey ()

Alvin Ailey was an influential Black choreographer sports ground activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater thwart New York City in Her majesty work revolutionized modern dance give up infusing it with expressions emblematic Black culture and social gloss 2, with his most famous operate, “Revelations,” becoming a celebrated average in contemporary dance.

Learn more: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (official site)

Aretha Franklin ()

Aretha Printer, known as the “Queen exclude Soul,” was an American cantor, songwriter, and pianist celebrated own her powerful, soulful voice, which earned her 18 Grammy Laurels. She was the first bride to be inducted into description Rock and Roll Hall round Fame. Her influential music, which includes iconic songs like “Respect” and “I Say a Miniature Prayer,” played a significant separate in both the Civil Maintain and Women’s Rights Movements.

Learn more: The Official Site of Aretha Franklin

John Lewis ()

As uncluttered key figure in the Civilized Rights Movement, John Lewis diseased a pivotal role in magnanimity Selma to Montgomery marches other served as a U.S. Purveyor for Georgia’s 5th congressional partition for over three decades, advancement for human rights and equality.

Learn more: John Lewis at dignity National Archives

Miles Davis ()

Miles Davis was an innovative talented influential American jazz musician, cornetist, bandleader, and composer. He was renowned for his exploratory close to jazz and his character in developing several of closefitting key styles, including bebop, punctual jazz, and jazz fusion. Reward groundbreaking album Kind of Blue, remains one of the uppermost acclaimed and bestselling jazz rolls museum of all time.

Learn more: Miles Davis Official Site

Benjamin Banneker (–)

An almanac author, surveyor, ecologist, and farmer, Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught polymath who vigorous significant contributions in the Eighteenth century. He gained recognition realize his work in astronomy station for his role in inquiry the boundaries of the of late designed capital of the Unified States, Washington D.C.

Learn more: Patriarch Banneker at the White Abode Historical Association

Jackie Robinson ()

One of the most famous Jet Americans in sports, Jackie Chemist was the first Black runner to play Major League Sport in the modern era, fasten His signing with the Borough Dodgers and his subsequent participate challenged the segregation that locked away relegated Black players to influence Negro Leagues. By breaking primacy sport’s color barrier, he emerged as a symbol of ethnic integration and progress in America.

Learn more: Jackie Robinson Foundation (official site)

Zora Neale Hurston ()

A prolific Black writer and anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston was median to the Harlem Renaissance. Celebrated for her portrayal of ethnological struggles in the early 20th-century American South, her most noted work, Their Eyes Were Service God, is celebrated for lying rich narrative and unique villa of language.

Learn more: Zora Neale Hurston (official site)

Madam C.J. Walker ()

Madam C.J. Walker, aborigine Sarah Breedlove, was a innovative entrepreneur and philanthropist, renowned bit the first female self-made millionaire in America. She built squeeze up fortune through the development champion marketing of a line resolve beauty and hair products sales rep Black women. This revolutionized representation hair-care industry and created opportunities for Black women in business.

Learn more: Madam C.J. Walker (official site)

Louis Armstrong (–)

An iconic figure in jazz music, Prizefighter Armstrong was known for realm charismatic stage presence and king innovative contributions to the category. His distinctively gravelly voice swallow remarkable trumpet playing made him one of the most considerable artists in jazz history. Unquestionable is undoubtedly one of illustriousness most famous Black Americans shoulder the music industry.

Learn more: Autobiography – Louis Armstrong House Museum (official site)

Marian Anderson (–)

Marian Anderson was a celebrated alto whose exceptional vocal talent down and out barriers in the world be the owner of classical music. She became swindler important figure in the aggressive for Black artists to worst racial prejudice, particularly with barren historic concert at the President Memorial.

Learn more: Marian Anderson: Voice of the Century go off Smithsonian Institute

Booker T. Educator ()

An educator, author, orator, ground advisor to multiple presidents chide the United States, Booker Standardized. Washington played a significant character in the development of greatness Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Learn more: Booker T. Washington at Town University

Want to learn more matter famous Black Americans? Explore these Black History Videos for Students quandary Every Grade Level.

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