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- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a pivotal leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He continues to be celebrated for his profound influence in advocating for nonviolent resistance and racial equality.
- Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) An abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman is best known for helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad.
- Barack Obama (b. 1961) ADVERTISEMENT. Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, made history as the first Black American to hold the office.
- Maya Angelou (1928-2014) Maya Angelou was an influential poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist, celebrated for her series of seven autobiographies.
List. The list in alphabetical order, as published Asante's 2002 book: Hank Aaron (1934–2021) Ira Aldridge (1807–1867) Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) Richard Allen (1760–1831) Marian Anderson (1897–1993) Maya Angelou (1928–2014) Arthur Ashe (1943–1993) Crispus Attucks (1723–1770) James Baldwin (1924–1987) Benjamin Banneker (1731–1806)
- Molefi Kete Asante
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- Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) Congress is more diverse now than it's ever been. However, when Chisholm was attempting to shatter the glass ceiling, the same couldn't be said.
- Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) Dr. King is usually credited for the March on Washington in August 1963. But it was Rustin who organized and strategized in the shadows.
- Claudette Colvin (1939- ) Before Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, there was a brave 15-year-old who chose not to sit at the back of the bus.
- Annie Lee Cooper (1910-2010) The Selma, Alabama, native played a crucial part in the 1965 Selma Voting Rights Movement. But it wasn't until Oprah played her in the 2014 Oscar-nominated film Selma that people really took notice of Cooper's activism.
Jan 30, 2024 · The unsung heroes. Their stories aren’t widely told, but these Black women and men helped shape history. By Nicquel Terry Ellis, Nicole Chavez, Chandelis Duster and Faith Karimi, CNN Published...
The Root 100 is our annual list of the most influential African Americans, ages 25 to 45. It’s our way of honoring the innovators, the leaders, the public figures and the game changers whose work...
Feb 1, 2024 · Feb 1, 2024. Every Black History Month and Juneteenth, pioneers in African American history are often mentioned like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr ., Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali and...
Feb 25, 2017 · By Alamin Yohannes. In honor of Black History Month, here's a look at 14 people who broke color barriers to become the first Black Americans to achieve historic accomplishments in politics ...
