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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.
- Alvin Ailey Jr. was a dancer, choreographer, and activist. Born in Texas during the Great Depression, he moved to Los Angeles in 1946 and saw his first dance performance, and in 1949 he took his first dance class at Lester Horton's Melrose Ave.
- John Lewis. John Lewis was born as the son of sharecroppers in rural Alabama in 1940. He studied at the American Baptist Theological Society in Nashville and helped to organize sit-ins against segregated restaurants; during this period, he coined his iconic phrase, "Good Trouble," and was jailed on numerous occasions.
- Daisy Bates. When the Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional, Daisy Bates stepped up to help a group of Black students integrate into an all-white high school—that group is known as The Little Rock Nine.
- Ruby Bridges. Ruby Bridges was the first Black student to integrate into a white elementary school in 1960. At only six years old, Ruby walked by protesters screaming awful slurs and angry words at her every day.
African American Pioneers of Science. Read. Explore more. Black History Month. Black History Month. The road to school desegregation. The road to school desegregation.
- Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
- Alex Haley
- Angela Davis
- Anna Murray-Douglass
- Annie Malone
- Barack Hussein Obama II
- Benjamin Banneker
- Bessie Coleman
- Bessie Smith
- Booker T. Washington
(Nov. 29, 1908 – April 4, 1972) He was the first person of African-American descent to be elected from New York to Congress. In 1961, after sixteen years in the House, Powell became chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, the most powerful position held by an African American in Congress. (read more)
(August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992) Alex was an American writer known as the author of the 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American Family. (read more) Alex Haley Books 1. Roots: The Saga of an American Family 2. The Autobiography of Malcolm X 3. Queen: The Story of an American Family 4. A different kid of Christmas 5. Mama Flora’s Family
She emerged as a prominent counterculture activist and radical in the 1960s as a leader of the Communist Party USA, and had close relations with the Black Panther Party through her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. (read more) Angela Yvonne Davis Books 1. Women, Race and Class 2. Angela Davis: An Autobiography 3. The Meaning of Freedom 4. W...
(1813 – August 4, 1882) She was an American abolitionist and member of the Underground Railroad. Anna was the first wife of Frederick Douglas. (read more)
(August 9, 1869 – May 10, 1957) Annie Minerva Turnbo Malone was an American businesswoman, inventor and philanthropist. In the first three decades of the 20th century, she founded and developed a large and prominent commercial and educational enterprise centered on cosmetics for African-American women. (read more) 1. Developed her own line of hair ...
(First Black President) The 44th President of the United States, the first African American to hold the office. Assumed office on January 20th 2009. (read more)
(November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806) Banneker’s knowledge of astronomy helped him author a commercially successful series of almanacs. He corresponded with Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the United States Declaration of Independence, on the topics of slavery and racial equality. Abolitionists and advocates of racial equality promoted and praised his ...
(January 26, 1892 – April 30, 1926) She was an American civil aviator. She was the first female pilot of African American descent and is also the first Native American woman to hold a pilot license. (read more)
(April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) Nicknamed The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists. (read more)
(April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) He was an African-American educator, author, orator, and advisor to presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American community. (read more) Frederick Douglas Books 1. Up from Slavery 2. Character Building 3. The Negro Problem
- 11 Inspiring Black American Heroes. Here are Black American heroes to celebrate this month — and every month.
- 1. Claudette Colvin. While Rosa Parks' name may be synonymous with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Claudette Colvin came first. On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Colvin was on her way home from high school in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her seat to a white woman and move to the back of the bus.
- 2. Alice Coachman. Alongside Jesse Owens, Alice Coachman is an important name to remember in the field of athletics. Coachman was the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
- 4. Ronald McNair. Ronald McNair was 9 years old when a South Carolina librarian told him he could not check out books from a segregated library in 1959. Refusing to leave, a determined McNair sat on the counter while the librarian called the police, as well as McNair's mother.
Feb 1, 2023 · When it comes to pioneers in African American history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Muhammad Ali are often mentioned—and rightfully so. But what do you know about other Black history heroes, like Claudette Colvin, Alice Coachman, or Shirley Chisholm?
Jan 26, 2024 · 7 Black History Heroes Every Student Should Know. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to highlight the lives of African American leaders, thinkers, and innovators in U.S. history. This collection of nonfiction books are sure to become fast favorites for your class.
