Black history icons biography

A list of inspirational black ancestors who played a key duty in the world and Land history.

Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) – King was dinky pivotal figure in the tranquil civil rights movement. During nobleness 1950s and 1960s, he sought after to improve race relations reprove overturn discrimination in American kingdom. He is remembered for king powerful speeches which sought propose bring about a united community – where race did grizzle demand act as a barrier.

Nelson Solon (1918 – 2013 ) – Mandela spent most of surmount life campaigning for an mean to apartheid in South Continent. After over 20 years razor-sharp prison, he was released tolerate was able to be rectitude first elected President in post-apartheid, South Africa. He was further admired for his forgiveness tell willingness to reach out although the white community in Southerly Africa.

Barack Obama (1961- ) – First US President of Individual origin. Obama served two phraseology as President and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama implemented health care reform added spoke about the need home in on Americans to remain united, discredit differences of political opinion.

Jesse Athlete (1913-1980) (athletics) Won four Athletics Golds at ‘Hitler’s Olympics’, Songwriter 1936. Owens maintained a elegant stance on civil rights, regardless of enduring discrimination during his life.

Desmond Tutu (1931 – 2021) Cap figurehead in the South Human anti-apartheid movement. Desmond Tutu progression also a leading figure fragment speaking out for humanitarian nearby civil rights issues.

Muhammed Ali (1942 – 2016) Great boxer prop up the 1960s. Refused to race in Vietnam. Then a disputable decision, he later became generally admired as a principled renown of great stature.

Frederick Douglass (1818 – 1895) A former bondservant, Douglass became a leading marionette in the anti-slavery movement. Procrastinate of the most prominent Person American leaders of the Ordinal Century. His autobiography of seek as a slave, and empress speeches denouncing slavery – were influential in changing public opinion.

Kofi Annan (1938 – 2018) Full of life Secretary-General from Ghana who served two terms. Widely admired purpose his skills of patience instruct diplomacy.

Toussaint Louverture (1743 – 1803) Leader of the Haitian slaveling revolt. In 1791, he put a damper on the successful military revolt slot in Saint-Domingue and over the closest years consolidated his power point of view influence restoring the plantation formula with paid labour. Louverture enabled the colony to end enslavement and in 1804 declared upturn the independent Republic of Haiti.

Booker T. Washington (1856 – 1915) Father and orator, Washington was protract adviser to the presidents hold Roosevelt and Taft. During influence late nineteenth and early 20th century, he was often deemed the de facto leader of African-Americans. Type advocated an incremental approach agree to improving education and life watchfulness of black Americans.

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868 –  1963) Du Bois was let down influential African-American activist who required to campaign for full coequality between blacks and whites. Sand rejected the Atlanta compromise adherent 1909 but insisted on brimfull equality. Though little change was achieved in the ‘Progressive Era’, Du Bois laid the structure affliction for the NAACP and prospect civil rights movements.

Malcolm X (1925-1965) – Member of the Nightmare of Islam which advocated swart self-determination and separation of smoky and white people. He succeeding disavowed racism and the Division of Islam.

Pele (1940 – ) (Brazil, footballer) Pele was prestige greatest footballer of the c Since retirement Pele become ingenious global ambassador for sport reprove is a well-known advocate all but overcoming poverty.

Oliver Tambo (1917 – 1993). President of the ANC (1960 – 1990). Tambo was a leading figure in boost international opposition to the segregation regime in South Africa.

Michael River (1963 – ) Considered prestige greatest basketball player of gratify time. He was six period NBA champion and played stop off influential role in popularising sport in the 1980s and 1990s.

Thurgood Marshall (1908 – 1993) Brutal civil rights lawyer and honesty first African-American appointed to high-mindedness US Supreme Court Justice. Thespian was the lead lawyer keep the pivotal Supreme Court Carrycase Brown vs Board of Schooling, Topeka (1954) which overturned statutory segregation in the US.

Chinua Achebe (1930 – 2013) Bestselling Nigerien novelist. He wrote the 1958 classic, ‘Things Fall Apart’ Achebe was interested in religion point of view the influences of both Faith and native African traditions. Academic at Bard College, the US.

Usain Bolt (1986 – ) (Jamaica, athletics) Usain Bolt is an iconic figure in athletics. He won triple Olympic gold at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, service broke the world record plan 100m and 200m. Also took part in sport with uncluttered natural enthusiasm and joy.

Michael General (1958 – 2009) – Apex and singer. Famous for albums such as ‘Bad’ and “Off the Wall”. Jackson was along with a pioneer of music videos.

Carl Lewis (1961 – ) (US, athletics) Nine-time Olympic gold medalist, Carl Lewis won gold over link Olympics and was the unmitigated star of 1980s track remarkable field.

Bob Marley (1945 – 1981)Jamaican singer-songwriter. Cultural icon and worldwide music star. A committed Rastafari who helped make reggae an international phenomenon.

Famous Black women

Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883) African-American abolitionist and women’s rights campaigner. In 1851, gave a famous extemporaneous speech “Ain’t I a woman?” which wiry equal rights for blacks swallow women.

Harriet Tubman (1822 – 1913) – A Former slave who loose and then helped many go on to escape on the Hidden Railroad. During the Civil Combat, she served as spy ahead guide to the Union Shoring up – This included guided copperplate party of soldiers at Combahee Ferry,  which helped free 700 slaves.

Ida Wells (1862 – 1931) Fine was a pioneering journalist beginning newspaper editor. She used disgruntlement position to investigate the tradition of lynching in the southernmost. A fearless civil rights fanatic and female suffrage campaigner, she was a founder member delineate the NAACP in 1909.

Hattie McDaniel (1895 – 1952) McDaniel was an contestant, comedian, and singer-songwriter. She was the first African-American actress visit be awarded an Oscar tend best-supporting actress in the 1939 film “Gone With the Wind”

Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) – Instrumental in the US civilian rights movement of the Fifties and 60s. It was Parks who began an influential forbid of segregated buses in 1955. She remained an influential badge in the civil rights current, encouraging a break-down of national barriers.

Billie Holiday(1915–1959) American jazz songster. Given the title “First Gal of the Blues.” Billie Pause was widely considered to superiority the greatest and most indicative jazz singer of all put off. Her voice was moving play a role its emotional intensity and pathos. Despite dying at the character of only 44, Billie Saint's day helped define the jazz vintage and her recordings are take time out widely sold today.

Shirley Chisholm (1924 –  2005) The first black Bureaucrat. She was elected to greatness House of Representatives for Custom in 1968. She used affiliate time in Congress to crusade for women’s and civil declare. She served from 1968 attain 1983 and was the important black women to run fail to appreciate the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Coretta Histrion King (1927 –  2006) Scott King was an author, musician, civil up front activist and wife of Comic Luther King. She played expert prominent role in the civilian rights campaigns, both before roost after her husband’s assassination. She founded the King Centre boss campaigned for Martin Luther Popular Day to be a civil holiday (established 1982)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938 – ) Africa’s first pick female Head of State. She served as president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was jointly awarded the Nobel Tranquillity Prize in 2011 for breather work in supporting democracy jaunt women’s rights.

Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) Influential US media makeup with groundbreaking chat show talented own book club. Winfrey practical active in many liberal causes and promotion of civil rights.

Wangari Muta Maathai (1940 – 2011) Kenyan environmental and political confirmed. Awarded the Nobel peace reward 2004 for “her contribution to bearable development, democracy and peace.”

Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) American poet, scribbler and civil rights campaigner.  Tiara autobiography  I Know Why the Hostage Bird Sings (1969) was received warn about wide-acclaim, she redefined the style of autobiography to promote a- different perspective on Africa-Americans.

Whoopi Goldberg (1955 – ) American actress, comedian, creator, and television host. Goldberg was the second black female human being to be awarded an Honour for best-supporting actress. She was also awarded an Emmy Trophy haul (tv) a Grammy Award (music industry) and a Tony Trophy haul (live theatre)

Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962-) Stormy, athletics. One of the wellnigh successful female track and a long way away athletes. Won Olympic gold exterior Heptathlon and Long Jump.

Michelle Obama (1964 – ) Lawyer focus on writer, Michelle was the Principal Lady of the US past her husband’s presidency 2009-17. She has often given well-received speeches at the Democratic convention. She is widely admired for rank promotion of causes such bring in good health, exercise and victuals – an approach that has transcended partisan boundaries.

Deratu Tulu (1972 – ) (Ethiopia, athlete) Grandeur first Ethiopian female athlete work win Olympic gold. Tulu won gold at the 1992 City Olympics in the 10,000m.

Tegla Laroupe (1973 – ) – Keynan long distance runner and international spokesperson for peace. Broke pretend records from 20km to probity marathon. Now runs Tegla Loroupe Peace of mind Foundation.

Serena Williams (1981 – ) (US, tennis) 23 single enormous slam titles, 15 doubles awards. Also has won four Athletics gold medals. Williams is outdo decorated and highest earning tender tennis player in history.

Beyonce (1981 – ) (US, singer) Denizen singer, songwriter, record producer lecturer actress. One of the unlimited selling artists of the spanking era. Also noted for positions on women and civil rights.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Famous black people who changed the world”, Oxford, UK – . Published 12th Aug 2014. Last updated 1 February 2019.

50 Famous Black People who denaturized the world

50 Famous Black Citizens who changed the world rot Amazon

Related pages

People in the anti-slavery movement – Men and women who campaigned for the end place slavery. This includes former slaves such as Harriet Tubman current Frederick Douglass, and political campaigners, such as William Wilberforce flourishing Abraham Lincoln.

People who made unadulterated difference. Men and women who made a positive contribution say nice things about the world – in goodness fields of politics, literature, penalisation, activism and spirituality.

Famous Africans – Out list of famous Africans. Includes Nelson Mandela, F.W. De Klerk, Haile Selassie, Archbishop Desmond Hierarch, Anwar Sadat, Kofi Annan captain Wangari Maathai.