Rosa Parks
Known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” her refusal to give up her bus seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Sidney Poitier
An Oscar-winning actor, Poitier broke racial barriers in Hollywood.
Harriet Tubman
Known as the “Moses of her people,” she escaped slavery and helped hundreds gain freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Jackie Robinson
The first Black player in Major League Baseball, Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 and paved the way for racial integration in sports.
Langston Hughes
A leading poet and writer of the Harlem Renaissance, he captured the Black experience in America through his poetry, plays, and essays.
Bessie Coleman
The first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, she became a daring stunt pilot and inspired future generations of aviators.
Barack Obama
The 44th president of the United States and the first African American to hold the office, he served two terms and made contributions to healthcare reform.
Oprah Winfrey
A media mogul and philanthropist, she built an empire through The Oprah Winfrey Show and continues to influence popular culture and social issues.
Serena Williams
A tennis superstar, she holds 23 Grand Slam singles titles and is known for her powerful influence both in sports and as an advocate for equality.
Jesse Owens
A track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Aretha Franklin
Known as the “Queen of Soul,” she was a legendary singer and songwriter, famous for hits like “Respect” and her impact on music and civil rights.
Ella Fitzgerald
Known as the “First Lady of Song,” Fitzgerald was a renowned jazz singer with a career spanning decades, winning 13 Grammy Awards.
Shirley Chisholm
The first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to run for a major party’s presidential nomination.
John Lewis
A civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman, he was a key figure in the Selma to Montgomery marches and devoted his life to activism.
Nelson Mandela
An anti-apartheid revolutionary, Mandela became South Africa’s first Black president and a global symbol of peace.
Muhammad Ali
A legendary boxer and outspoken activist, Ali is remembered for his courage both in and out of the ring.
Booker T. Washington
An influential educator and founder of Tuskegee University, he promoted economic independence as a path to racial equality.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
A leader of the Civil Rights Movement, he is remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech and his dedication to achieving equality through nonviolent protest.
Sojourner Truth
An abolitionist and women’s rights advocate, she is famous for her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech and dedication to social justice.
Malcolm X
A prominent figure who advocated for Black empowerment.
Bill Russell
An NBA legend, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships and became a prominent civil rights advocate.
Michelle Obama
The first African American First Lady of the United States, she is an advocate for education, healthy eating, and women’s rights.
George Washington Carver
An agricultural scientist and inventor, Carver developed hundreds of products using peanuts and promoted sustainable farming.
Frederick Douglas
An escaped slave who became a prominent abolitionist, writer, and speaker, advocating for the end of slavery and equal rights.
Kamala Harris
The first woman, first Black woman, and first Asian American to serve as Vice President of the United States.
Arthur Ashe
The first Black man to win titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open.
Madam C.J. Walker
The first self-made Black female millionaire in America, she created a successful line of hair care products for Black women.
Althea Gibson
A trailblazing tennis player, she was the first Black athlete to win a Grand Slam title.
Mae Jemison
The first Black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.
Louis Armstrong
A pioneering jazz musician and singer, Armstrong is known for songs like “What a Wonderful World.”
Marian Anderson
A world-renowned contralto, she broke racial barriers in classical music, including her historic 1939 performance at the Lincoln Memorial.
W.E.B. Du Bois
A co-founder of the NAACP and influential writer, Du Bois was a sociologist and advocate for racial equality and Pan-Africanism.
Thurgood Marshall
The first Black Supreme Court Justice, Marshall was a key figure in the civil rights movement and won the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.
Jim Brown
An exceptional NFL running back, he was also known for his work in civil rights and advocacy for social justice.