9 Leaders from Black History You Should Know (2024)

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9 Leaders from Black History You Should Know? ›

These pioneering figures deserve to be celebrated. 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.

These pioneering figures deserve to be celebrated. 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.

Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equal rights for Blacks during the 1950s and '60s; Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, who became the first female African-American astronaut to travel to space in 1992; and Barack Obama, who was ...

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

While Martin Luther King Jr needs no introduction, his impact will forever bear repeating. A Baptist minister and activist, King became the most powerful leader in the civil rights movement until his death in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Barack Obama was recognized as the first African American President of the U.S. when he took office in 2008.

Mansa Musa (reigned c. 1312 – c. 1337) was the ninth Mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Musa's reign is often regarded as the zenith of Mali's power and prestige. Depiction of Mansa Musa, ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, from the 1375 Catalan Atlas.

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 Harriet Tubman. They are revered and in the spotlight because they are on stamps, calendars and even quoted in political speeches.

What are Afro-Latinos called? ›

Afro–Latin Americans or Black Latin Americans (sometimes Afro-Latinos) are Latin Americans of full or mainly sub-Saharan African ancestry. Afro–Latin Americans. Afrolatinoamericanos. Regions with significant populations. Brazil.

The inspiration behind much of the black power movement, Malcolm X's intellect, historical analysis, and powerful speeches impressed friend and foe alike. The primary spokesman for the Nation of Islam until 1964, he traveled to Mecca that year and returned more optimistic about social change.

Carter G. Woodson was a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people led to the establishment of Black History Month, marked every February since 1976.

Contemporary Relevance

The resilience, vision, and inclusivity demonstrated by Black leaders provide us with a roadmap to navigate these challenges. By applying these lessons, leaders today can foster environments that celebrate diversity, encourage innovation, and promote equity.

Black billionaires are individuals who are of predominantly African ancestry with a net worth of at least US$1 billion. According to the 2021 Forbes ranking of the world's billionaires, Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote had a net worth of $11.5 billion and was the world's richest black man.

Two of those historians you've met in earlier columns: Carter G. Woodson, “the father of Black History Month,” and George Washington Williams, “black America's first investigative journalist.” The great W.E.B. Du Bois—the first black person in the world to earn a Ph. D.

The richest Black American is Robert F. Smith, who founded Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in software companies. Smith grew up in Denver and worked as a chemical engineer before earning his MBA.