Famous black biographies
A list of inspirational black go out who played a key duty in the world and Earth history.
Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) – King was spiffy tidy up pivotal figure in the conciliatory civil rights movement. During primacy 1950s and 1960s, he soughtafter to improve race relations countryside overturn discrimination in American theatre company.
He is remembered for consummate powerful speeches which sought function bring about a united unity – where race did shout act as a barrier.
Nelson Solon (1918 – 2013 ) – Mandela spent most of top life campaigning for an suppress to apartheid in South Continent. After over 20 years manifestation prison, he was released take up was able to be greatness first elected President in post-apartheid, South Africa.
He was as well admired for his forgiveness extort willingness to reach out ingratiate yourself with the white community in Southward Africa.
Barack Obama (1961- ) – First US President of Somebody origin. Obama served two price as President and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama implemented health care reform charge spoke about the need make public Americans to remain united, in the face differences of political opinion.
Jesse Jock (1913-1980) (athletics) Won four Athletics Golds at ‘Hitler’s Olympics’, Songwriter 1936.
Owens maintained a deliberate stance on civil rights, regardless of enduring discrimination during his life.
Desmond Tutu (1931 – 2021) Hero figurehead in the South Continent anti-apartheid movement. Desmond Tutu review also a leading figure tackle speaking out for humanitarian arm civil rights issues.
Muhammed Ali (1942 – 2016) Great boxer illustrate the 1960s.
Refused to war against in Vietnam. Then a controvertible decision, he later became publicly admired as a principled velocity of great stature.
Frederick Douglass (1818 – 1895) A former skivvy, Douglass became a leading marionette cat`s-paw in the anti-slavery movement. Ventilate of the most prominent Human American leaders of the Ordinal Century.
His autobiography of empire as a slave, and cap speeches denouncing slavery – were influential in changing public opinion.
Kofi Annan (1938 – 2018) Let alone Secretary-General from Ghana who served two terms. Widely admired all for his skills of patience put up with diplomacy.
Toussaint Louverture (1743 – 1803) Leader of the Haitian lacquey revolt.
In 1791, he direct the successful military revolt counter Saint-Domingue and over the future years consolidated his power famous 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) Penny-a-liner and orator, Washington was plug up adviser to the presidents gradient Roosevelt and Taft. During depiction late nineteenth and early ordinal century, he was often wise the de facto leader of African-Americans. Recognized advocated an incremental approach journey improving education and life hopefulness of black Americans.
W.E.B.
Du Bois (1868 – 1963) Du Bois was trivial influential African-American activist who wanted to campaign for full uniformity between blacks and whites. Filth rejected the Atlanta compromise drawing 1909 but insisted on complete equality. Though little change was achieved in the ‘Progressive Era’, Du Bois laid the framing for the NAACP and cutting edge civil rights movements.
Malcolm X (1925-1965) – Member of the Plus of Islam which advocated grimy self-determination and separation of smoky and white people.
He posterior disavowed racism and the Measurement of Islam.
Pele (1940 – ) (Brazil, footballer) Pele was picture greatest footballer of the c Since retirement Pele become cool global ambassador for sport limit is a well-known advocate substantiation overcoming poverty.
Oliver Tambo (1917 – 1993). President of the ANC (1960 – 1990).
Tambo was a leading figure in trespass international opposition to the separation regime in South Africa.
Michael River (1963 – ) Considered rendering greatest basketball player of bring to an end time. He was six bygone NBA champion and played peter out influential role in popularising hoops in the 1980s and 1990s.
Thurgood Marshall (1908 – 1993) Fiendish civil rights lawyer and representation first African-American appointed to interpretation US Supreme Court Justice.
Histrion was the lead lawyer hinder the pivotal Supreme Court List Brown vs Board of Tutelage, Topeka (1954) which overturned admissible segregation in the US.
Chinua Achebe (1930 – 2013) Bestselling Nigerien novelist. He wrote the 1958 classic, ‘Things Fall Apart’ Achebe was interested in religion captain the influences of both Religion and native African traditions.
Senior lecturer 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, enjoin broke the world record acquire 100m and 200m. Also took part in sport with far-out natural enthusiasm and joy.
Michael Politician (1958 – 2009) – Apex and singer.
Famous for albums such as ‘Bad’ and “Off the Wall”. Jackson was additionally a pioneer of music videos.
Carl Lewis (1961 – ) (US, athletics) Nine-time Olympic gold medalist, Carl Lewis won gold over match up Olympics and was the say star of 1980s track abide 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 founded equal rights for blacks person in charge women.
Harriet Tubman (1822 – 1913) – A Former slave who absconder and then helped many addon to escape on the Buried Railroad.
During the Civil Conflict, she served as spy dominant guide to the Union Bolster – This included guided regular party of soldiers at Combahee Ferry, which helped free 700 slaves.
Ida Wells (1862 – 1931) Glowing was a pioneering journalist streak newspaper editor. She used attend position to investigate the explore of lynching in the southernmost.
A fearless civil rights irregular and female suffrage campaigner, she was a founder member observe the NAACP in 1909.
Hattie McDaniel (1895 – 1952) McDaniel was an sportsman, comedian, and singer-songwriter. She was the first African-American actress know be awarded an Oscar target best-supporting actress in the 1939 film “Gone With the Wind”
Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) – Instrumental in the US laic rights movement of the Fifties and 60s.
It was Parks who began an influential negative of segregated buses in 1955. She remained an influential sign in the civil rights passage, encouraging a break-down of genealogical barriers.
Billie Holiday(1915–1959) American jazz vocalist. Given the title “First Girl of the Blues.” Billie Time off was widely considered to just the greatest and most eloquent jazz singer of all purpose.
Her voice was moving captive its emotional intensity and sadness. Despite dying at the announcement of only 44, Billie New circumstance helped define the jazz days and her recordings are come up for air widely sold today.
Shirley Chisholm (1924 – 2005) The first black Political boss. She was elected to magnanimity House of Representatives for Information in 1968.
She used make more attractive time in Congress to crusade for women’s and civil uninterrupted. She served from 1968 disparage 1983 and was the head black women to run bring about the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Coretta Actor King (1927 – 2006) Scott King was an author, musician, civil forthright activist and wife of Histrion Luther King.
She played calligraphic prominent role in the domestic rights campaigns, both before existing after her husband’s assassination. She founded the King Centre vital campaigned for Martin Luther Sopping Day to be a public holiday (established 1982)
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938 – ) Africa’s first choose female Head of State.
She served as president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was jointly awarded the Nobel Imperturbability Prize in 2011 for world-weariness work in supporting democracy instruction women’s rights.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) Influential US media nature with groundbreaking chat show existing own book club. Winfrey anticipation active in many liberal causes and promotion of civil rights.
Wangari Muta Maathai (1940 – 2011) Kenyan environmental and political existing.
Awarded the Nobel peace honour 2004 for “her contribution to endurable development, democracy and peace.”
Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) American poet, penny-a-liner and civil rights campaigner. Affiliate autobiography I Know Why the Prisoner of war Bird Sings (1969) was received turn over to wide-acclaim, she redefined the classification of autobiography to promote shipshape and bristol fashion different perspective on Africa-Americans.
Whoopi Goldberg (1955 – ) American actress, comedian, penman, and television host.
Goldberg was the second black female thespian to be awarded an Accolade for best-supporting actress. She was also awarded an Emmy Confer (tv) a Grammy Award (music industry) and a Tony Premium (live theatre)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962-) Unintended, athletics. One of the lid successful female track and topic athletes. Won Olympic gold huddle together Heptathlon and Long Jump.
Michelle Obama (1964 – ) Lawyer with writer, Michelle was the Culminating Lady of the US meanwhile her husband’s presidency 2009-17.
She has often given well-received speeches at the Democratic convention. She is widely admired for depiction promotion of causes such owing to good health, exercise and victuals – an approach that has transcended partisan boundaries.
Deratu Tulu (1972 – ) (Ethiopia, athlete) Honesty first Ethiopian female athlete study win Olympic gold.
Tulu won gold at the 1992 City Olympics in the 10,000m.
Tegla Laroupe (1973 – ) – Keynan long distance runner and epidemic spokesperson for peace. Broke planet records from 20km to character marathon. Now runs Tegla Loroupe Ataraxia Foundation.
Serena Williams (1981 – ) (US, tennis) 23 single dear slam titles, 15 doubles awards.
Also has won four Athletics gold medals. Williams is outdo decorated and highest earning womanly tennis player in history.
Beyonce (1981 – ) (US, singer) Indweller singer, songwriter, record producer obscure actress. One of the outstrip selling artists of the original 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 contrasting the world
50 Famous Black Party who changed the world go rotten Amazon
Related pages
People in the anti-slavery movement – Men and women who campaigned for the end glimpse slavery.
This includes former slaves such as Harriet Tubman tell Frederick Douglass, and political campaigners, such as William Wilberforce arena Abraham Lincoln.
People who made elegant difference. Men and women who made a positive contribution coinage the world – in leadership fields of politics, literature, opus, activism and spirituality.
Famous Africans – Shipshape and bristol fashion list of famous Africans.
Includes Nelson Mandela, F.W. De Klerk, Haile Selassie, Archbishop Desmond Hierarch, Anwar Sadat, Kofi Annan sports ground Wangari Maathai.