Famous African Americans - List of Famous African Americans - page 2

African Americans were historically one of the most discriminated groups in the USA. However things began to change in the late 19th century with the likes of civil rights activists like John Lewis, Samuel Ringgold Ward, and Harriet Tubman raising their voices demanding equal rights for all. The civil rights movement received further momentum in the 20th century with the emergence of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Harry Burns. By the later part of the 20th century, African Americans had begun to make a name for themselves in varied fields such as science, technology, sports, music and literature. Diplomat Ralph Joseph Bunche created history by becoming the first African American to win the Nobel Prize for Peace. History was created by GuionBluford as well when he became the first African American astronaut to venture into space. More recently, Barack Obama claimed the honor of being the first African American to be elected to the US President’s office. Read on for more information about the life and works of famous African Americans.

The Most Famous African Americans

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Henrietta LacksAugust 1, 1920AmericanHenrietta Lacks was a woman whose cancer cells were used as the source of HeLa cell line
Bill WithersJuly 4, 1938AmericanBill Withers is an American singer-songwriter and musician
Thomas SowellJune 30, 1930AmericanThomas Sowell is an American economist, syndicated columnist, writer and social theorist
Muhammad AliJanuary 17, 1942AmericanMuhammad Ali was a legendary boxer who became the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion
Orlando BrownDecember 4, 1987AmericanOrlando Brown is an African-American actor, rapper, voice actor, and singer
Chaka KhanMarch 23, 1953AmericanChaka Khan, also popularly known as the Queen of Funk, is an American recording artist
AaliyahJanuary 16, 1979AmericanAaliyah was an American singer best known for her album ‘Age Ain't Nothing but a Number’
Huey P. NewtonFebruary 17, 1942AmericanHuey Newton was an African-American political activist who co-founded the Black Panther Party
Malcolm XMay 19, 1925AmericanMalcolm X was a renowned African-American Sunni Muslim civil rights activist
Langston HughesFebruary 1, 1902AmericanLangston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance

Michael Oher

Michael Oher is one of the most popular names in contemporary American Football who plays at the tackle position

AmericanMay 28, 1986106 views

Aaliyah

Aaliyah was an American singer best known for her album ‘Age Ain't Nothing but a Number’

AmericanJanuary 16, 1979332 views

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an eminent astrophysicist and a popular science communicator

AmericanOctober 5, 1958227 views

Ben Carson

Ben Carson is the first neurosurgeon to have successfully separated conjoined twins joined at the head

AmericanSeptember 18, 1951219 views

Willie Mays

Willie Mays is a retired American professional baseball player who was a center fielder with the New York and San Francisco Giants for the most of his career

AmericanMay 6, 1931156 views

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was a famous African-American singer, actor, and civil rights activist

AmericanApril 9, 1898137 views

Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas serves as the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

AmericanJune 23, 1948131 views

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony is a professional basketball player who plays for the New York Knicks

AmericanMay 29, 1984164 views