Famous African Americans - List of Famous African Americans - page 3

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
Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks was an American professional baseball player who was one of the powerful players of the Chicago Cubs.

AmericanJanuary 31, 1931185 views

Bill Withers

Bill Withers is an American singer-songwriter and musician

AmericanJuly 4, 1938839 views

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is one of the most successful and established African American actresses

AmericanNovember 13, 1955137 views

Tony Dungy

A retired NFL Coach and a former American football player, Tony Dungy is the first African-American head coach to record a victory at the Super Bowl

AmericanOctober 6, 1955201 views

Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens is a former football player famous for both his explosive performances as well as controversies

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is an American professional basketball player with Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA)

AmericanMay 19, 1976121 views

Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin, ‘King of Ragtime’ was an eminent American composer and pianist of the twentieth century

AmericanNovember 24, 1868173 views

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a prominent political leader of Jamaica

JamaicanAugust 17, 1887175 views

Ato Essandoh

Ato Essandoh is a well-known American actor

American1972139 views

Kellita Smith

Kellita Smith is an eminent American model, actress and comedian

AmericanJanuary 15, 1969225 views