Famous African Americans - List of Famous African Americans - page 6

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
George Wallace

George Wallace

George Wallace was a renowned politician and the 45th Governor of Alabama

AmericanAugust 25, 1919158 views

Orlando Brown

Orlando Brown is an African-American actor, rapper, voice actor, and singer

Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan, also popularly known as the Queen of Funk, is an American recording artist

AmericanMarch 23, 1953340 views