The Most Influential Black People
Black people were regarded as underdogs who don’t deserve to be equally
treated with whites in terms of human rights, opportunities and
privileges. But there have been several successful Black people who have
greatly changed the world’s notion of Blacks. Let’s take a look:
Harriet Tubman
Born as a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland , Harriet Tubman’s
childhood were filled with misery and torture. She was beaten and forced
to work by her masters. Despite her misfortunes, she managed to escape
captivity and helped others escape slavery. She led an armed expedition
during the World War II. Later on, she joined in the women’s suffrage
movement. She died in 1913 but her memory as an iconic figure of bravery
will always remain in the American history.
Rosa Parks
Known as the “Mother of Freedom Movement”, Rosa Parks is a civil
rights activist who strongly fights for the rights of the Blacks. She
once rode in a bus and she was asked to vacate her seat to give way to a
White. She refused. This triggers the onset of a radical movement which
ends the racial discrimination in America. Through her, several leaders
united and took part in the Civil Rights Movement. Her final years were
spent in Detroit until she died in 2005.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. is an American clergyman who is well known for
his active participation in the Civil Rights Movement. Apart from being
a great humanitarian, he was recognized as an excellent orator who
played a vital role in establishing the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference. Unlike other activists, Martin Luther King Jr. desires to
abolish racial discrimination in non-violent ways. He was the youngest
man to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968 and
after his death, he was given the Congressional Gold Medal and
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Guion Bluford
Guion Bluford is an MS and PhD aerospace engineering graduate who
joined the Air Force. He has been a part of the four flights of space
shuttles launched from 1983-1992. He took the flight in Challenger
which belonged to the STS-8 Mission. Through this flight, he became the
first African-American to explore the space and cross the boundaries of
the earth.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was a black inventor and scientist who
struggled in studying in public schools because of racial
discrimination. He started learning piano and art, and later on, teacher
Etta Budd, encouraged him to take botany. He enrolled at the Iowa
State Agricultural College in Ames where he became the first black
student and later on, Black tutor. He helped farmers in having a secured
source of food and income by introducing the concept of raising and
growing alternative crops. Later on, he has developed several products
from sweet potatoes and peanuts including plastics, cosmetics, gasoline
and dye.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of National
African Congress whose principles were in-lined with Mahatma Gandhi. He
was imprisoned for over 27 years. In his entire lifetime, he has
received over a hundred of recognitions including the Nobel Peace Prize.
He played an important role in the abolition of apartheid and he was
the first ever Black President of South Africa.
Toni Morrison
A certified Pulitzer Prize-winning author and nobel prize awardee,
Toni Morrison served as an English instructor at the Texas Southern
University. He created the novel Beloved which earned her several
recognitions from prestigious award winning bodies. She is part of the
editorial board of the magazine “The nation”. She is the first Black
woman who won a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Barrack Obama is probably one of the most popular and inspiring country leaders today after having been elected as the United States President. He graduated with Juris Doctor in Harvard Law School. He is one of the most influential African-American leaders and brilliant black lawyers in the world today. He initiated the enforcement of no-fly zone over Libya, commanding of military operation which caused Osama Bin Laden’s death, signing of new START arms treaty with Russia and the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.
Michael Jordan
Hailed as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan
is absolutely one of the most popular basketball players who popularized
the NBA. Aside from basketball, Michael Jordan was also interested in
baseball and football in his early years. He was rejected from the
varsity basketball team because he was considered “too short”. His
rejection motivated him to become one of the world’s greatest basketball
players. He is an African-American icon in sports who received several
awards and recognitions because of his skills and prowess in basketball.
Today, Michael Jordan is an entrepreneur and one of the major owners of
a professional basketball team in North Carolina, Charlotte Bobcats.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey goes beyond just a host of the famous The Oprah Winfrey
Show. She is also an actress, proprietor and a great philanthropist. In
fact, she is the first Black who made it to the list of America’s Top
50 Most Generous Philanthropists according to Business Week. Despite her
struggles during her childhood, Oprah emerged to be one of the most
popular Black hosts today. Her career started as a co-anchor in a local
radio show and then she moved to talk show hosting. Today, Winfrey is
the only African-American who made it on the Forbes’ list of 400 Richest
People of America.
Will Smith
Will Smith is a producer, rapper and only actor who made 8
consecutive films that earn over $100 million in the domestic box
office. Smith is known for his films like Bad Boys, The Pursuit of
Happyness, Independence Day and Robot. He received two academy awards,
four nominations for Golden Globe Awards, and several Grammy Awards.
Newsweek considered him as the most powerful actor of Hollywood. He also
made it to the top 40 of the wealthiest Americans who are under 40.
Michael Jackson
Also known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is hailed by Guinness
World Records as the most successful entertainer of all time. Starting
as a member of the Jackson 5, he began his solo career in 1971 and from
then on, he made remarkable contributions in the world of entertainment
especially in dance and music. He has made several record-breaking
albums such as the Thriller, HIStory and Bad. Despite his traumatic
childhood years with hi dad who abused him physically and emotionally,
Michael Jackson has emerged to be one of the most popular artists and
performers of all time.