To wrap up the end of Black History Month, let’s recap the top 11 most inspiring African-Americans and their greatest achievements!

• Martin Luther King Jr- He was one of the most famous civil rights activists to have ever lived. He fought against racial inequality and his “I Had a Dream” speech changed the perspectives and opinions of billions. His speech also influenced the government to take more action into equalizing all races. 

• Rosa Parks- She was a civil rights activist that was most known for showing her courage and saying no when being told to move to the back of a public busby a white man. She inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott and worked hard alongside Martin Luther King Jr.  Rosa Parks was motivated by Claudette Colvin, a young 15 year old girl who said no to giving up her bus seat long before Parks did. The reason she’s not as popular today is because she wasn’t an “appealing” activist for the movement. Both Parks and Colvin showed great strength during these years of struggle and inequality. 

• Barack Obama- He was the 44th president and the very first African American to run the United States of America. Obama strengthened the economy during a global financial crisis, improved healthcare,  and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. Him and his wife, Michelle Obama, were known as a power couple that was a big part in America’s growth. Obama is seen as one of the most-favorited and effective presidents of our time. 

•  Frederick Douglass- He was born and raised a slave and was neglected of proper education so he taught himself how to read and write. Douglass knew that learning could get him in tons of trouble but he still took the risk anyway. When he turned 20, he escaped slavery and became a great author, public speaker, and a leader of the abolishment movement. HIs writing had a humongous influence on the abolishment of slavery.
• Oprah Winfrey- She is the very first African American woman to have her own television production company. For that matter, she’s also a very talented actress and author. She has made many contributions to organizations that support the empowerment of women and help kids excel in education. She’s also on the list of “Top 10 Inspirational Women.” 

• Harriet Tubman- She is very well known for her huge part in the Underground Railroad. She spent 11 years helping other slaves escape. She freed about 200 to 400 slaves in her 19 trips in the South. She was also a spy, soldier, nurse, and scout for the Union Army during the Civil War. She was also the first woman to lead a military raid in 1863. 

• Medgar Evers- He was a civil rights activist and a World War 2 veteran. In Mississippi, he became the NAACP’s first field officer and held tons of protests against segregation that had been happening in public schools all over the South. He fought against the intense Jim Crow laws and his main goal was to try and give colored children a better life than he had growing up. 

• Jackie Robinson- He was the first African-American baseball player to play in the United States Major League Baseball. He was also one of the greatest at his sport. He broke the color barrier when he started playing professional baseball, this had a huge impact on the Civil Rights Movement. Fun fact, Robinson did end up winning The Rookie of the Year Award back in 1947. 

• Booker T. Washington- He was a very determined man and all he ever wanted was to get a good education.  He walked a whopping 500 miles to enroll at Hampton Institute. He heavily excelled in academics and became one of the best inspirational speakers of all time. He made many many educational books that spoke out against discrimination which were read by millions. 

• Shirley Chisholm- She was the first African-American woman to serve in Congress and then became the first one to seek presidential nomination from a major party. She also co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus. When she retired from office, she became a public speaker and a teacher.
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• Muhammad Ali- In most people’s opinion, he was the greatest boxer of all time. He was a very tough guy and became the first fighter in the world to receive the World Heavyweight Title three times. Although he was good in the arena, he was also a very motivational person outside of it. He stood up for his rights no matter the consequences. He once evaded being drafted into the Vietnam War because of his beliefs for his religion.

Information provided by: https://www.nsls.org/blog/african-american-leaders-in-history