Top Ten African American Figures Who Changed the World
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an African American minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism... read more With all the respect to the greatest rapper ever; Tupac did not change the world, and neither did Michael Jackson. Martin Luther King Jr. is the only one on this list who has actually made a difference. And a quite big one, indeed.
He preached equality and equality gained by nonviolent protest. So many other movements have MLK to thank for showing us how to make a difference.
He fought for civil rights in America, and he followed non-Violent teachings like Mahatama Gandhi
Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971 in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was assassinated on September 1996 at the age of 25... read more Civil rights is the most important thing in this world to me, along with love. Equal rights and chances need to be given to all human beings, and everyone on this list is a good person... except Obama. I thought it was really important for civil rights for the U.S. to get an African-American president. Also a women, LGBT, people of all heights and weight, disability, people of all religion, and all races, nationalities, cultures, and all different people should be president too. But Obama did a poor job representing the U.S. as every president except kind of FDR, Lincoln, and Lyndon B. while in civil rights. Great list, and I'm a huge Tupac Shakur fan too, he has great beliefs. Thanks!
Tupac changed the world by giving black people mostly men courage to speak the truth and stand up for themselves. tupac gave black people a voice in the media. tupac had real talent and spoke the truth his music was about something he was trying to change the world tupac music was not just about sex and drugs and other things of that nature unlike most of these rapers and tupac died before I was born but I still feel his music and the beat of his musci sounded like it was hand played and real like a band was playing it right in front of you insted of all this auto-tons and stuff
Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures of the 20th century, and is frequently ranked as the best heavyweight boxer and greatest athlete of the century. The greatest boxer who ever lived, also a poet who fought not only for championships but for respect, an inspirational person
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African-American president of the United States.
A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004. First black president, what else needs to be said?
Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ... read more He brought pure magic to the world. Brought awareness. Brought joy, escapism, bliss to the public. Fought against racism, prejudice, and other global causes. Awarded for being a celebrity who donated the most money to 30+ charities. Visited as many orphanages as he went on tours, bring toys to all the children and autographing their items. He was directly involved in cutting world hunger and spreading a global campaign of peace, unity, love, and equality. This was an amazing man.
MJ changed the world would his songs, and soon became the King of Pop and soon after that The Greatest Singer in the World
I was expecting Michael to be on this list within the top 3, well done
Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director and narrator. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby (2004), and he has received Oscar nominations for his performances in Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy,... read more
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, Amos & Andrew, True Romance, Jurassic Park and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Django Unchained & The Hateful Eight. He has a small part in just about every Blockbuster that comes out, considered the most successful actor of his time(now)
Colin Luther Powell was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer.
Rated "Most Powerful Woman in the World" in 2004 and 2005, and #2 in the world in 2006 by Forbes magazine.
Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little and also known as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist. Why is this man so low on the list!? Should be in the top 5!
I agree with you he should be top 5
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and producer. Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. Eddie Murphy is considered the funniest comedian of all time,
Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is best known for his acting career overall. He has been in many popular movies, These include, but are not limited to, the Men in Black franchise, The Pursuit of Happyness, and After Earth. He is often referred to as one of the best African American actors. A great actor known for his comedies and also serious dramas
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African American civil rights activist, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement". Girl power! this woman changed the world for the better. Love you Rosa!
Benjamin Solomon "Ben" Carson, Sr. is a retired American neurosurgeon and former candidate for President of the United States. Worked his way up from extreme poverty to become one of the greatest surgeons of all time.
Rodney King became famous when he was brutally bashed by two L.A. police officers, he changed the world about how the police in America work
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and advisor to presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American community.
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day. He is the greatest African American actor of all time, he has Won 2 Oscars
He's probably one of the biggest actors out there today
It made me sad to see him below Will Smith.
Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians.Johnson died in 1938 at the age of 27. The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear today. His death makes him one of the earliest members of the... read more
Laurence John Fishburne III is an American actor, playwright, producer, screenwriter, and film director.
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete and four-time gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic Games.Owens specialized in the sprints and the long jump and was recognized in his lifetime as "perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history". He set three world records and tied another, all in less than an hour at... read more
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and criminal. X would be a good person because he helped people come over their depression including me
