Top 10 Greatest Unsung Heroes
This list is about people in history or today who have done incredible things but are not given enough credit for their achievements. They could be people you've never even heard of, probably because your local news channel doesn't really care or something.Take your time to think. Which individual do you think deserves more credit than they usually get?
Nikola Tesla was a pioneering inventor and electrical engineer who made groundbreaking contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) power systems. His innovations, including the Tesla coil and the induction motor, laid the foundation for modern electrical infrastructure. The sole reason why I made this list is that Tesla needs to be known. His work on AC/DC shaped the modern world as we know it. Not only that, but he also invented many things and conceived of several ideas that today's society uses. I could go on, but it would take forever. If you don't know, Edison was a complete dirtbag who took advantage of him and received all the credit, along with fame and money.
The best thing about Tesla? He genuinely cared about the planet, the people, and the animals as well. He never aspired to become a high-profile celebrity. He wanted to develop and create sustainable solutions for the planet. Without a doubt, he is an inspiration to me and the greatest scientist/mind the world has ever seen.
Abdul Sattar Edhi was a Pakistani philanthropist who founded and operated the Edhi Foundation, providing free services across Pakistan, including hospitals, homeless shelters, and orphanages. His selfless dedication to humanity earned him the title of "Pakistan's Mother Teresa." It's a shame Edhi was never well-known. After all, he was situated in Pakistan. But read about the guy, and you'll grow to admire him immensely. Edhi had a humble heart from the very beginning and ultimately dedicated his life to helping people. This led to the creation of the Edhi Foundation. He is, once again, an amazing inspiration.
Alexandra Scott was a young cancer patient who, despite her illness, founded Alex's Lemonade Stand to raise money for cancer research. Her efforts inspired a nationwide movement that has raised millions of dollars to fight childhood cancer. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer, and died at age 8. During that time, she started a lemonade stand with her older brother, and by the time she passed, the stand had raised more than $1 million, all in hopes of finding a cure for pediatric cancer.
The lemonade stand has since become a charity foundation and has amassed about $120 million. Overall, she is an angel who deserves recognition.
Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani child laborer who escaped from slavery and became a global figure in the fight against child labor. His activism brought international attention to the plight of millions of children in similar conditions. Such a tragic yet inspirational story regarding the issue of slavery. What a shame to hear that a true hero like him, who escaped at the risk of his own life, was able to fight against the oppression of child labor only to be killed and forgotten. This is a well-made list, CrimsonShark.
This kid had the guts to escape the carpet factory, especially considering it was a slave facility at that time. He managed to free over 3,000 kids in Pakistan and bring down about $34 million in carpet factory sales before being murdered at the age of 13.
The saddest thing is that the kid hardly gets any recognition anywhere.
Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker who saved approximately 2,500 Jewish children from the Holocaust by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto. She provided them with false identity documents and placed them with safe families, risking her life in the process. She risked her life to save Jewish occupants in Germany during the Holocaust. She succeeded but was hardly known to people, unlike Oskar Schindler. It wasn't until 1999, when four teenagers did a project based on her, that she finally got the recognition she deserved.
Gabriella Miller was a young American activist who, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Her efforts led to the passing of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act in the United States. A DIPG patient who sadly passed away in 2013 at age 10. I've seen her in interviews. She's so amazing and has even gone out to public events. There's a charity organization called "Smashing Walnuts" dedicated to her memory, with the goal of finding a cure for DIPG.
Overall, she is a beautiful angel in heaven.
Neerja Bhanot was an Indian flight attendant who sacrificed her life while saving passengers during a hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986. Her bravery and quick thinking helped save the lives of many on board. She has more heart and bravery than the majority of us do. She risked her life to save a couple of passengers. The Indian government was highly touched by her efforts and posthumously awarded her the Ashok Chakra, the highest civilian award in India.
Mary Anning was an English fossil collector and self-taught paleontologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of prehistoric life. Her discoveries, including the first complete Ichthyosaurus skeleton, were critical to the early development of paleontology. She has made some of the most significant contributions to paleontology ever, and she was only 12. She discovered the remains of an ichthyosaur and a plesiosaur, which have been highly contributing factors to our understanding of prehistoric and extinct animals.
I was a dinosaur fanatic, so this kind of applies.
Ryan White was an American teenager who became a national figure after being expelled from school due to his HIV diagnosis. His advocacy for AIDS awareness helped change public perception of the disease and led to significant improvements in treatment and policy. He raised awareness about AIDS before succumbing to it at age 18. If anything, let's thank this guy for the knowledge we have on AIDS. God bless his soul.
Keanu Reeves is a Canadian actor and philanthropist known for his generosity and humility. He has quietly donated millions of dollars to children's hospitals and cancer research, often shunning the limelight in favor of private acts of kindness. Call me biased, but Keanu, outside of Hollywood, is absolutely amazing. He's been through a lot - dyslexia, the loss of a lover, a child, and a best friend - and he has still managed to prevail. Keep in mind I'm talking about him as a person, not as an actor. He donated a significant amount of his own money to the crew team on "The Matrix Reloaded." He's also a cancer advocate, considering his sister had cancer. Despite being worth millions, he lives a normal life and opts for more conventional modes of travel. He even takes the subway to minimize environmental damage.
Oh, and you can't deny his dedication to action films. He may not be the best actor, but his stunt work is definitely inspiring. He's not as good as Bruce Lee, but props to Keanu nonetheless.
The Newcomers
Virginia Louise Giuffre was an American-Australian alleged victim of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She became a campaigner supporting victims of sex trafficking through advocacy and public awareness efforts.Giuffre founded Victims Refuse Silence, a non-profit organization based in the United States, in 2015. The organization was rebranded as Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR) in November 2021. She provided detailed accounts to numerous American and British reporters about her experiences of being trafficked by Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Kevin Michael Cosgrove was an American insurance senior business executive who served as vice president at Aon Corporation. A victim of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Cosgrove is notable for the 9-1-1 call he made during his final moments. The call abruptly ended with him screaming from inside the South Tower as it collapsed.Cosgrove's last words made international headlines, and the recording was used during the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only criminal trial to result from the attacks.
Stanislav Petrov was a Soviet Air Defense officer who played a crucial role in preventing a potential nuclear war in 1983. By correctly identifying a false alarm in the Soviet missile detection system, he avoided a retaliatory strike against the United States. The fact this guy isn't number one is a crime. He literally saved the world.
We are probably here because of him.
George Harrison was a British musician, best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles, who used his fame to promote humanitarian causes. His efforts included organizing the Concert for Bangladesh, one of the first major charity concerts, which raised awareness and funds for refugees.
Douglas Alward was the childhood friend of Terry Fox, who helped support and inspire Fox during his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. Alward's loyalty and dedication played a vital role in the success of Fox's mission. He was Terry Fox's best friend and drove the mobile home for him during his Marathon of Hope. He also cooked Terry's meals and collected donations for the cause.
Alice Paul was an American suffragist and women's rights activist who played a key role in the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. She later authored the Equal Rights Amendment, advocating for gender equality under the law.
Bilquis Edhi was a Pakistani nurse and humanitarian who co-founded the Edhi Foundation with her husband, Abdul Sattar Edhi. She was instrumental in the operation of orphanages and emergency services, providing care and shelter to the most vulnerable.
Corey Haim was a Canadian actor who gained fame in the 1980s but struggled with personal issues throughout his life. Despite his challenges, he remains remembered for his contributions to film and his efforts to raise awareness about addiction. I salute him for spreading awareness about the sexual abuse he suffered.
Poggio Bracciolini was an Italian scholar and early humanist who is credited with rediscovering and preserving many classical Latin texts during the Renaissance. His work helped revive interest in ancient literature and played a crucial role in the intellectual developments of the period. Bracciolini had the last surviving manuscript of the Roman poem "On the Nature of Things" by Lucretius. He translated the text to make it more accessible. This act would ultimately lead to the event known as the Renaissance. Sure, you could consider Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo highly instrumental in the development of the modern world, but Poggio is the one who started it all.
Important, but barely recognized.
Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan spiritual adviser who challenged the established religious authorities in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. Her advocacy for religious freedom and the separation of church and state had a lasting impact on the development of religious liberty in America.
Vivien Thomas was an African American surgical technician who developed pioneering techniques in cardiac surgery. Despite facing significant racial barriers, his contributions were critical to the success of the first open-heart surgeries.
Jiddu Krishnamurti was an Indian philosopher and speaker who rejected traditional religious and spiritual paths, advocating instead for personal understanding and self-awareness. His teachings emphasized the importance of freedom from societal conditioning and self-imposed limitations.
Rick Moranis is a Canadian actor and comedian who became famous for his roles in films like Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. After his wife's passing, he chose to step away from his successful career to raise his children, demonstrating his commitment to family over fame. Known for his roles in Spaceballs and Ghostbusters, he retired from acting after his wife died of breast cancer. However, his main reason for retiring was to spend more time nurturing his two children, a decision that was further influenced by his wife's death. He's a good example to show that one should prioritize loved ones over one's job, regardless of how successful one might become.
Utako Okamoto was a Japanese doctor and hematologist who discovered tranexamic acid, a medication that reduces bleeding. Her discovery has saved countless lives in surgery and trauma care, yet her contributions remain largely unrecognized outside the medical field. She, along with her husband Shosuke Okamoto, discovered a drug known as TXA (Tranexamic acid), which could potentially stop blood clots considerably. Her intentions to use it medically were rejected simply because she was a woman. It wasn't until 2010 that researchers discovered TXA was capable of reducing postpartum hemorrhage by 30% and could save as many as 30,000 women every year. This discovery was made only a year after she died.
Hopefully, her contributions will benefit the greater good.
Nkosi Johnson was a South African child who became a powerful advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. Born with the disease, his courage and activism helped change public perceptions and policies around HIV/AIDS in South Africa and beyond.
Talia Castellano was a young American girl who gained widespread attention for her makeup tutorials on YouTube while battling neuroblastoma, a rare cancer. Her positive spirit and activism for childhood cancer awareness inspired millions around the world.
Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, and political activist who revolutionized the field of linguistics with his theory of generative grammar. Beyond academia, he has been a prominent critic of political systems, advocating for human rights and social justice.