by Jackie Howell
Since the month of February arrived, black history month has begun! Over the past century, thousands of African-Americans have helped shaped society by providing the next generation with rights and opportunities that they did not have access to at the time. While there are countless of figures that have paved the path for the rights and freedoms of people of colour globally, here is a quick glance at 10 influential people within the past century.
1. Martin Luther King Jr. – Dr. King is one of the most renowned leaders for the Civil Rights Movement (“I have a dream…”). He led nonviolent protests in order to fight for justice for African-Americans in society. To learn more about his story, watch “Selma” (a film on the life of Dr. King).
2. Nelson Mandela – Mandela was an important politician in South Africa who served as President; he fought for civil rights by fighting against institutionalized racism and inequality between the races in South Africa.
3. Oprah Winfrey – Oprah has influenced society through her television network, her shows, and her global activism to achieve equity for every race.
4. Barack Obama – As the first African-American president of the United States of America, Obama has influenced millions of lives through the creation of various policies and negotiations.
5. Maya Angelou – She was an American poet, writer, and campaigner who inspired millions of people with her written pieces.
6. Jackie Robinson – Robinson was the first African-American baseball player in the Major League Baseball. He faced various degrees of racism and pure hatred; however, he met acts of racism by choosing to turn the other cheek and remain focused. Robinson helped paved the way for future athletes to achieve the same dream.
7. Jesse Owens – Owens was the first African-American to receive a gold medal at the Olympic Games of 1936, paving the path for future African-American athletes.
8. Rosa Parks – Parks fought for civil rights for the African-American people by protesting against the segregation in communities across North America. Parks is most famous for refusing to sit in the designated “Coloured” section on the bus, demonstrating that she is willing to fight for justice. She helped paved the path to integration for all races in society.
9. Wangari Muta Maathai – She is a Kenyan woman who won the Nobel Peace prize in 2004 for her environmental and political activism.
10. Malcolm X – Malcolm X was a human rights activist who fought against the injustice against African-American people through violence and various rallies.
To learn more, check out the resources below.
Resources: http://blog.biographyonline.net/2009/01/famous-black-people-who-changed-world.html
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