Inventors & Scientists
This scientist is famous for discovering over 300 uses for peanuts but did not invent peanut butter.
Who is George Washington Carver?
This professional basketball player is the first in NBA history to actively play basketball in a game with his son on the same team.
Who is Lebron James?
This Music Icon is known as the "Queen of Soul," this legendary singer was famous for hits like Respect and Chain of Fools.
Who is Aretha Franklin?
In 1955, this woman refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, sparking the Civil Rights Movement.
Who is Rosa Parks?
Known as the "King of Pop," this iconic musician released albums like Thriller and Bad, and is famous for his signature dance move, the Moonwalk.
Who is Michael Jackson?
This surgeon performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries.
Who is Dr. Daniel Hale Williams?
This professional boxer changed his name from Cassius Clay on March 6, 1964, shortly after winning the heavyweight championship against Sonny Liston.
Who is Muhammad Ali?
This composer and pianist, known as the "King of Ragtime," wrote the famous piece The Entertainer.
Who is Scott Joplin?
This leader gave the famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the 1963 March on Washington.
Who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?
A leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, this poet wrote The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Harlem, which asks, "What happens to a dream deferred?"
Who is Langston Hughes?
This self-taught mathematician and astronomer, played a key role in the early development of Washington, D.C. a major U.S. city by assisting in surveying the land.
Who is Benjamin Banneker?
This athlete was the First African American Major League Baseball player
Who is Jackie Robinson?
This African American opera singer was one of the most celebrated contraltos of the 20th century and made history by performing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after being denied a concert at Constitution Hall.
Who is Marian Anderson?
In 1960, at just six years old, she became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans.
Who is Ruby Bridges?
This poet and author is best known for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which details her early life and experiences with racism and trauma.
Who is Maya Angelou?
This inventor created the traffic light and gas mask.
Who is Garrett Morgan?
This track athlete was told at the age of 4 that she would never walk again, but in 1960, at the Olympics in Rome, she won 3 gold medals and the title of world’s fastest woman. She set the world record of 22.9 seconds for the 200-meter race.
Who is Wilma Rudolph?
This famous jazz composer and bandleader was known for his big band sound and timeless hits like Take the "A" Train and Mood Indigo.
Who is Duke Ellington?
This brave abolitionist and former enslaved woman helped lead hundreds of enslaved people to freedom using a secret network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Who is Harriet Tubman?
This poet was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for her work Annie Allen and is known for her vivid portrayals of Black life in Chicago.
Who is Gwendolyn Brooks?
In 1992, this Astronaut and engineer made history as the first African American woman to travel to space aboard this NASA shuttle called the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Who is Mae Jemison?
This tennis player made history as the first African American man to win the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open.
Who is Arthur Ashe?
This actor, singer, and civil rights activist was known for his deep baritone voice and powerful performances of songs like Ol' Man River.
Who is Paul Robeson?
This former enslaved African American became a leading abolitionist, writer, and speaker. He advocated for the emancipation of enslaved people and equal rights for all. His autobiography became a bestseller and inspired many in the fight for freedom.
Who is Frederick Douglass?
This media mogul, talk show host, and philanthropist became the first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show in Chicago, Illinois.
Who is Orpah Winfrey?