Arts
A Poet Laureate, first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize.
1917-200
Gwendolyn Brooks
He is the founder of Motown Recording Corporation producing numerous of stars to include Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and Lionel Richie.
Berry Gordy
Educator, social scientist and journalist who provided a model of aggressive African American leadership for Human Rights.
Founder of the N.A.A.C.P.
W.E.B. Du Bois
He was the founder of Tuskegee Institute.
Booker T. Washington
Who invented the potato chip?
George Crum
First African American musical director for the Academy Awards. He is the most Grammy nominated artist in the history of the awards with 79 nominations and 26 awards.
Quincy Jones
Co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.
Named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
She was instrumental in the black citizens of Montgomery, Alabama boycotting public transportation after she was arrested and fined $14 for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915.
Carter G. Woodson
Who invented the gas mask?
Garrett Morgan
Her writing is known for blending science fiction with African American spiritualism.
She won a "Best Short Story" Hugo Award for Speech Sounds and also for her novelette Bloodchild.
Science fiction writer
Octavia E. Butler
Former CEO of the Johnson Publishing Co., Inc., starting the most prosperous and powerful black publishing company in the United States.
(1918-2005)
John H. Johnson
Charismatic African American Leader, Muslim Minister, debater and orator who inspired millions with his message of African American pride and nationalism.
1925-1965
Malcolm X
He was the longest-serving president in the 23-campus Cal State University system's history.
Dr. James Rosser
Who invented the folding cabinet bed?
Sarah Goode
First African American to win an an Oscar for a starring role for his performance in Lilies of the Field.
He starred on Broadway in 1959 in Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning play Raisin in the Sun.
Sidney Poitier
The first African American to build a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc.
1942-1993
Reginald Lewis
"The godmother of the women's movement. One of the "Big Six in the 1960's Civil Rights Movement."
President emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women.
Dorothy Height
At the age of 67, she earned a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris writing her dissertation on slavery in French, later published in English as Slavery and the French Revolutionist.
Anna Julia Cooper
Who invented the hair brush?
Lyda Newman
She became the first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Monster's Ball.
Halle Berry
She became the owner and publisher of The Columbus Times and a founder of The Black Press Archives at Howard University.
Ophelia Devore-Mitchell
He wrote:
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Notes of a Native Son
The Fire Next Time
James Baldwin
She fought school segregation and received the Papal medal, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifex, for her service in the community and to the church.
Euphemia Lofton-Haynes
Who invented the pencil sharpener?
John L. Love