Trailblazers: Pioneering Black Leaders
Known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Rosa Parks
This influential civil rights activist and orator, known for his advocacy of black empowerment and self-defense, was a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam before his assassination in 1965.
Malcolm X
At age 6, became the first Black student to integrate William Franz Elementary School—a white public school in New Orleans—in November 1960.
Ruby Bridges
Considered one of the great pioneers of reggae, they spirituality-infused music and spread the message of Rastafari. Bringing his powerful, yet whimsical lyricism promoting peace, justice, love, and harmony.
Bob Marley
A civil rights activist who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. She was arrested and became one of four plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, which ruled that Montgomery's segregated bus system was unconstitutional.
Claudette Colvin
A Baptist minister and activist famous for his iconic 'March on Washington' speech.
Martin Luther King Jr.
This revered anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent 27 years in prison before becoming the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1994.
Nelson Mandela
Honored right here in Cambridge, this civil rights champion and educator is known for his leadership in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He also dedicated his life to fighting for voting rights and equality in the American South.
Dr. Robert Moses
This influential singer, songwriter, and actress, known for her powerful performances and advocacy for social justice, has made a significant impact on popular culture and the music industry.
Beyonce
This African American inventor is credited with creating the automatic traffic signal, a device that revolutionized road safety and traffic management.
Bayard Taylor
Served two terms and advocated healthcare reform with the Affordable Care Act.
Barack Obama
This renowned poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, known for her work "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," became a symbol of resilience and empowerment for African Americans.
Maya Angelou
A civil rights lawyer who became the nation's first Black United States Supreme Court Justice. He is best known for arguing the historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, in which the Supreme Court declared "separate but equal" unconstitutional in public schools.
Thurgood Marshall
This iconic musician, known for his innovative music style, flamboyant fashion sense, and boundary-pushing performances, left a lasting impact on the music industry and popular culture.
Prince
This pioneering African American woman, known as the first African American woman to hold a pilot's license, overcame racial and gender barriers to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot in the early 20th century.
Bessie Coleman
Spent 11 years as a 'conductor' guiding people to freedom.
Harriet Tubman
This influential civil rights leader and politician, who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and served in the United States Congress for over three decades, was known as the "Conscience of the Congress."
John Lewis
A sociologist, historian, and editor who cofounded the NAACP in 1909. In addition to serving on the board of directors, and as a director of publicity and research, the Harvard graduate was also founder and editor of its magazine The Crisis.
W.E.B. Du Bois
This legendary singer, one of the greatest vocalists of all time, known as the "Queen of Soul," rose to fame in the 1960s with hits like "Respect" and "Natural Woman," and becoming the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Aretha Franklin
This self-taught African American mathematician, astronomer, and surveyor played a key role in the design and construction of the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and was known for his almanacs and advocacy for racial equality.
Benjamin Banneker
A self-taught escaped slave who became an author, public speaker, prominent abolitionist leader and women's rights advocate.
Frederick Douglass
This trailblazing politician made history as the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York's 12th congressional district in 1968.
Shirley Chisholm
Deeply involved in two of the most important movements of the 20th century: civil rights and women's suffrage, this co-founder of the NAACP, played a crucial role in the fight against discrimination and segregation in the United States.
Mary White Ovington
A key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, not only was he a distinguished lawyer and diplomat who served as executive secretary at NAACP for a decade, he was also a composer who wrote the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing," known as the Black national anthem.
James Weldon Johnson
This trailblazing African American athlete made history as the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field, setting a high jump record at the 1948 London Olympics.
Alice Coachman