History
This abolitionist and former enslaved woman led hundreds to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman
Before retiring in 2022, this trailblazing athlete dominated women’s tennis for over two decades, becoming an icon of strength, resilience, and Black excellence in sports.
Serena Williams
In 1992, this pioneering astronaut became the first African American woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Dr. Mae Jemison
Born in Trinidad and raised in Queens, this rapper became the first female artist to have 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Nicki Minaj
This Emmy-winning actress got her start on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up but became a household name starring in Euphoria and Spider-Man.
Zendaya
Nine months before Rosa Parks, this 15-year-old refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
Claudette Colvin
This dominant college basketball player set the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles in 2023, solidifying her status as one of the best in the game.
Angel Reese
This self-made millionaire became one of the first African American women to build a successful business empire, revolutionizing the beauty industry with her line of hair care products for Black women.
Madam Cj Walker
With one of the greatest voices of all time, this singer’s rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ became one of the best-selling singles ever.
Whitney Houston
Before becoming the first Black woman to host the VMAs, this actress starred in Akeelah and the Bee and Scream Queens and famously had the meme, ‘I do not know this man’ and "mmmnh, this one has a little sweetness to it"
Keke Palmer
"Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal Woman” are two of the most famous poems by this iconic literary figure, who used her work to empower Black women and address themes of resilience and justice.
Maya Angelou
She became the first African American woman to win the all-around gold medal at the Olympics in 2016 for gymnastics.
Simone Biles
The NASA mathematician's calculations were crucial for John Glenn's orbit around Earth in 1962. She broke racial and gender barriers in space exploration.
Katherine Johnson
This Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter is known for her soulful and poetic lyrics in albums like Ctrl and SOS.
SZA
This actress and activist, known for her role as Zoey Johnson in Black-ish and Grown-ish, was accepted into Harvard with a letter of recommendation from Michelle Obama.
Yara Shahidi
Though she could not read or write, this abolitionist dictated her autobiography, which became a powerful tool in the fight against slavery.
Sojourner Truth
This track and field star became the fastest woman in the world in 2023 after winning the 100-meter race at the World Athletics Championships.
Sha'Carri Richardson
In 1903, she became the first African American woman to charter and serve as president of a bank in the United States
Maggie L. Walker
She was the first black woman to win a Grammy and became one of the most influential jazz vocalists of all time.
Ella Fitzgerald
Before playing Cookie Lyon in Empire, this Academy Award-nominated actress starred as Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures and as Shug in Hustle & Flow.
Taraji P. Henson
This investigative journalist and civil rights activist led an anti-lynching crusade in the late 19th century, exposing racial violence through her groundbreaking newspaper articles.
Ida B Wells
This gymnast made history in 2012 as the first African American woman to win the Olympic gold medal in the individual all-around competition.
Gabby Douglas
This NASA engineer became the agency’s first Black female engineer in 1958 and helped pave the way for women in STEM, as highlighted in Hidden Figures.
Mary Jackson
Dubbed the ‘Queen of Soul,’ this powerhouse vocalist is best known for her hit song ‘Respect’ and contributions to gospel, soul, and R&B.
Aretha Franklin
This Kenyan-Mexican actress won an Academy Award for her role in 12 Years a Slave and later starred as Nakia in Black Panther.
Lupita Nyong’o