Every one of the black leaders we’ve featured has a distinct story and legacy, but they all share some commonalities: poise and confidence that no doubt added to their iconic statuses. Look a little closer at each story to witness their perseverance through oppression and their determination through struggle. There, you’ll find the link that brings these American heroes together.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Malcolm X
He was known for having firm views on black empowerment and separatism, but Malcolm X is an important black leader for the transformation he made later in life. Although he was once the face of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X later left the organization and renounced its teachings. After a life-changing pilgrimage to Mecca, he came home a new man with optimistic views on integration and a message of love for all.
Phillis Wheatley
During a time when black people were discouraged from learning how to read and write, Phillis Wheatley, a Senegal/Gambia-born black girl who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, defied them all and published a book of poetry. She’s not only the first African American to have a work of poems published (endorsed by John Hancock and George Washington), but also one of the first women to do so.
Afeni Shakur
The mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur is known from his affectionate song, Dear Mama, but Afeni Shakur was also remembered as a black leader in her own right. Once a Black Panther, Afeni defended herself and, because of that, was acquitted of conspiracy bombing charges (along with 20 others), giving birth to Tupac just one month and three days later. A political activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Afeni symbolized what was achievable even through the most severe circumstances in life.
Frederick Douglass
Born a slave to a mother he would only see a few times in his life and a white father he’d never meet, Frederick Douglass resolved to escape his harsh life and help other African Americans do the same, through abolition. He published multiple autobiographies about his life as a slave, acting as a spokesperson for equality. He wasn’t only a leader of the black community, but to all, fighting for equal rights of women and minorities during his lifetime.
Barack Obama
One of the most recent and significant black leaders of our time is none other than the 44th US president, Barack Obama. He was only the fifth African American to ever be elected to the US Senate and the first black person ever elected as commander-in-chief. The entire Obama clan — including, Michelle, Malia and Sasha — are this county’s greatest representation of #blacklove and deserve to be celebrated.
Zora Neale Hurston
Like so many other great authors throughout history, Zora Neale Hurston died without knowing how powerful a leader she would become. Hurston was born in Alabama, but was adopted to New York, becoming a significant contributor of the Harlem Renaissance and an honest voice for the black experience of her time. With her candid accounts of life, writers like Ralph Ellison were inspired by her and have carried her legacy into today.
