Moments in African-American history

Groundbreaking moments in black history

Many African-Americans have made significant contributions to American history. In honor of Black History Month , get the facts about some pioneers and see if you can figure out those who made their mark. Want a more hands-on history lesson? Check out these black history events across America.

The activists

From slave revolts  to the civil rights movement  to modern-day America, black history has been rich with activism. Find out more about the following activists, and see if you can guess others who played a role in American history.

Harriet Tubman: 

Nat Turner: 

Martin Luther King Jr.: 

Malcolm X:

Rosa Parks:

The educators

Find out more about the following educators and other milestones in black education.

Booker T. Washington: 

Mary McLeod Bethune: 

W.E.B. DuBois: 

Marva Collins:

Cornel West:

The sports legends

Find out more about these sports greats, and see if you can guess others who etched their names in the record books.

Jackie Robinson: 

Muhammad Ali: 

Doug Williams: 

Michael Jordan: 

Venus and Serena Williams:

The music greats

Find out more about these musical legends, and learn more about different genres of African-American music.

Scott Joplin: 

Lena Horne: 

Little Richard: 

Aretha Franklin: 

Michael Jackson:

The writers

Find out more about these literary giants, and learn more about other artists.

Langston Hughes:

James Baldwin:

Maya Angelou: 

Alice Walker: 

Toni Morrison:

The movie stars

Find out more about these Hollywood icons, and check out films to see during Black History Month.

Hattie McDaniel:

Paul Robeson:

Ruby Dee:  

Sidney Poitier: 

Tyler Perry:

The television stars

Find out more about these television pioneers and learn more about great moments in television.

Nat King Cole:

Flip Wilson:

Bill Cosby: 

Diahann Carroll: 

Oprah Winfrey: 

The fashion icons

Find out more about these fashion icons, and discover current fashion mavericks.

Dorothy Dandridge: 

Josephine Baker: 

Grace Jones: 

Naomi Sims:

Michelle Obama:

The medical marvels

Find out more about these medical marvels, and see if you can guess other trailblazers.

Mary Eliza Mahoney:

Daniel Hale Williams:

Joycelyn Elders: 

Ben Carson:

The military leaders

Find out more about military leaders, and see if you can guess others who played a role in American history.

Crispus Attucks:

Benjamin O. Davis Sr.: 

Eugene Jacques Bullard:

Colin Powell: 

Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson-Brown:

The explorers & travelers

Find out more about these explorers, and see if you can guess others who played a role in American history.

Matthew A. Henson: 

Bessie Coleman:

Mae C. Jemison:  

Barrington Irving: 

The entrepreneurs

Find out more about these entrepreneurs, and learn more about some of the wealthiest African-Americans.

Madam C.J. Walker: 

John H. Johnson: 

Russell Simmons: 

Sean Combs: 

The inventors

Find out more about these innovators and inventors, and see if you can guess other inventors.

Elijah McCoy:

Benjamin Banneker:

Lewis Latimer:

Granville T. Woods: 

George Washington Carver: 

Garrett Morgan: 

The politicians

Find out more about these influential politicians, and see if you can guess other public servants.

Harold Washington: 

Shirley Chisholm:

Hiram Revels:

Condoleezza Rice: 

Barack Obama: