Get ready to dive into the “Periodic Table of Black History,” your go-to spot for an awesome and enlightening trip through the major game-changers in Black history. This cool table is like the ultimate backdoor into the lives and super cool achievements of some seriously impactful folks. As you check out this table, you’re gonna hop in a time machine, meeting the movers and shakers, the real deal creators, and the leaders who’ve etched their marks into the very fabric of our world.
Name
Category
Year
Description
Mansa Musa
African King
c. 1280-1337
Ruler of the Mali Empire, one of the wealthiest individuals in history.
Queen Nzinga
African Queen
1583-1663
Resisted Portuguese colonization, ruling Ndongo and Matamba.
Olaudah Equiano
Abolitionist/Writer
c. 1745-1797
Wrote an autobiography detailing his experiences as a slave and a free man.
Phillis Wheatley
Poet
c. 1753-1784
First African American author of a published book of poetry.
Toussaint Louverture
Leader of Haitian Revolution
1743-1803
Led the Haitian Revolution, defeating European powers to end slavery.
Harriet Tubman
Abolitionist
c. 1822-1913
Led hundreds to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Frederick Douglass
Abolitionist/Writer
1818-1895
Escaped slavery and became a leader of the abolitionist movement.
Sojourner Truth
Abolitionist/Speaker
c. 1797-1883
Famous for her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech advocating for civil and women’s rights.
Booker T. Washington
Educator/Author
1856-1915
Founded Tuskegee Institute, a leading African American college.
W.E.B. Du Bois
Sociologist/Activist
1868-1963
Co-founder of the NAACP, fought for African American rights.
Marcus Garvey
Black Nationalist
1887-1940
Advocated for Pan-Africanism and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
Josephine Baker
Entertainer/Civil Rights Activist
1906-1975
Famous entertainer who also worked for the French Resistance and civil rights.
Jesse Owens
Athlete
1913-1980
Won 4 gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games, challenging Nazi ideologies.
Rosa Parks
Civil Rights Activist
1913-2005
Her refusal to give up a bus seat sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Rights Leader
1929-1968
Led the Civil Rights Movement, known for his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Malcolm X
Civil Rights Leader
1925-1965
Advocated for African American rights, emphasizing pride and self-defense.
Maya Angelou
Author/Poet
1928-2014
Wrote “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” exploring themes of identity and racism.
Shirley Chisholm
Politician
1924-2005
First African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress.
Nelson Mandela
Anti-Apartheid Leader
1918-2013
Led the fight against apartheid in South Africa, later became President.
Barack Obama
U.S. President
1961-
First African American President of the United States.
Kamala Harris
U.S. Vice President
1964-
First African American and first female Vice President of the U.S.
Katherine Johnson
Mathematician
1918-2020
Her calculations were crucial to the success of U.S. manned spaceflights.
Toni Morrison
Novelist
1931-2019
First African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Langston Hughes
Poet
1902-1967
A leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his insights into black life in America.
Zora Neale Hurston
Author
1891-1960
Major female writer of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
George Washington Carver
Scientist/Inventor
1860s-1943
Revolutionized agriculture with crop rotation and peanut products.
Muhammad Ali
Athlete/Activist
1942-2016
World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and civil rights activist.
Thurgood Marshall
Supreme Court Justice
1908-1993
First African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Ruby Bridges
Civil Rights Activist
1954-
At six years old, was the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the South.
Angela Davis
Activist/Scholar
1944-
Prominent activist and scholar known for her work on race, class, and the U.S. prison system.
James Baldwin
Novelist/Essayist
1924-1987
Explored complexities of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies.
Oprah Winfrey
Media Proprietor/Actress
1954-
Influential media executive, talk show host, actress, and philanthropist.
Serena Williams
Athlete
1981-
One of the greatest tennis players of all time, with numerous Grand Slam titles.
John Lewis
Civil Rights Leader
1940-2020
Played a key role in the civil rights movement and was a U.S. Congressman for Georgia.
Beyoncé
Singer/Songwriter
1981-
Influential artist known for her music and activism in racial equality and women’s rights.
Colin Kaepernick
Athlete/Activist
1987-
Professional football player who protested against racial injustice and police brutality.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Author
1977-
Renowned Nigerian writer, known for her novels and essays on feminism and race.
Ava DuVernay
Filmmaker
1972-
Director and screenwriter known for works focusing on African American history and issues.
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Author/Journalist
1975-
His work explores cultural, social, and political issues relating to African Americans.
Laverne Cox
Actress/Transgender Advocate
1972-
First openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
Ida B. Wells
Journalist/Activist
1862-1931
Early leader in the Civil Rights Movement and founder of the NAACP.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Artist
1960-1988
Pioneering Neo-Expressionist artist known for his raw, symbolic artwork.
Bessie Coleman
Aviator
1892-1926
First African American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license.
Marsha P. Johnson
LGBTQ+ Activist
1945-1992
Prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Louis Armstrong
Jazz Musician
1901-1971
Influential figure in jazz, known for his trumpet playing and singing.
Althea Gibson
Tennis Player
1927-2003
First African American to win a Grand Slam title.
Octavia E. Butler
Science Fiction Writer
1947-2006
Award-winning author known for her contributions to the science fiction genre.
Madam C.J. Walker
Entrepreneur/Activist
1867-1919
First female self-made millionaire in America through her hair care and cosmetics business.
Huey P. Newton
Political Activist
1942-1989
Co-founder of the Black Panther Party.
Jackie Robinson
Baseball Player
1919-1972
First African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.
Aretha Franklin
Singer/Songwriter
1942-2018
The “Queen of Soul,” known for her powerful voice and emotional depth in music.
Maya Moore
Basketball Player/Activist
1989-
WNBA star who took a break from her career to focus on criminal justice reform.
Misty Copeland
Ballet Dancer
1982-
First African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Stacey Abrams
Politician/Activist
1973-
Notable for her work on voting rights and political advocacy in Georgia.
Chadwick Boseman
Actor
1976-2020
Best known for his role as T’Challa/Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Amanda Gorman
Poet
1998-
Youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, known for her poem “The Hill We Climb.”
Michael Jordan
Basketball Player
1963-
Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Patrisse Cullors
Activist
1983-
Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Simone Biles
Gymnast
1997-
Most decorated American gymnast, known for her unprecedented achievements in the sport.
N.K. Jemisin
Author
1972-
First author to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel, known for her speculative fiction works.
This “Periodic Table of Black History” is a powerful shout-out to the guts, genius, and unforgettable influence of African Americans across the board, from way back when to the here and now. It’s a call for all of us to soak up the awesomeness of Black history and keep soaking in the tales of the trailblazers who’ve lit the path for the crew coming up next. Cruising through this table, let’s tip our hats to their amazing deeds and snag a little fire from their stories to help spark a brighter, cooler, everybody-friendly plan.
Leave a Reply