Humanities › History & Culture Famous Black American Men and Women of the 20th Century Share Flipboard Email Print ThoughtCo. / Melissa Ling History & Culture The 20th Century People & Events Fads & Fashions Early 20th Century The 20s The 30s The 40s The 50s The 60s The 80s The 90s American History African American History African History Ancient History and Culture Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History Women's History View More By Jennifer Rosenberg Jennifer Rosenberg History Expert B.A., History, University of California at Davis Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 03, 2021 Black men and women made great contributions to American society throughout the 20th century, advancing civil rights as well as science, government, sports, and entertainment. Whether you are researching a topic for Black History Month or just want to learn more, this listing of famous African Americans will help you find people who truly achieved greatness. 3:09 Watch Now: 7 Famous African Americans of the 20th Century Athletes Barry Gossage / NBAE / Getty Images Nearly every professional and amateur sport has a Black star athlete. Some, like Olympic track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, have set new records for athletic achievement. Others, like Jackie Robinson, also are remembered for courageously breaking longstanding racial barriers in their sport. Hank Aaron Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Muhammad Ali Arthur Ashe Charles Barkley Wilt Chamberlain Althea Gibson Reggie Jackson Magic Johnson Michael Jordan Jackie Joyner-Kersee Sugar Ray Leonard Joe Louis Jesse Owens Jackie Robinson Tiger Woods Authors Michael Brennan / Getty Images No survey of 20th-century American literature would be complete without major contributions from Black writers. Books like Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison are masterpieces of fiction, while Maya Angelou and Alex Haley have made major contributions to literature, poetry, autobiography, and pop culture. Maya Angelou Ralph Ellison Alex Haley Lorraine Hansberry Langston Hughes Zora Neale Hurston Toni Morrison Walter Mosley Richard Wright Civil Rights Leaders and Activists Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Black Americans have advocated for civil rights since the earliest days of the United States. Leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X are two of the best-known civil rights leaders of the 20th century. Others, like Black journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett and scholar W.E.B. DuBois, paved the way with their own contributions in the century's first decades. Ella Baker Stokely Carmichael W.E.B. DuBois Medgar Evers Marcus Garvey Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcolm X James Meredith Elijah Muhammad Rosa Parks Bobby Seale Fred Shuttlesworth Emmett Till Ida Bell Wells-Barnett Walter White Roy Wilkins Entertainers David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Images Whether performing on stage, in films, or on TV, Black Americans entertained the United States throughout the 20th century. Some, like Sidney Poitier, challenged racial attitudes with his role in popular films like "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," while others, such as Oprah Winfrey, have become media moguls and cultural icons. Josephine Baker Halle Berry Bill Cosby Dorothy Dandridge Sammy Davis, Jr. Morgan Freeman Gregory Hines Lena Horne James Earl Jones Spike Lee Eddie Murphy Sidney Poitier Richard Pryor Will Smith Denzel Washington Oprah Winfrey Inventors, Scientists, and Educators Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Innovations and advancements of Black scientists and educations transformed life in the 20th century. Charles Drew's work in blood transfusions, for example, saved thousands of lives during World War II and is still used in medicine today. And Booker T. Washington's pioneering work in agricultural research transformed farming. Archibald Alphonso Alexander Patricia Bath Bessie Coleman David Crosthwait, Jr. Mark Dean Charles Drew Matthew Henson Mae Jemison Frederick McKinley Jones Percy Lavon Julian Ernest Everett Just Mary McLeod Bethune Garrett Augustus Morgan Charles Henry Turner Madame C.J. Walker Booker T. Washington Daniel Hale Williams Politicians, Lawyers, and Other Government Leaders Brooks Kraft / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images Black Americans have served with distinction in all three branches of government, in the military, and in legal practice. Thurgood Marshall, a leading civil rights lawyer, ended up on the U.S. Supreme Court. Others, like Gen. Colin Powell, are notable political and military leaders. Ralph Bunche Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr. Minnie Joycelyn Elders Jesse Jackson Daniel "Chappie" James Thurgood Marshall Kwesi Mfume Colin Powell Clarence Thomas Andrew Young Coleman Young Singers and Musicians Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images There would be no jazz music today were it not for the contributions of artists like Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong, who were instrumental in the evolution of this uniquely American music genre. But African Americans have been essential to all aspects of music, from opera singer Marian Anderson to pop icon Michael Jackson. Marian Anderson Louis Armstrong Harry Belafonte Chuck Berry Ray Charles Nat King Cole Miles Davis Duke Ellington Aretha Franklin Dizzy Gillespie Jimi Hendrix Billie Holiday Michael Jackson Robert Johnson Diana Ross Bessie Smith Stevie Wonder Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Famous Black American Men and Women of the 20th Century." ThoughtCo, Sep. 9, 2021, thoughtco.com/famous-african-americans-in-20th-century-1779905. Rosenberg, Jennifer. (2021, September 9). Famous Black American Men and Women of the 20th Century. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-african-americans-in-20th-century-1779905 Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Famous Black American Men and Women of the 20th Century." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-african-americans-in-20th-century-1779905 (accessed June 9, 2023). copy citation