Humanities › History & Culture Famous African American Men and Women of the 20th Century Share Flipboard Email Print Illustration by Melissa Ling. ThoughtCo. 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 History Expert B.A., History, University of California at Davis Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history. our editorial process Jennifer Rosenberg Updated May 13, 2019 African American 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 an African American 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 AaronKareem Abdul-JabbarMuhammad AliArthur AsheCharles BarkleyWilt ChamberlainAlthea GibsonReggie JacksonMagic JohnsonMichael JordanJackie Joyner-KerseeSugar Ray LeonardJoe LouisJesse OwensJackie RobinsonTiger 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 AngelouRalph EllisonAlex HaleyLorraine HansberryLangston HughesZora Neale HurstonToni MorrisonWalter MosleyRichard Wright Civil Rights Leaders and Activists Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images African 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 BakerStokely CarmichaelW.E.B. DuBoisMedgar EversMarcus GarveyMartin Luther King, Jr.Malcolm XJames MeredithElijah MuhammadRosa ParksBobby SealeFred ShuttlesworthEmmett TillIda Bell Wells-BarnettWalter WhiteRoy Wilkins Entertainers David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Images Whether performing on stage, in films, or on TV, African 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 BakerHalle BerryBill CosbyDorothy DandridgeSammy Davis, Jr.Morgan FreemanGregory HinesLena HorneJames Earl JonesSpike LeeEddie MurphySidney PoitierRichard PryorWill SmithDenzel WashingtonOprah 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 AlexanderPatricia BathBessie ColemanDavid Crosthwait, Jr.Mark DeanCharles DrewMatthew HensonMae JemisonFrederick McKinley JonesPercy Lavon JulianErnest Everett JustMary McLeod BethuneGarrett Augustus MorganCharles Henry TurnerMadame C.J. WalkerBooker T. WashingtonDaniel Hale Williams Politicians, Lawyers, and Other Government Leaders Brooks Kraft / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images African 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 BuncheBenjamin Oliver Davis, Sr.Minnie Joycelyn EldersJesse JacksonDaniel "Chappie" JamesThurgood MarshallKwesi MfumeColin PowellClarence ThomasAndrew YoungColeman 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 AndersonLouis ArmstrongHarry BelafonteChuck BerryRay CharlesNat King ColeMiles DavisDuke EllingtonAretha FranklinDizzy GillespieJimi HendrixBillie HolidayMichael JacksonRobert JohnsonDiana RossBessie SmithStevie Wonder