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Famous Civil Rights Activists
"Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love." Stated by legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., these words represent a basic human philosophy to which black history's greatest leaders have passionately subscribed. Learn more about the world's most revered civil rights activists, known for their fight against social injustices and lasting impact on the lives of black citizens, including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Nelson Mandela, Nina Simone, Mary McLeod Bethune, Lena Horne, Marva Collins, Rosa Parks, W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
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Featured Famous Civil Rights Activists
Browse full biographies—and view videos and photos—of some of black history's most revered civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, W.E.B. Du Bois and Sojourner Truth.
See all Famous Civil Rights Activists (156)
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Martin Luther King Jr.
- In these groups:
- Nobel Peace Prize Winners
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Black Activists
Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Rights Activist, Minister / 1929 - 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist, who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968.
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Booker T. Washington
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Arians
Booker T. Washington
Educator, Civil Rights Activist / 1856 - 1915
Educator Booker T. Washington was one of the foremost African-American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founding the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Tuskegee University.
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Abraham Lincoln
- In these groups:
- Who Is On Your Money
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
- Famous Aquarians
Abraham Lincoln
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1809 - 1865
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He preserved the Union during the U.S. Civil War and brought about the emancipation of slaves.
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Rosa Parks
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Black Activists
- Famous Civil Rights Activists
Rosa Parks
Civil Rights Activist / 1913 - 2005
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, spurring the Montgomery boycott and other efforts to end segregation.
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Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman
Civil Rights Activist / 1820 - 1913
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad.
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Malcolm X
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Famous Dropouts
- African-American Biopics
Malcolm X
Civil Rights Activist, Minister / 1925 - 1965
African-American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X articulated concepts of race pride and black nationalism in the 1950s and '60s.
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