Many African-Americans left their country to escape the confines of racism, segregation and McCarthyism in the United States. As a result, an entirely new African-American subculture sprouted up in Europe, Africa and other countries abroad. A street in Paris is named after Josephine Baker, who found acceptance and fame in France that she couldn't achieve in the still-segregated United States. Marcus Garvey was a leader of the Back-to-Africa movement. And singer Nina Simone lived in several different countries, including Liberia, Switzerland, England and Barbados before eventually settling down in the South of France. Find out more about these African-American expats, and the new lives they made for themselves abroad, on Biography.com.
Many African-Americans made their name performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix. The roster of talented artists who made their careers after a successful amateur night at the Apollo grew so large, that the venue earned a reputation as the place to jump-start the career of an ambitious hopeful. Other performers, like Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson, came to the theater after experiencing big professional success, adding further credibility to the historic New York concert hall. Explore the biographies of some of the more notable African-Americans who stepped out onto the Apollo stage, making entertainment history.
Browse through notable black artists such as Augusta Savage, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and James Van Der Zee.
From the early comedy of Nipsey Russell and Richard Pryor to the contemporary routines of Mo'nique and Chris Rock, African-Americans have often used their wit to become the voice and face of the African-American experience. These legendary comedians also set a very high bar—not only for African-Americans, but for all comics trying to make it in show-business.
Browse through prominent figures in African-American literature such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Toni Morrison.
African-Americans have a long history of activism in America, from fighting for the right to vote to pushing for integrated public spaces. Activists like Stokely Carmichael organized freedom rides, James Meredith fought to integrate blacks and whites at the University of Mississippi, and Rosa Parks instigated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. These protests were often legal and nonviolent, and made a powerful impact on civil rights in the U.S. With the help of activists like these—and many others—the country slowly worked to acknowledge the basic rights and contributions of African-Americans. Learn more about the many African-American activists who fought against the odds in order to achieve equality.
Browse through notable black athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
Browse notable black entertainers such as Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, and Oprah Winfrey.
Browse notable black inventors such as Lonnie G. Johnson, George Washington Carver, Percy Julian.
Browse notable black lawyers such as Michelle Obama, Ron Brown, and Charlotte E. Ray.
Browse notable black scientists such as Kelly Miller, Guion S. Bluford, and Julius Axelrod.
After the Civil War, many of the country's best and brightest black advocates, artists, entrepreneurs and intellectuals moved to the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. Thanks largely to the efforts of these residents, Harlem became both the cradle of a cultural revolution and the heart of the civil rights movement. Meet some of the many people who gave—and continue to give—this neighborhood a voice, simply by calling it home.
With innovative ideas and charismatic personalities, many African-Americans have made lasting contributions to the country, while also earning millions. Oprah Winfrey emerged as a world-famous one-woman brand with her show, eventually becoming the world's first black billionaire. Robert L. Johnson started BET, the cable channel geared towards African-Americans. Athlete Michael Jordan turned into a household name through numerous endorsement deals. These people were among the first African-Americans to overcome the obstacles of discrimination and achieve top honors in their fields. With talent and determination, each one reinvented not only what it meant to be an African-American, but also what it meant to be an American.