Browse notable activists such as Pink, Quincy Jones, and Robert Kennedy.
Who can forget Angela Bassett as Tina Turner or Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles? Do you remember who played Billie Holiday? Or who Beyoncé performed as in the film Cadillac Records? More recent African-American biopics include the Lifetime original movie Betty & Coretta (2013), starring Angela Bassett as Coretta Scott King and Mary J. Blige as Betty Shabazz, and The Butler (2013), starring Forest Whitaker and based on the life of Eugene Allen.
View our photos of African-American biopics to compare these famous figures to the actors and actresses who have portrayed them.
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 United States. With the help of activists like these—and many others—the country slowly worked to acknowledge the basic rights and contributions of African-Americans. Activists outisde of the U.S. include Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, who have fought against apartheid in South Africa. Learn more about the many black activists who fought against the odds in order to achieve equality.
"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.
The quest for civil rights for people of all races and economic backgrounds has been a fundamental part of U.S. history. Those who have worked directly in community organizing and empowerment, such as Dorothy Height, Marian Wright Edelman and Dolores Huerta, inspire us with their vision and strength of character. Then there are those who use the arts to create poignant messages on justice. Whether using music, literature or sculpture, figures like Joan Baez, June Jordan, Miriam Makeba, Augusta Savage and Alice Walker have imparted wisdom to last through the ages.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
Women educators have played an indispensable role in helping us understand our humanity and the globe around us, often with a passion for specific interests. Prudence Crandall and Charlotte Hawkins Brown advocated for African Americans to receive equal education and Helen Keller used her life experience to become a staunch advocate for the blind. More recently Sally Ride implemented specialized programs to get girls involved in science and math and Temple Grandin shared innovative ideas on autism and animal treatment. These examples are barely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of information offered by the following group of stalwart thinkers.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
Sometimes your mug isn't as original as you'd like it be. Considering there are over 7 billion people on this earth, someone's bound to be your doppelganger, and these historical figures and celebrities prove just that.
Explore our Famous Lookalikes' pictures and see whom we think are spittin' images of each other.
Meet famous people who were born in May. John F. Kennedy, Adele, George Carlin, Audrey Hepburn, Mr. T, Bob Dylan are some of the people who share a May birthday.
Browse notable nurses such as Florence Nightingale, Jane A. Delano, Lillian D. Wald.
Take a look at famous people named Betty, such as Betty Grable, Betty White, and Betty Ford.
View famous people who died in 1997 such as Mother Theresa, Gianni Versace, and John Denver.
Meet famous people like George Carlin, Ray Charles, Judy Garland, and Katharine Hepburn, who died in the month of June.
Browse notable teachers such as Miguel de Unamuni, Ralph Ellison, and Augusta Savage.