Megan Markle’s guest Oprah Winfrey switched her dress the night before the royal wedding as beige would be “too ‘white’ for a wedding,” she posted on Instagram. Stella McCartney’s team, who also dressed Markle, worked overnight to prepare a pretty pink alternative.

• Philanthropist, Television Producer, Talk Show Host, Film Actress
  (1954–)

Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, created specialized hair products for African-American hair and was one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire.

• Entrepreneur, Civil Rights Activist, Philanthropist
  (1867–1919)

Garrett Morgan blazed a trail for African-American inventors with his patents, including those for a hair-straightening product, a breathing device, a revamped sewing machine and an improved traffic signal.

• Inventor, Publisher
  (1877–1963)

Elijah McCoy was a 19th century African-American inventor best known for inventing lubrication devices used to make train travel more efficient.

• Engineer, Inventor
  (1844–1929)

Frederick Jones was an inventor best known for the development of refrigeration equipment used to transport food and blood during World War II.

• Inventor
  (1893–1961)

Writer, actor, producer, and director Tyler Perry has built an entertainment empire that consists of successful films, plays, and a best-selling book.

• Film Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter, Filmmaker
  (1969–)

A former supermodel, Tyra Banks turned her runway success into a multimedia brand and worked at the helm of two successful TV series simultaneously, 'America's Next Top Model,' and 'The Tyra Banks Show.'

• Talk Show Host, Model
  (1973–)

African-American entrepreneur Wally Amos founded the Famous Amos cookie brand. He also worked as a talent agent and discovered Simon & Garfunkel.

• Entrepreneur
  (1936–)

Kimora Lee Simmons is a former model, ex-wife to Russell Simmons, creator of a fashion line called Baby Phat and star of her own reality TV show.

• Reality Television Star, Model
  (1975–)

Robert L. Johnson is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of the BET channel and as the country’s first African-American billionaire.

• Business Leader, Entrepreneur
  (1946–)

Since co-founding Essence magazine, Edward Lewis has become one of the most successful and respected magazine publishers in the country.

• Publisher
  (1940–)

Allen Allensworth was an American military chaplain, political delegate and educational leader who, in 1908, founded a California all-black township named in his honor.

• Minister, Military Leader, Journalist, Nurse
  (1842–1914)

John Lee Love was an African-American inventor best known for patenting a portable pencil sharpener known as the "Love Sharpener."

• Inventor
  (d. 1931)

William Monroe Trotter was a Harvard-educated journalist and activist who championed equal rights for African Americans.

• Civil Rights Activist, Journalist
  (1872–1934)

Clara Brown, a freed slave, established a successful laundry business during the Colorado gold rush and helped former slaves get on their feet.

• Philanthropist
  (c. 1800–1885)

Kenneth Chenault is best known as CEO of American Express and one of the first African Americans to lead a Fortune 500 company.

• Business Leader
  (1951–)