Elijah Muhammad rose from poverty to become the charismatic leader of the black nationalist group Nation of Islam, and mentor of Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan.

African-American chemist Percy Julian was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs such as cortisone, steroids and birth control pills.

Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.

In 1966, Richard Speck committed one of the most horrifying mass murders in American history when he brutalized and killed eight student nurses living on Chicago's South Side.

Tokyo Rose, whose real name was Iva Toguri, was an American-born Japanese woman who hosted a Japanese propaganda radio program aimed at U.S. troops during World War II.

Bernie Mac was a standup comedian and actor on film and television known for his "Bernie Mac Show" and appearance in the "Ocean's 11" films.

Chris Farley was an American comedian and actor known for his roles on Saturday Night Live and in films like Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja.

Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

John Deere was an American inventor and manufacturer of agricultural equipment. In 1837, Deere started an eponymous company that went on to become an international powerhouse.

Four decades after vicious serial killer John Wayne Gacy killed at least 33 boys and young men in the Chicago area, authorities have ID’d one his unidentified victims — “Victim No. 24” — as 16-year-old James "Jimmie" Byron Haakenson.

Physicist Enrico Fermi built the prototype of a nuclear reactor and worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bomb.

In 1904, track and field athlete and scholar George Coleman Poage became the first African-American to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

Artist Jackie Ormes was the first African-American woman to work as a professional newspaper cartoonist, and become well-known for series that included ‘Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem’ and ‘Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger.’

One of the country's pioneering African American business leaders, publisher John H. Johnson created 'Ebony' and 'Jet' magazines.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a leading figure in Modernist architecture.

Richard Loeb is best known for teaming with Nathan Leopold to murder 14-year-old Bobby Franks in 1924, with a resulting trial that spared them both the death penalty.

One of the greatest players in NFL history, Walter Payton earned nine Pro Bowl selections and set several rushing records during his 13 years with the Chicago Bears.

20th century recording artist Mahalia Jackson, known as the Queen of Gospel, is revered as one of the greatest musical figures in U.S. history.

Stephen A. Douglas was a 19th century U.S. senator known for the Freeport Doctrine and who ran for president against Abraham Lincoln.

Danitra Vance appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1986 and acted in films such as Limit Up and Little Man Tate.

Cyclist and world record holder "Major" Taylor was just the second black world champion in any sport.

Blind Lemon Jefferson was best known for his singing and song writing as a blues guitarist.

Baseball player Ernie Banks is regarded as one of the finest power hitters in history and was the holder of most of the Chicago Cubs' offensive records.

Charles Henry Turner, a zoologist and scholar, was the first person to discover that insects can hear and alter behavior based on previous experience.