Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929. He was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism.

African American teacher and abolitionist who became a volunteer teacher for african American during the Civil War.

Carter Godwin Woodson was born December 19, 1875 was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African-American history.

The first Africam American actor to win the Oscar Award.

Oprah Winfrey was the first female black or Afro-multiracial billionaire and the only black billionaire from 2004 to 2006.

Robert Johnson, the former owner and CEO of Black Entertainment television, was the first African American billionaire.

Ernest "Ernie" Davis was born December 14, 1939 was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns in December 1961. However, he would never play a professional game, as he was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962.

Elijah J. McCoy May 2, 1844 was a black Canadian-American inventor and engineer, who was notable for his 57 U.S. patents, most to do with lubrication of steam engines. Born free in Canada, he returned as a five-year-old child with his family to the United States in 1847, where he lived for the rest of his life and became a US citizen.

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson born November 30, 1962 is a retired American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports.. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1985.