Welcome to Great Black Heroes

    This site looks as many of the Black heroes in the course of history, pioneers and ground breakers in different fields. Many have gone unrecognized for their contributions, but their significance is now being rediscovered. Join us in recognizing these Great Black Heroes.

    Civil Rights & Education

    The great leaders in Civil Rights and Education, from Rosa Parks to Malcolm X to George Washington Carver

    Sports & Entertainment

    The greats of Sports and Entertainment, from Jackie Robinson to Hank Aaron to Oprah Winfrey

    Government & Science

    The great minds of Government and Science, from Thurgood Marshall to Charles Drew to Percy Julian

    Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. - Great Black Heroes

    Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

    Adam Clayton Powell was the most significant Black political figure of his time
    January 16, 2014/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Bass Reeves

    Bass Reeves

    Bass Reeves is a legend of the west, one of the first Black lawmen in the region
    January 3, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Bayard Rustin - greatblackheroes.com

    Bayard Rustin

    Bayard Rustin was an unknown hero of the civil rights movement of the 1960's
    February 1, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and Edward Gleed - Great Black Heroes

    Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

    Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was the first Black United States of America Air Force General
    January 25, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Bessie Coleman - greatblackheroes.com

    Bessie Coleman

    Bessie Coleman was a pioneer and innovator as a woman in the field of aviation
    January 5, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Charles Drew

    Charles Drew pioneer the field of blood plasma research and the modern blood bank
    November 22, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Charlie Sifford - greatblackheroes.com

    Charlie Sifford

    Charlie Sifford was a pioneer in the world of golf, the first Black to play on the PGA tour
    January 13, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Don Cornelius - greatblackheroes.com

    Don Cornelius

    Don Cornelius was a television pioneer, bringing Black music to the mainstream
    February 2, 2019/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Don Shirley

    Don Shirley is one of the most gifted musical geniuses of the 20th Century
    December 8, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Doris Miller

    Doris Miller is the Black cook who became a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor
    January 25, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Elijah McCoy

    Elijah McCoy’s scale of his ingenuity and the quality of his creations bear his name
    November 26, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Ella Baker - greatblackheroes.com

    Ella Baker

    Ella Baker, renown as a civil rights pioneer, struggled against sexism within the movement
    November 23, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Fred Jones

    Fred Jones is considered one of the history’s most significant and diverse inventors
    November 24, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Frederick Douglass - greatblackheroes.com

    Frederick Douglass

    Frederick Douglass was the most well-known Black abolitionists in the US
    January 22, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

    George Washington Carver

    George Washington Carver was a pioneering agricultural scientist and researcher
    November 20, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Hank Aaron - greatblackheroes.com

    Hank Aaron

    Hank Aaron was an all-time great hitter in Major League Baseball and home run king
    December 29, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Harriet Tubman

    Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who helped other slaves escape to freedom
    December 16, 2011/by Henrietta Cast
    Jackie Robinson - greatblackheroes.com

    Jackie Robinson

    Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball & became a political & social pioneer
    December 8, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Jan Matzeliger

    Jan Matzeliger invented the automated shoe laster and revolutionized the shoe industry
    November 25, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Jesse Owens - greatblackheroes.com

    Jesse Owens

    Jesse Owens became an American hero, winning four gold medals in the Olympics
    January 16, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Joe Louis

    Joe Louis became the first Black hero for the whole United States as a boxing champion
    January 14, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Johnny Bright - greatblackheroes.com

    Johnny Bright

    Johnny Bright was one of the greatest players in college football and CFL history
    January 14, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Josephine Baker

    Josephine Baker was a famed entertainer, a singer, dancer and French WWII spy
    June 23, 2012/by Henrietta Cast

    Langston Hughes

    Langston Hughes was one of the greatest writers/poets of the Harlem Renaissance
    January 10, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Larry Doby

    Larry Doby was the first Black player in Major League Baseball’s American League
    January 11, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Lewis Latimer

    Lewis Latimer drafted patents anddesigned a long-lasting carbon filament for light bulbs
    November 25, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Lloyd Hall

    Lloyd Hall

    Lloyd Hall was a pioneering chemist, helping to improve food industry health conditions
    November 23, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Malcolm X - greatblackheroes.com

    Malcolm X

    Malcolm X was one of the most influential activists in the history of the United States
    January 28, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Marian Anderson - greatblackheroes.com

    Marian Anderson

    Marian Anderson was one of the most gifted and admired singers of the 20th Century
    January 6, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Matt Baker - greatblackheroes.com

    Matt Baker

    Matt Baker is often considered the first known successful Black comic book artist
    January 14, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Matthew Henson - greatblackheroes.com

    Matthew Henson

    Mathew Henson was the co-discoverer of the North Pole along with Admiral Perry
    January 18, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Maya Angelou - greatblackheroes.com

    Maya Angelou

    Maya Angelou was the voice of the nation, both as an author, actress and social activist
    June 4, 2014/by Henrietta Cast
    Nina Simone - greatblackheroes.com

    Nina Simone

    Nina Simone spoke for a generation of young people during the turbulent 1960's
    May 23, 2014/by Henrietta Cast
    Oprah Winfrey - greatblackheroes.com

    Oprah Winfrey

    Oprah Winfrey has gone from being a tv anchor to becoming a media mogul
    January 21, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Percy Julian - greatblackheroes.com

    Percy Julian

    Percy Julian was a giant in the field of synthetic chemistry and cortisone
    January 26, 2014/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Rosa Parks - greatblackheroes.com

    Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks helped to set off the civil rights movement, refusing to give up her bus seat
    February 7, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Sam Lacy - greatblackheroes.com

    Sam Lacy

    Sam Lacy was a pioneer in the field of sports reporting, using his column as a bully pulpit
    December 23, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Satchel Paige

    Satchel Paige is remembered as one of the greatest pitchers to ever play baseball
    January 16, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Thurgood Marshall

    Thurgood Marshall was the first Black Justice of the United States Supreme Court
    January 10, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Wendell Scott - greatblackheroes.com

    Wendell Scott

    Wendell Scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing, the first Black NASCAR driver
    January 13, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Wendell Smith - greatblackheroes.com

    Wendell Smith

    Wendell Smith acted as the voice of Black America, fighting against MLB segregation
    January 19, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

    William Hastie

    William Hastie had a distinguished career as a politician, educator and jurist
    January 8, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain
    Willie O'Ree - greatblackheroes.com

    Willie O’Ree

    Willie O’Ree was a hockey trailblazer, the first Black player in the NHL
    January 13, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain

    Wilt Chamberlain

    Wilt Chamberlain is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in history
    January 1, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

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    Civil Rights

    The fight for Civil Rights became one of the biggest movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. For some, the passion for equality became an overarching theme for their lives. These are the heroes who fought to guarantee Civil Rights for the masses.

      Education

      For many Blacks, an Education was seen as the key to bettering themselves and creating the hope of equality. An education, though, was illegal for many Blacks during the era of slavery and a method of diminishing and denying opportunities in both the segregated south and in major cities across the United States thereafter. These are the heroes who fought to promote Education for the masses.

        Entertainment

        The world of Entertainment was a gateway to freedom and prosperity for many Blacks in the 20th Century, often the first opportunity to appeal to a broader audience and gain acceptance in society. These are the heroes who brought Entertainment to the masses.

          Government

          In order to effect change within society, it was necessary to be a part of the Government that could make that change happen. These are the heroes who became part of the Government and part of the solution.

            Science

            The world of Science was closed to Black minds until a group of brilliant men and women brought inventions and innovations to the world. These are the heroes who altered history and the world of Science.

              Sports

              Despite the many formal and informal obstacles placed in their way in the world of Sports, these athletes caught the attention and the imagination of the general public, making inroads for Blacks in society. These are the heroes who used Sports to batter down the walls of racism.