9 Leaders from Black History You Should Know
Each year during Black History Month, the stories of figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks are often elevated—and with good reason. These figures made contributions to Black history and, by extension, American history, that cannot be overstated. But there are so many significant Black historical figures who often don’t get as much air time. Learning about the larger systems and historical events that have played central roles in shaping Black history is vitally important, but it is also valuable to explore the individual lives, ideas, choices, and legacies of key figures in that unfolding story. Knitting these approaches together allows both educators and students to not only gain a deeper grasp of a given history, but also humanize the key actors and the unique worlds they inhabited.
We invite you to explore a number of key figures from Black history through this series of 9 Facing History profiles:
Daisy Bates | (1914-1999)
Fannie Lou Hamer | (1917-1977)
bell hooks | (1952-2021)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | (1929-1968)
Audre Lorde | (1934-1992)
Clara Luper | (1923-2011)
Toni Morrison | (1931-2019)
Bayard Rustin | (1912-1987)
Malcolm X | (1925-1965)
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