10 Incredible Black Women Who Managed to Change History

Harriet Tubman Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in the 1820s, but she was determined to make sure she didn’t spend her entire life being an enslaved woman. In 1849, she escaped to freedom in Pennsylvania, but, in order to do so, she had to leave her family members behind. Eventually, she returned to the South as the conductor of the Underground Railroad to help her family and more than 60 other enslaved people make their way to the North. The system of hideouts and safe houses helped usher the former enslaved people to Canada. Sojourner Truth Born into slavery in 1797, Truth defied all odds to become one of the greatest abolitionists, activists and speakers of all time. Truth spent much of her time helping former enslaved men and women make the challenging transition into freedom. She was constantly advocating for both African-Americans and women to have equal rights in a country that boasted to be a land of opportunity. Her years of selfless work caused her to be the first Black woman to be honored with a bust in the U.S. Capitol. Rosa Parks The Alabama native has become an iconic figure in American history and is remembered by many as the “mother” of the Civil Rights Movement. It was in 1955 that Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus, which was considered a major violation of segregation laws at the time. Parks was arrested and faced a $14 fine, but her actions gave new life to the push for equality. It encouraged Martin Luther King Jr. to lead a major demonstration that called for Black people to boycott the bus company. Hattie McDaniel The Kansas native was the youngest of 13 children and a well-known actress. By the time 1925 came around, McDaniel delivered the first major blow to barriers that kept Black women off the radio when she became the first African-American woman on the radio. In the 1930s, she made her first on-screen appearance in Judge Priest and most famously played Mammy in Gone with the Wind. She went on to make history as the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress. Madam C.J. Walker Her real name is Sarah Breedlove and many people know her as the first Black millionaire businesswoman in history. She developed a scalp disease that caused her to suffer significant hair loss, but she eventually created her own formula to solve this problem. Her hair remedy not only helped her grow her own healthy head of hair but also proved to be a commercial success. After spending time developing an entire line of hair care products for Black women, she garnered much success and used her newfound platform to fight for equality. Diane Nash Nash was a leader and strategist of the student wing of the Civil Rights Movement as well as a member of the Freedom Riders. She played key roles in mobilizing Blacks in the South and getting them to vote during her time with the Selma Voting Rights Committee campaign. As if that wasn’t enough, Nash also helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Donyale Luna Many people have referred to Naomi Campbell as the first Black woman to be featured on the cover of Vogue, but that isn’t actually the case. Luna was actually the first Black woman to grace the magazine’s cover and served as a symbol that Black women did have a place in the modeling industry. Mae Jemison It’s always important that young Black women remember to reach for the stars, and that’s exactly what Jemison is known for today. Jemison became the first Black woman to go into space. In addition to being known for her astronomical exploration, she was also a successful physician who spent much of her time working with the Peace Corps before she joined NASA. Oprah Winfrey There are actually mixed feelings about the media mogul in the Black community, but there is one thing that many can’t deny – she is an incredibly influential Black woman and one of the wealthiest Black women today. Despite coming from a poor background in Mississippi and being subjected to child abuse, she rose above all adversity and built a massive media empire that continues to stand the test of time. Her years as an iconic journalist and media entrepreneur earned her the title of the first Black multimillionaire in American history. Michelle Obama With the nation’s first Black president came the nation’s first Black first lady, and Michelle Obama would prove to be quite the force in the White House. She has been an active advocate of getting children to eat healthy and exercise more while also being hailed as one of the best-dressed first ladies. During her time in the White House, Michelle Obama has actually had higher approval ratings than those of her husband, President Barack Obama.

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