African-American feminists

Barack Hussein Obama II is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president. Obama previously served as a U.S. senator representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Known for her vocal ability, artistic reinventions, and live performances, she is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 21st century. Credited with shaping popular music, Beyoncé is often deemed one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

African American novelist, essayist, and academic (1931–2019)

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.

African-American abolitionist (1822–1913)

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. Considered a pop icon, she is known for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Jackson's sound and choreography became a catalyst in the growth of MTV, enabling her to rise to prominence while breaking gender and racial barriers in the process. Lyrical content that concerned social issues and deeply felt experiences contributed to the appeal of her work to the youth audience.

American author and activist (born 1944)

American political activist, scholar, and author (born 1944)

American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)

American rapper, singer and actress

American singer-songwriter

American author and activist (1952–2021)

American author, activist, and civil rights leader; wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.

first black woman elected to the United States Congress (1924-2005)

American singer and actress (born 1981)

Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known professionally as Halsey, is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Noted for her distinctive singing voice, she has received numerous accolades, including three Billboard Music Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, and an American Music Award, as well as nominations for three Grammy Awards. She was on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

American singer-songwriter

American actress and LGBT advocate (born 1972)

American science fiction writer (1947-2006)

American legal academic (born 1959)

American writer

American actress

American politician and lawyer

American writer, journalist, and educator

American singer (1967–2001)

American writer

African-American scholar

American law professor; witness in Clarence Thomas controversy

African American painter and sculptor (1930–2024)

African-American author, educator, speaker and scholar (1858–1964)

American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur (1932–2017)

Salt-N-Pepa (sometimes stylized as '''Salt 'N' Pepa') is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album included the single, "Push It", which was released in 1987 as the B-side to their single "Tramp", and peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard'' Hot 100.

American activist

American lawyer and politician (born 1937)

American writer, activist, lawyer and Episcopal priest (1910-1985)

Trinidad & Tobago-born black communist and political activist

American actress and singer (1948–2003)

American activist and academic (born 1946)

African American writer and performance artist (1948-2018)

American poet, essayist, playwright, feminist, bisexual activist

American R&B duo

American poet

American activist

African American sculptor (born 1926)

American novelist, short story writer, critic

American author, activist, professor (1939–1995)

novelist (1929–2019)

American composer and writer (1896–1977)

African-American critical race feminist and writer

American singer

American activist and author (1946–2025)

American philosopher

American YouTube personality and transgender rights activist

American writer

American writer (born 1947)

American feminist activist (1938–2022)

African-American feminist, author, and atheist activist

American union organizer and civil rights activist (1926–2017)

American writer (born 1948)

American artist (born 1953)