20 Influential African Americans In Honor Of Black History Month
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THURGOOD MARSHALL ------- 21st August 1967: Judge Thurgood Marshall (left) in discussion with statesman Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States of America, following Marshall's appointment as a member of the Supreme Court, the first African-American to hold such a post. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) (Keystone/Getty Images)
MILES DAVIS ------- American jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis (1926 - 1991), sits with his instrument during a studio recording session, October 1959. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
MALCOLM X ------- Portrait of human rights activist Malcolm X reading stories about himself in a pile of newspapers, circa 1963. (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Three Lions/Getty Images)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG ------- circa 1955: Louis 'Satchmo' ('Satchelmouth') Armstrong (1900 - 1971), the great jazz trumpeter and vocalist blows his horn, watched by his wife, Lucille. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) (Keystone/Getty Images)
ROSA PARKS ------- DETROIT - NOVEMBER 1: An mourner holds a memorial card of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks after paying her respects at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, where Mrs. Parks will lie in repose until her funeral on Wednesday morning November 1, 2005 in Detroit, Michigan. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, an incident which sparked the civil rights movement. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
MAYA ANGELOU ------- NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Dr. Maya Angelou speaks on stage during the 34th Annual AWRT Gracie Awards Gala at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for AWRT) (Jemal Countess)
RAY CHARLES ------- Musician Ray Charles performing at a microphone, c. 1960. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images) (Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
JIMI HENDRIX ------- Rock guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix (1942 - 1970) caught mid guitar-break during his performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
MICHAEL JORDAN ------- 1989: A close up of Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls as he looks on during the game. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport (Mike Powell/Getty Images)
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ------- October 1961: American civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968) arriving at London Airport. He is in England to be the chief speaker at a public meeting about colour prejudice and to appear on the BBC television programme 'Face To Face'. (Photo by J. Wilds/Keystone/Getty Images) (J. Wilds/Getty Images)
JAMES BROWN ------- American singer, songwriter and bandleader James Brown (1933 - 2006) performing at the Newport Jazz Festival, circa 1968. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
MUHAMMAD ALI ------- American boxer Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) training with a speed bag ahead of his fight against Britain's Brian London, in London, England, 3rd August 1966. (Photo by R McPhedran/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (R. McPhedran/Getty Images)
ARTHUR ASHE ------- Arthur Ashe of the United States makes a backhand return to Jimmy Connors on his way to winning the Men's Singles Final match at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 5 July 1975 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images) (Tony Duffy/Getty Images)
OPRAH ------- SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Oprah Winfrey speaks during Oprah's 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus Tour presented by WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined) at Chase Center on February 22, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images) (Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
SOJOURNER TRUTH ------- Portrait of African-American orator and civil rights activist Sojourner Truth (1797 - 1883), 1860s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
JACKIE ROBINSON ------- American baseball player Jackie Robinson (1919 - 1972) grounds a ball at first place while warming up for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Ebbets Field, NYC, 1950s. (Photo by Hulton|Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
ARETHA FRANKLIN ------- American soul singer Aretha Franklin, a star on the Atlantic record label. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images) (Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
HARRIET TUBMAN ------- RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - JUNE 18: Harriet Tubman's image is projected on the Robert E. Lee Monument as people gather around on June 18, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cavedo ruled on Thursday to indefinitely extended an injunction preventing the Virginia governor from removing a historic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond's famed Monument Avenue (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (TASOS KATOPODIS/Getty Images)
HANK AARON ------- American baseball player Hank Aaron waits for the pitch in an empty stadium. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
FREDERICK DOUGLASS ------- American orator, editor, author, abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass (1818 - 1895) edits a journal at his desk, late 1870s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)