Throughout history, there have been many black leaders that have forever changed the world that we live in today and have left a remarkable impact. Although history books highlight critical figures, there are still many significant individuals that many people might not know about. 

Sojourner Truth was a fervent abolitionist and women’s rights activist in the early to mid-1800s. Born a slave, Truth understood the injustices and cruelty of the system. She escaped to freedom when she was 29 and gave many influential speeches. Her ¨Aint I a Woman?¨ speech helped boost the women’s suffrage movement exponentially. Truth’s lifetime of hard work earned her an audience with Abraham Lincoln.

Shirley Chisolm was a politician and educator during the 1960s and 70s. Chisolm became the first black congresswoman in 1968 and in 1972 she began her symbolic bid for the Democratic nomination for president 1972. Although she did not gain the Democratic ticket, her run encouraged countless young black men and women across the United States and the world. 

Jesse Leroy Brown was an experienced naval pilot that sacrificed his own life for his country. During the Korean War, Brown was deployed to Korea and led historic flights that greatly influenced the war. On December 4th, 1950, Brown died in a plane crash during battle.