Black History Cultural Icons
Honoring the first lady, MLK, Muhammad Ali and Maya Angelou.
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Honoring Icons - At BET.com, we are celebrating Black History Month, and with the support of Mass Mutual, we’re pinpointing our cultural icons. From Martin Luther King Jr. to first lady Michelle Obama, we’re reflecting on how these people have influenced our paths to success and shaped how we see ourselves. (Photos from left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, John Goodwin/Getty Images)
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Ali's Beginning - As Muhammad Ali climbed the rungs of boxing, he changed the way many viewed the sport by using his fame to reflect his political beliefs. Knocking out Sonny Liston in 1964, Clay became the heavyweight champion of the world and joined the Nation of Islam. He became more political when he declined to fight in the Vietnam War, and the boxing association banned him from fighting for over three years. (Photo: EMPICS /Landov)
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The Champ's Comeback - Ali came back with a vengeance, winning the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman in 1974 and the Thrilla in Manilla fight against Joe Frazier in 1975. Then the champ lent his hand to charitable organizations like the Special Olympics, the United Nations as a Peace Ambassador, Make a Wish foundation and his own Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix. (Photo: AP Photo, File)
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The First Lady Takes the Scene - Michelle Obama attended Princeton University and then Harvard Law School. Fast forward to 2008, when she fashionably burst onto the trail with her husband and her killer arms. She was an excellent champion for Obama — and made us all rethink our exercise habits. (Photo: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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Relatable First Lady - From the way President Obama bites his lip when he talks about his wife to how children run to hug her during school visits, it’s clear that the first lady is not only sharp and successful, she’s also warm and endearing. (Photo: Michael Kovac/WireImage)
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