Top Black Icons of All Time
Get a list of the top Black icons of all time.
1 / 33
Top Black Icons - Their contributions spanning decades, BET.com honors athletes, entertainers, scientists and others who have made their mark on professions and on Black History.
2 / 33
Philosophy: Cornel West - Considered one of the most prominent African-American scholars of his generation, the Princeton University African-American and Religion Studies professor is a highly sought after speaker and political pundit for his knowledge of issues impacting the African-American community.
3 / 33
Fashion: Beverly Johnson - The first African-American model to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1974, Beverly Johnson paved the way for dozens of African-American supermodels including Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell.
4 / 33
Performance: Michael Jackson - His soft, textured voice; captivating sense of style; and intuitive mastery of body movement; were just some of the pieces that defined the performance genius of Michael Jackson.
5 / 33
Politics: Barack Obama - Yes We Can! In Nov. 2008, Obama became the first African American elected to serve as President of the United States. Obama was inaugurated as the nation's first Black president on Jan. 20, 2009.
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 33
Literature (Fiction): Toni Morrison - Toni Morrison is a Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning educator and author of nine novels, including the critically acclaimed “The Bluest Eye” and “Beloved.”
7 / 33
Literature (Non-Fiction): James Baldwin - The celebrated author, essayist, playwright and civil rights champion wrote with passion and eloquence about bigotry and racism in America during the 20th century.
8 / 33
Film: Spike Lee - The Morehouse-educated filmmaker, actor and social activist has produced and directed more than 30 films in his career. Lee is best known for his 1992 biographical film, “Malcolm X” and 1989’s “Do the Right Thing.”
9 / 33
Media: Oprah Winfrey - This television host and producer is considered the richest African American in the world. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled talk show that averages more than 7 million viewers a day.
10 / 33
Business: Madam C.J. Walker - The innovator of African-American hair care products was the most influential Black business owner of her day. She was also a major financial contributor to the NAACP and Bethune-Cookman College.
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 33
Entrepreneurship: Bob Johnson - The founder and former owner of BET became the first African-American billionaire in 2001. Johnson is now majority-owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats franchise. Always making inroads into new business markets, Johnson owns banks and hospitality business in the United States and a new seaside resort in Liberia.
12 / 33
Medicine: Dr. Keith Black - Recognized at the 2010 BET Honors, Dr. Black is a renowned neurosurgeon and chairman of the neurosurgery department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
13 / 33
Sports: Jesse Owens - An Olympic gold medalist, Jesse Owens is most famous for his performance during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin when he won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and 4x100 relay.
14 / 33
Acting: Denzel Washington - Denzel is an accomplished actor and director who became the second African-American man (Sidney Poitier was the first) to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his role in “Training Day.”
15 / 33
Performing Arts: Alvin Ailey - Dance choreographer who founded the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York.
ADVERTISEMENT
16 / 33
Music (Hip Hop): Jay-Z - One of the best-selling hip-hop performers in history, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has earned eight Grammy Awards and more than two dozen nominations.
17 / 33
Music (Soul): Teddy Pendergrass - Known as “Teddy P.,” the Philadelphia singer recorded dozens of hits as a member of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and later as a solo artist. After a car accident left him paralyzed, Pendergrass became an advocate for those suffering with spinal cord injuries.
18 / 33
Music (Jazz): John Coltrane - Jazz musician and composer John Coltrane revolutionized the American jazz sound. He also played alongside several jazz greats including Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.
19 / 33
Music (Gospel): Shirley Caesar - The 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter has recorded more than 40 gospel albums in her 60-year career.
20 / 33
Basketball: Michael Jordan - Five-time NBA Most Valuable Player Michael Jordan led his Chicago Bulls teams to six NBA championships in the 1990s. Jordan also earned two Olympic medals in 1984 and 1992 as a part of Team USA. He was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
ADVERTISEMENT
21 / 33
Baseball: Hank Aaron - Widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, “Hammering” Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his 21-year professional career with the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. He became an iconic figure in 1973 when he broke Babe Ruth's record for most home runs in a career, despite receiving thousands of death threats.
22 / 33
Football: Jim Brown - Athlete, actor and social activist Jim Brown was the leading rusher in National Football League history at the time of his retirement. He was also the career leader in touchdowns and all-purpose yards.
23 / 33
Track & Field: Carl Lewis - Carl Lewis won nine gold medals and one silver in Track and Field from 1984-1996. Lewis also set world records in the 100 meters, 4 x 100 meters relay and 4 x 200 meter relay.
24 / 33
Activism: Martin Luther King, Jr. - The minister, philosopher and civil rights icon became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King is most known for his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington.
25 / 33
Preaching: T.D. Jakes - The founder and pastor of The Potter’s House, a 30,000-member mega-church in Dallas. Jakes also gave the invocation during the Barack Obama Presidential Inauguration Breakfast.
ADVERTISEMENT
26 / 33
Art: Henry Ossawa Tanner - Tanner was an African-American artist who received international acclaim for his religious-inspired creations. He also taught art at several universities including Clark Atlanta and Academie Julian in France.
27 / 33
Education: Benjamin Mays - A minister, scholar and social activist, Mays was president of Morehouse College and served as mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. After leaving Morehouse, he supervised the desegregation of Atlanta Public Schools.
28 / 33
Food & Fine Living: B. Smith - The former host of “B. Smith with Style,” this lifestyle guru was the first African-American woman to have her line of home decor products available at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
29 / 33
Choral Music: James Weldon Johnson - James Weldon Johnson wrote the Negro National Anthem (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”). A musician, singer and composer, Johnson was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University.
30 / 33
Journalism: Ida B. Wells-Barnett - Journalist and newspaper editor who chronicled the savagery of lynching across the nation who many consider to be an early leader of the civil rights movements.
ADVERTISEMENT
31 / 33
Music Production: Quincy Jones - Quincy Jones is a multi-Grammy-winning music producer who along with Bob Russell became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Musical Song category. Jones was also the producer for the “We Are the World” recording, which raised money to fight famine in Africa.
32 / 33
Opera: Jessye Norman - Known for her expressive singing qualities, Ms. Norman is one of the most recognized voices in contemporary opera music. She is also lauded for her work with the African-American community and the arts in New York and in her hometown of Augusta, Ga.