Black Humanitarians Who’ve Made The Biggest Impact

By Monica Walton. 16 Feb 2022 3:30 PM

An act of defiance on a bus, to having a dream on the Lincoln Memorial steps — moments that are ingrained in Civil Rights history. But it wasn’t just Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. who fought tirelessly against racial injustice. In celebration of Black History Month 2022, take a look at powerful Black icons who’ve made their philanthropic mark over the years — all in the name of equality.

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Tyler Perry
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Tyler Perry is notorious for breaking barriers in Hollywood, making headlines over the years for his commitment to charitable and social justice causes.

The Academy presented Perry — creator of the "Madea" film franchise, producer, and founder of the groundbreaking Tyler Perry Studios facility — with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2021 Oscars.

Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta is one of the largest movie production facilities in the country and the first ever to be fully owned by an African-American.

The studios are built on the site of a former Confederate Army base.
Maya Angelou
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An American poet, singer, memoirist and Civil Rights activist with a colourful yet complicated past. Maya Angelou published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poems, and is credited with a list of plays, movies and television shows spanning over 50 years.

The recipient of more than 50 honorary degrees, Angelou’s works have been considered a defense and celebration of Black culture.

Oprah Winfrey, who has called Angelou a mentor, said, “Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she did it all. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence, and a fiery, fierce grace and abounding love.”
Rosa Parks
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American activist Rosa Parks, "the First Lady of Civil Rights" is best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott where she refused to give up her seat in the “coloured” section for a white passenger.

After her arrest for civil disobedience and violating Alabama segregation laws, and she helped inspire the Black community to boycott the Montgomery buses for more than a year.

Parks' act of defiance and the Montgomery bus boycott became important symbols of the movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation, and organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr.
John Legend
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Grammy Award-winning singer John Legend may be known for his smooth R&B music, but he’s also used his creative talents for political projects and speaking out about the ongoing struggle for Civil Rights.

Legend, 39, has headlined benefit concerts and festivals dedicated to social justice. In 2015, he led a nationwide “listening and learning” tour in prisons and immigrant detention centres about problems in the U.S. criminal-justice system.

Legend also co-wrote “Glory”, the theme song for the 2014 film “Selma”, which depicted Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 Civil Rights march in Alabama.

It’s not only in the U.S that he’s making a difference, Legend has also made a tremendous impact in the fight against poverty in Africa and established the Show Me Campaign to raise the required funds to serve needy African villages. In 2008, both Legend and Sachs made a tour of universities all over the U.S. to encourage social, economic, personal, and educational growth.
Denzel Washington
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American actor, director, and producer, Denzel Washington has received much critical acclaim for his film work since the 1980s, including his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in “Cry Freedom” and Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in “Malcolm X.”

As well as his distinguished acting career, Denzel has made his mark as a humanitarian, acting as the national spokesman for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1993.

The organization provides voluntary after-school programs for young people in America.

Washington is also a lifetime founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
Barack Obama
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The first African-American President, Columbia University and Harvard Law School graduate, Barack Obama has already made his mark on U.S. history, but continues to make an impact.

During his time in the Oval Office, Obama brought with him a decade of progress on race-relations in America, a decade that was monumental for Black activism, giving many Americans hope that their voices might be heard.

The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to United States President Barack Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people".

Besides donating and volunteering, Obama also recognizes others for their humanitarian work.
Viola Davis
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Dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless and advocating for more diversity in film and television, Viola Davis is redefining what it means to be a powerful leader in Hollywood.

As a humanitarian, she’s involved in the “Hunger Is” campaign that’s bringing food assistance programs to those who need them.

Davis starred in the drama “How to Get Away with Murder”. In 2015, Davis received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, in addition to becoming the first African American to receive the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Oprah Winfrey
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Oprah Winfrey may be the queen of media, a highly accomplished film producer and actress, but she’s also made her mark with her extreme generosity and philanthropy. The first Black female billionaire, Winfrey supports the inspiration, empowerment, and education of women, children, and families around the globe.

The Oprah Winfrey Foundation funded the building of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Oprah's "Angel Network" raised over $80 million to provide scholarships to needy students, funded over 200 "Habitat for Humanity" homes and built schools in 13 countries.

Winfrey's campaign for abused children resulted in the signing of the "National Child Protection Act", a registry of child abusers, also called the “Oprah Bill.” Oprah was the first Black woman to host a nationally-syndicated television show and the first Black woman to own a production company.
Serena Williams
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Famous for revolutionizing women’s tennis, Serena Williams, with her impressive slew of accomplishments, the most noteworthy — the greatest number of Grand Slam wins in Open Era history — is just as powerful off the court as she is on it.

Not only is she one of the most dominant African-American figures in tennis, as a Goodwill Ambassador, Williams supports UNICEF’s new Schools for Asia campaign to educate Asia’s 26 million marginalized children.

The all-time champion told UNICEF , “I believe all children deserve the chance to make something of their lives,” Williams said. “I am committed to helping UNICEF provide a quality education to children to help them build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
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Perhaps the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor, humanitarian and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Known for his iconic “I have a dream speech” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, King Jr. fought for racial and economic justice and was lauded for his nonviolent approach to civil disobedience.

King participated in and led marches for Blacks' right to vote, desegregation, labour rights, and other basic Civil Rights. King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and later became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Jay-Z And Beyoncé
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The King and Queen of pop and hip-hop, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s art and activism is more often than not, very intertwined. The power couple support numerous organizations and charities such as Red Cross, Global Citizen, Keep A Child Alive, and United Way as well as highlighting injustices through short films.

Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged youth and communities, while Beyoncé's philanthropic work includes the BeyGOOD project helping disadvantaged communities amid the coronavirus pandemic. The pop titan was also recently awarded the Humanitarian Award from Black Entertainment Television (BET), which celebrates Black and ethnic minority artists and sportspeople.
Michelle Obama
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During her time as the first African-American First Lady in the White House, Michelle Obama used her clout to publicly speak out about racial injustices.

Campaigning alongside her husband, Barack Obama, in his quest to become the nation’s first African-American president, she spoke to Mika Brzezinski from the "Today Show" about the importance of leaders in the Black community taking risks to benefit the next generation.

“I think that for the Black community, we have to shake off our fear because change doesn't happen without risk taking,” Obama told Brzezinski in the 2007 interview.

She encouraged the Black community to forge ahead fearlessly “I would not be where I am, I wouldn't have gone to Princeton, I wouldn't have gone to Harvard I certainly wouldn't be a practicing attorney, neither would Barack, if we listened to that doubt.”
Nipsey Hussle
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Born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, Hussle, was an American activist, entrepreneur, and Grammy Award winning rapper.

Hussle focused on "giving solutions and inspiration" to young Black men like him, denouncing gun violence through his music, community work and influence as well as talking openly about gang culture.

Hussle was shot and killed in 2019, the day before he was to meet with LAPD officials to address gang violence in South L.A..
Sidney Poitier
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Bahamian-American actor, film director and ambassador, Sidney Poitier became the first first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor (1964), for his role in “Lilies of the Field”.

He was the oldest living and earliest surviving Best Actor Academy Award winner and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

He continued to break ground in three successful 1967 films which addressed issues of race and race relations with, “To Sir, with Love,” “Guess Who's Coming to Dinner”, and “In the Heat of the Night.”

Poitier also was also nominated for a Golden Globe and BAFTA for the latter film.

Poitier passed away at his home in Beverly Hills on Jan. 6, 2022. He was 94.
Nina Simone
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Nina Simone is best known for her talents in the music industry covering genres from blues, jazz, gospel and pop, but the singer/songwriter also used her fame and music to highlight racial injustice in America.

By the early 1960s, Simone took part in the Selma to Montgomery marches and recorded several songs that soon became Civil Rights anthems.

She became known as "the voice of the Civil Rights movement."

Her original song, “Mississippi Goddam”, was banned from radio play throughout the south for its frank discussion of racism.

Simone advocated Malcolm X's approach during the Civil Rights period, rather than Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violent approach.

After the assassination of MLK Jr. in 1968, Simone performed "Why (The King of Love Is Dead)", written by her bassist Greg Taylor, with her band at the Westbury Music Festival.
Kobe Bryant
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As though five NBA titles, 15 All-NBA selections and a league MVP award wasn’t enough, Kobe Bryant’s competitiveness and talent was matched off the court by his compassion and humility. Bryant was a vocal advocate for many causes throughout his illustrious career, most notably, founding the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation aimed at reducing the number of homeless in L.A..

Bryant also founded the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016, the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven other passengers died in a helicopter crash in late January 2020.
Muhammed Ali
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Muhammed Ali has devoted his life to humanitarian causes, fighting for equal rights, religious liberty, hunger relief, and cross-cultural understanding. His work as an ambassador for peace began in 1985, when he flew to Lebanon to secure the release of four hostages.

A descendant of pre-Civil War era American slaves, the Olympic Gold Medalist grew up in the segregated South, where he experienced prejudice firsthand by being turned away from a “whites-only” restaurant.

As well as his impressive international efforts, Ali is equally devoted to helping charities closer to home. He has visited countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals, and helped organizations including the "Make-A-Wish Foundation" and the Special Olympics. Ali also annually participates in “Celebrity Fight Night”, which generates funds for the "Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center" in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ali once said, “I’ve always wanted to be more than just a boxer. More than just the three-time heavyweight champion. I wanted to use my fame, and this face that everyone knows so well, to help uplift and inspire people around the world.”
Big Mama Thornton
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An influential figure in the early days of rock and roll, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton is best known for her gutsy 1952 R&B recording of "Hound Dog," later covered by Elvis Presley, and her original song "Ball and Chain," made famous by Janis Joplin.

"Hound Dog" was Thornton's only hit record, selling over 500,000 copies, spending 14 weeks in the R&B charts and seven weeks at number one.
Typically dressed in work shirts and slacks, Thornton shunned the norms of gender and race.

Her strong personality and sexually charged lyrics presented a new vision of what a Black female performer could be.
Jackie Robinson
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The first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, Jackie Robinson broke the baseball colour line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. This signalled the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had previously relegated Black players.

The Baseball Hall-of-Famer contributed to and influenced the culture of the Civil Rights Movement significantly. Robinson also was the first black television analyst in MLB and the first Black vice president of a major American corporation, Chock full o’Nuts.

Robinson also helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York. After his death in 1972, Robinson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field.
Malcolm X
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A revolutionary humanitarian leader, Malcolm X, much like Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, but took a more controversial approach to African American liberation than his fellow activist.

During the Civil Rights Movement He urged his fellow Black Americans to protect themselves against white aggression “by any means necessary,” a stance that often put him at odds with the non-violent teachings of King, Jr.

The popular figure was also criticized for his involvement with the Nation of Islam which was pivotal in shaping his thoughts and ideas. He was assassinated Feb. 21, 1965.

Black Humanitarians Who’ve Made The Biggest Impact

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