Famous African American Women Who Are Now An Inspiration To Many

It is amazing as to how women have broken all barriers of patriarchy and have achieved quite a lot in recent times. Be it politics, sports, science, cinema or any field for that matter, women have often proved that they are no less achievers than their male counterparts. African American women, in particular, deserve a special mention for their achievements. Racial discrimination is a big challenge which many members of this community had to face years ago and it’s amazing how these women fought against all odds to achieve their dreams. Some of these individuals are role models to many girls today. Noted entrepreneur and beautician Madame C.J Walker is a woman who needs to be applauded for her efforts to make every woman beautiful. This underprivileged woman went on to introduce a range of beauty products and proved that nothing can stop a person if he/she is determined. During recent times, former American first lady Michelle Obama, model and television personality Tyra Banks, noted singer Beyonce and Tennis star Serena Williams are a few influential women, who are widely admired world over. Tyra Banks is considered one of the greatest fashion icons of recent times. Beyonce isn’t just a heartthrob for her singing skills, but is also a favorite among the youth for her gorgeous looks. We have enlisted several such great achievers belonging to the African American community just for you. Their journeys have been incredible and might just inspire you to reach for the stars.
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 1 
Mariah Carey
(First Artist to Have Her First Five Singles Reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100)
Mariah Carey
129
Birthdate: March 27, 1969
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Huntington, New York, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 2 
Halle Berry
(Only African-American Woman To Win Oscar for Best Actress)
Halle Berry
139
Birthdate: August 14, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
 3 
Alicia Keys
(Singer, Actress)
Alicia Keys
80
Birthdate: January 25, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hell's Kitchen, New York, United States
 4 
Rosa Parks
(American Activist in the Civil Rights Movement Best Known for Her Pivotal Role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott)
Rosa Parks
53
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 4, 1913
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama, United States
Died: October 24, 2005
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 5 
Venus Williams
(One of the Greatest Tennis Players of All Time)
Venus Williams
66
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lynwood, California, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 6 
Sasha Banks
(Professional Wrestler and First Women to Compete in a 'Hell in a Cell' Match)
Sasha Banks
80
Birthdate: January 26, 1992
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fairfield, California, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
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 7 
Zoë Kravitz
(Actress Best Known for Her Role in 'The Divergent' and 'Fantastic Beasts' Film Series)
Zoë Kravitz
93
Birthdate: December 1, 1988
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Venice, Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 8 
Erykah Badu
(Singer-Songwriter Know for Her Singles like "On & On," "Honey," and "The Healer.")
Erykah Badu
30
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 26, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
 9 
Gladys Knight
(Singer-Songwriter)
Gladys Knight
23
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 28, 1944
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 10 
Laila Ali
(One of the Greatest Female Boxers of All Time)
Laila Ali
36
Birthdate: December 30, 1977
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 11 
Jhené Aiko
(Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Songs ‘The Worst’ and ‘Sail Out’)
Jhené Aiko
22
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 12 
Nina Simone
(One of the Most Influential Musical Artists of the 20th Century)
Nina Simone
24
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 21, 1933
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tryon, North Carolina, United States
Died: April 21, 2003
 13 
Brandy Norwood
(Singer-Songwriter and Actress Know for Her Single ‘The Boy Is Mine’ and Her Role in the Sitcom 'Moesha')
Brandy Norwood
44
Birthdate: February 11, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: McComb, Mississippi, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 14 
Rashida Jones
(Actress, Writer & Producer, Best Known for Starring on the Comedy Series 'Parks and Recreation')
Rashida Jones
44
Birthdate: February 25, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 15 
Toni Morrison
(Novelist)
Toni Morrison
42
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: February 18, 1931
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lorain, Ohio
Died: August 5, 2019
 16 
Kerry Washington
(Actress and Producer Famous for Her Portrayal of ‘Olivia Pope’ in the Drama Series ‘Scandal’)
Kerry Washington
31
Birthdate: January 31, 1977
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 17 
Ida B. Wells
(Women's Rights Activist and Civil Rights Leader)
Ida B. Wells
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 16, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States
Died: March 25, 1931
 18 
Saweetie
(Rapper and Songwriter Known for Her Single ‘Icy Grl’)
Saweetie
38
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 2, 1993
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santa Clara, California, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 19 
Condoleezza Rice
(66th United States Secretary of State (2005-09))
Condoleezza Rice
30
Birthdate: November 14, 1954
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
 20 
Octavia Spencer
(The First Black Actress to Have Received two Successive Nominations at the Oscars)
Octavia Spencer
45
Birthdate: May 25, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 21 
Donna Summer
(Singer-Songwriter)
Donna Summer
18
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 31, 1948
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 17, 2012
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 22 
Zora Neale Hurston
(Folklorist, Anthropologist)
Zora Neale Hurston
19
Birthdate: January 7, 1891
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Notasulga
Died: January 28, 1960
 23 
Ruby Bridges
(Philanthropist)
Ruby Bridges
33
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: September 8, 1954
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tylertown
 24 
Vanessa Williams
23
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 18, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 25 
Ashanti
(Singer-songwriter and Actress Know for Her Hit Song "Foolish")
Ashanti
25
Birthdate: October 13, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Glen Cove, New York, United States
 26 
Coretta Scott King
(Civil-Rights Activist and the Wife of Martin Luther King Jr)
Coretta Scott King
17
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: April 27, 1927
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Heiberger, Alabama, United States
Died: January 30, 2006
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 27 
Solange Knowles
(Singer, Songwriter & Performance Artist)
Solange Knowles
29
Birthdate: June 24, 1986
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 28 
Kelly Rowland
(Singer-Songwriter and Member of One of the Best-Selling Girl Groups of All Time ‘Destiny's Child’)
Kelly Rowland
25
Birthdate: February 11, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 29 
Vivica A. Fox
(Actress)
Vivica A. Fox
21
Birthdate: July 30, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: South Bend, Indiana, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 30 
Renee Elise Goldsberry
12
Birthdate: January 2, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 31 
Leslie Jones
(Stand-up Comedian)
Leslie Jones
48
Birthdate: September 7, 1967
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 32 
Jordin Sparks
(Pop Singer Who Became Famous at Age Seventeen When She Won Season Six of 'American Idol')
Jordin Sparks
27
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: December 22, 1989
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 33 
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
(One of the Greatest Female Athletes of All-Time)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 3, 1962
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
 34 
Mae Jemison
(First African American Woman To Travel To Space)
Mae Jemison
22
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 17, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Decatur, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 35 
Lisa Leslie
(Basketball player)
Lisa Leslie
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 7, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Compton, California, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 36 
Alice Walker
(The First African-American Woman to Win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
Alice Walker
12
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 9, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Eatonton, Georgia, United States
 37 
Bessie Coleman
(American Civil Aviator and the First African-American Woman to Hold a Pilot License)
Bessie Coleman
31
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 26, 1892
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Atlanta, Texas, United States
Died: April 30, 1926
 38 
Althea Gibson
( The First African American to Win a Grand Slam Title )
Althea Gibson
25
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 25, 1927
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States
Died: September 28, 2003
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 39 
Orlando Brown
(Actor, Voice Actor, Singer)
Orlando Brown
10
Birthdate: December 4, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 40 
Monica
(Singer)
Monica
13
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 24, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: College Park, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 41 
Lorraine Hansberry
(Writer, Theatre director, Screenwriter, Playwright, Human rights activist)
Lorraine Hansberry
6
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: May 19, 1930
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: January 12, 1965
 42 
Ava DuVernay
(Filmmaker)
Ava DuVernay
15
Birthdate: August 24, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
 43 
Mary McLeod Bethune
(American Civil Rights Activist and Founder of the 'National Council of Negro Women')
Mary McLeod Bethune
15
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: July 10, 1875
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mayesville, South Carolina, United States
Died: May 18, 1955
 44 
Ilhan Omar
(Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th District)
Ilhan Omar
75
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mogadishu, Somalia
 45 
Leontyne Price
(The First African-American Opera Singer to Achieve International Fame)
Leontyne Price
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 10, 1927
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, United States
 46 
Bianca Belair
(American Professional Wrestler)
Bianca Belair
18
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 9, 1989
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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 47 
Betty Shabazz
(Educator and Activist Best Known as the Wife of African-American Activist Malcolm X)
Betty Shabazz
10
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: May 28, 1934
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pinehurst, Georgia, United States
Died: June 23, 1997
 48 
Butterfly McQueen
(Actress)
Butterfly McQueen
5
Birthdate: January 7, 1911
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tampa, Florida, United States
Died: December 22, 1995
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 49 
Brandi Rhodes
(American Professional Wrestler)
Brandi Rhodes
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Canton, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 50 
Harris Faulkner
(News Anchor)
Harris Faulkner
19
Birthdate: October 13, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)