Famous Black Political Activists

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 1 
Harriet Tubman
(Activist and Abolitionist Known for Her Efforts in Rescuing Slaves and Abolition of Slavery)
Harriet Tubman
5
Birthdate: 1822
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dorchester County, Maryland, United States
Died: March 10, 1913

Born to parents who were bonded slaves, Harriet Tubman life was a difficult one from the very beginning. Yet with her remarkable courage and determination, she not only escaped slavery herself, but also led other enslaved people to freedom. The prominent political activist and abolitionist was also the first woman to lead an armed expedition during the American Civil War.

 2 
Danny Glover
(Known for His Lead Role as Roger Murtaugh in the 'Lethal Weapon' Film Series)
Danny Glover
5
Birthdate: July 22, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Danny Glover is an American actor whose career has spanned more than four decades. Apart from being an actor, Danny Glover has had a major impact as an activist; he has made his presence felt as an activist in countries like Brazil, Iraq, Venezuela, Israel, and many African countries.

 3 
Jesse Jackson
(United States Shadow Senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997)
Jesse Jackson
6
Birthdate: October 8, 1941
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Greenville, South Carolina, United States
Civil rights activist and politician Jesse Jackson, father of former U.S. representative Jesse Jackson Jr., is also a Baptist minister. He has been a shadow U.S. senator from the District of Columbia and established organizations that merged into the non-profit Rainbow/PUSH. He also hosted CNN’s Both Sides with Jesse Jackson.
 4 
Fela Kuti
(Multi-Instrumentalist & the Creator of ‘Afro-beat’, a Genre that Fuses West African Music with American Funk & Jazz)
Fela Kuti
6
Birthdate: October 15, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Abeokuta, Nigeria
Died: August 2, 1997
Political activist and Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti initially performed with his band Koola Lobitos and later renamed it Nigeria '70. He was inspired by the Black Power movement, which also gradually transformed his musical style. He married 27 women in 1978, to mark the anniversary of the Kalakuta Republic attack.
 5 
Bobby Seale
(Political Activist Who Co-founded the Black Panther Party)
Bobby Seale
7
Birthdate: October 22, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Liberty, Texas, United States
 6 
Candace Owens
(Conservative Author, Political Commentator & Activist)
Candace Owens
30
Birthdate: April 29, 1989
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stamford, Connecticut, United States

A political activist of color, Candace Owens first gained visibility as an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Having changed her political stance since then, she is now known for her increasingly pro-Trump activism. Her support for Trump and criticism of Black Lives Matter have made her a controversial figure.

 7 
Omarosa Manigault
(Writers)
Omarosa Manigault
5
Birthdate: February 15, 1974
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 8 
Graça Machel
(First Lady of Mozambique (1975-1986), First Lady of South Africa (1998-1999))
Graça Machel
4
Birthdate: October 17, 1945
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Gaza Province, Mozambique

Graça Machel is known for her association with Mozambique’s FRELIMO movement and has been the country’s first education minister. She has also been married to both former Mozambican president Samora Machel and South African president Nelson Mandela. Through The Elders, she is devoted to working for women’s and children’s rights.

 9 
Wangari Maathai
(The First African Woman to Receive 'Nobel Peace Prize')
Wangari Maathai
4
Birthdate: April 1, 1940
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ihithe, Kenya
Died: September 25, 2011

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental, social, and political activist. She achieved popularity after becoming the first African woman to be honored with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. She is credited with founding a non-governmental organization called The Green Belt Movement (GBM), which focuses on women's rights and environmental conservation.

 10 
Walter Sisulu
(Former Deputy President of the African National Congress (1991 - 1994))
Walter Sisulu
4
Birthdate: May 18, 1912
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ngcobo, South Africa
Died: May 5, 2003

Walter Sisulu was a South African activist who played an important role in the anti-apartheid movement. Counted among the most important members of the ANC, Sisulu served more than 25 years in prison for his anti-apartheid activities. For his contribution to the success of the ANC, Sisulu was honored with the prestigious Isitwalandwe Seaparankoe in 1992.

 11 
Keorapetse Kgositsile
(South African Tswana Poet, Journalist and Political Activist)
Keorapetse Kgositsile
4
Birthdate: September 19, 1938
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Died: January 3, 2018

Keorapetse Kgositsile was a South African Tswana journalist, poet, and political activist. During the 1960s and 1970s, Kgositsile played an important role in the development of the African National Congress. Keorapetse Kgositsile helped bridge the gap between black poetry in the United States of America and African poetry. He was inaugurated as the nation's National Poet Laureate in 2006.

 12 
Stuart Hall
(British Marxist Sociologist, Cultural Theorist, and Political Activist)
Stuart Hall
4
Birthdate: February 3, 1932
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
Died: February 10, 2014

Jamaican-British Marxist sociologist and cultural theorist Stuart Hall is remembered as a pioneering figure of the Birmingham School of Cultural Studies. A skilled academic, he was also the founding-editor of the New Left Review. His encoding and decoding model remains one of his most remarkable contributions to culture studies.

 13 
Auma Obama
(Kenyan-British Journalist, Community Activist and Half-Sister of Barack Obama)
Auma Obama
3
Birthdate: 1960 AD
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
Auma Obama is a Kenyan-British journalist, community activist, author, and sociologist. She is also famous as the half-sister of former American President Barack Obama. Auma Obama is perhaps best known for her association with a non-profit organization called Sauti Kuu Foundation, where she serves as the executive chairwoman. The organization aims at helping orphans struggling with poverty in Kenya.
 14 
Katrina Pierson
(Political Activists)
Katrina Pierson
1
Birthdate: July 20, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kansas, USA
 15 
Walter Rodney
(Historian, political activist)
Walter Rodney
0
Birthdate: March 23, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Georgetown, British Guiana
Died: June 13, 1980
 16 
Armstrong Williams
(TV host has hosted a daily radio show, and hosts a nationally syndicated television program called The Armstrong Williams Show)
Armstrong Williams
3
Birthdate: February 5, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Marion, South Carolina, United States
 17 
Albertina Sisulu
(Political activist)
Albertina Sisulu
3
Birthdate: October 21, 1918
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tsomo, South Africa
Died: June 2, 2011
 18 
Jawar Mohammed
(Founder of Oromia Media Network)
Jawar Mohammed
1
Birthdate: May 12, 1986
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Oromia, Ethiopia
 19 
Winston McKenzie
(British Political Activist and Politician)
Winston McKenzie
3
Birthdate: October 23, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Croydon, England
 20 
Charles W. Chesnutt
(Author)
Charles W. Chesnutt
3
Birthdate: June 20, 1858
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: November 17, 1932
 21 
Fernando Mateo
(Entrepreneur and community activist)
Fernando Mateo
0
Birthdate: 1958 AD
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
 22 
Hifikepunye Pohamba
(2nd President of Namibia, Activist)
Hifikepunye Pohamba
2
Birthdate: August 18, 1936
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Okanghudi, Namibia
 23 
Bakili Muluzi
(President of Malawi from 1994 to 2004)
Bakili Muluzi
2
Birthdate: March 17, 1943
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Machinga District Machinga, Nyasaland
 24 
Alice Dunbar Nelson
(Poet)
Alice Dunbar Nelson
2
Birthdate: July 19, 1875
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: September 18, 1935
 25 
Ottobah Cugoano
(Abolitionist, Political Activist)
Ottobah Cugoano
0
Birthdate: 1757 AD
Birthplace: Ajumako, Ghana
Died: 1791 AD
 26 
Charlotte Forten Grimké
(Poet)
Charlotte Forten Grimké
1
Birthdate: August 17, 1837
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: July 23, 1914
 27 
Simon Mol
(Journalist, Activist)
Simon Mol
1
Birthdate: November 6, 1973
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Buea, Cameroon
Died: October 10, 2008
 28 
Priscillia Ludosky
(One of the founders of the yellow vest movement)
Priscillia Ludosky
0
Birthdate: November 4, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Unknown
 29 
Josina Machel
(Politician, Activist)
Josina Machel
0
Birthdate: August 10, 1945
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vilanculos, Inhambane, Mozambique
Died: April 7, 1971
 30 
Faith Alupo
(Politician)
Faith Alupo
2
Birthdate: October 9, 1983
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Uganda
Died: September 15, 2020
 31 
Ayodele Awojobi
(Academic)
Ayodele Awojobi
1
Birthdate: March 12, 1937
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Oshodi-Isolo
Died: September 23, 1984

Ayodele Awojobi was a Nigerian academic, inventor, author, activist, and social crusader. Regarded as a scholarly genius by his peers and teachers alike, Awojobi became the first African to earn a degree of Doctor of Science at the Imperial College London. His research papers in the field of vibration are often referred to and studied by researchers around the world.

 32 
Clara Luper
(Schoolteacher)
Clara Luper
1
Birthdate: May 3, 1923
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States
Died: June 8, 2011
 33 
Steve Tshwete
(Politician)
Steve Tshwete
1
Birthdate: November 12, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Springs, South Africa
Died: April 26, 2002

In spite of being born into an impoverished working-class family, Steve Tshwete was given a decent education by his parents. The South African politician was an African National Congress member and had been imprisoned for his anti-apartheid activities. He was also known as Mr Fixit for supporting non-racial sports rules.

 34 
Hawo Tako
(Activist)
Hawo Tako
0
Birthdate: 1925 AD
Birthplace: Jijiga, Ethiopia
Died: 1948 AD
 35 
Philip Goldson
(Former Member of the Belize House of Representatives for Albert)
Philip Goldson
1
Birthdate: July 25, 1923
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Belize City, Belize
Died: October 3, 2001
 36 
Faustin Twagiramungu
(Politician, Activist)
Faustin Twagiramungu
0
Birthdate: August 14, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cyangugu Province, Rwanda
 37 
Chenjerai Hunzvi
(Political Activist)
Chenjerai Hunzvi
1
Birthdate: October 23, 1949
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chiminya, Southern Rhodesia
Died: June 4, 2001
 38 
Job Amupanda
(Politician, Activist)
Job Amupanda
0
Birthdate: August 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Oshana Region, Namibia
 39 
Uria Simango
(Politician)
Uria Simango
0
Birthdate: March 15, 1926
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mozambique
Died: 1979 AD
 40 
Cyril Briggs
(Writer, Communist Political Activist)
Cyril Briggs
0
Birthdate: May 28, 1888
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Died: October 18, 1966
 41 
Pamela Mboya
(Kenyan Diplomat, Political Activist and the Wife of Tom Mboya, One of the Founding Father's of Kenya)
Pamela Mboya
1
Birthdate: 1938 AD
Birthplace: Maseno, Kenya
Died: January 26, 2009
Pamela Mboya was a Kenyan diplomat and political activist. She is best remembered as the wife of Tom Mboya, who is counted among the founding fathers of Kenya. Pamela Mboya became an iconic figure in Kenya during the 1970s after images of her grieving the death of her husband in 1969 spread like wildfire throughout the country; Tom was assassinated.   
 42 
Joseph Diescho
(Writer, Political analyst)
Joseph Diescho
0
Birthdate: April 10, 1955
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Andara, South West Africa
 43 
Clement Payne
(Former activist named as one of the eleven National Heroes of Barbados by an act of Parliament in 1998)
Clement Payne
0
Birthdate: 1904 AD
Birthplace: Trinidad and Tobago
Died: April 7, 1941
 44 
Filipe Samuel Magaia
(Politician)
Filipe Samuel Magaia
0
Birthdate: March 7, 1937
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mozambique
Died: October 11, 1966
 45 
Oscar Mpetha
(South African political activist)
Oscar Mpetha
0
Birthdate: August 5, 1909
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Transkei, South Africa
Died: November 15, 1994
 46 
Marthe Ekemeyong Moumié
(Writer)
Marthe Ekemeyong Moumié
0
Birthdate: September 4, 1931
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cameroon
Died: January 8, 2009
 47 
Stephanie Nyombayire
(Director General of Communication)
Stephanie Nyombayire
0
Birthdate: December 6, 1986
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rwanda
 48 
Thenjiwe Lesabe
(Zimbabwean Nationalist, War Veteran and Political Activist)
Thenjiwe Lesabe
0
Birthdate: January 5, 1932
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hope Fountain, Matabele, Zimbabwe
Died: 2011 AD

Zimbabwean war-veteran and political-activist Thenjiwe Lesabe was one of the first members of the Southern Rhodesian African National Congress, one of the first female members of the National Democratic Party (NDP), and leader of ZAPU Women's League.  She became an elected Member of Parliament for Matobo on a PF-Zapu ticket following Zimbabwe’s Independence and served as Deputy Minister of Tourism.

 49 
George Nyandoro
(Zimbabwean Politician Who Co-Founded the 'SRANC')
George Nyandoro
0
Birthdate: July 8, 1926
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Marondera, Zimbabwe
Died: June 24, 1994

Zimbabwean politician George Nyandoro is best remembered for his fight against the white minority rule in Rhodesia. In spite of dropping out of school by standard 6, he bagged an airline company job, which he refused to join politics. He co-founded the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress.