An equality campaigner, he chaired the Pan-African Congress in London in 1921 and was president of the African Progress Union. The 97th Archbishop of York – and the first black man to serve as an Anglican archbishop – Sentamu has often spoken out on many topical issues and chaired the inquiry into how the police handled the death of Damilola Taylor. A runaway slave, Tubman went on to aid the escape of hundreds of slaves via the Underground Railroad, a network of houses willing to help those on their way to freedom in Canada. Log in. real-world solutions, and more. Fred D'Aguiar - Writer, born 1960 Frederick Douglass - Abolitionist, writer, statesman, 1818-95 Oldest first, -1) ? Olaudah Equiano - Writer, explorer, 1745-97 His role in working for global peace was recognised when he and the UN were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. Nanny - Maroon leader, active 1720-34 Most liked, -1) ? Dubbed a " black Leonardo" by Time magazine, Carver – born into slavery himself – developed revolutionary farming techniques that helped former slaves in Alabama become self-sufficient. A wonderful example of this newfound freedom is the huge wall dedicated to 70 key black achievers past and present. Viv Anderson - Footballer, born 1956 The incident sparked a mass boycott of the transport system by the black community. She has influenced countless artists, including Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, and played alongside such greats as Louis Armstrong. Pastor Ekarte founded the African Churches Mission in Liverpool which, from 1945-1949, looked after "brown babies": the unwanted offspring of black American GIs and the city's white women. A long list was compiled from names proposed by committee members, who are all curators at the museum, and who nominated individuals from their own areas of expertise. An influential Pan-Africanist, he believed in uniting Africa under one government. He was leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, bringing black students together to protest against segregation. But now, in Liverpool, for this and generations to come, there is an institution dedicated to scholarly research – and it's right on our doorsteps. Partly due to his underprivileged background, he is an idol in his home country. When he died, the US President Jimmy Carter said: "Perhaps no athlete better symbolised the human struggle against tyranny, poverty and racial bigotry.". His work examines what it was like to be poor and black in Cuba. She acts as a mentor for many writers and is on the editorial board of The Nation magazine. Parks's refusal to give up her seat on an Alabama bus in 1955 became a symbolic moment in the American civil rights movement. Sharpe, a Jamaican national hero, was born a slave in Montego Bay and became a Baptist preacher. Malcolm X - Civil rights activist, 1925-65 Maurice Rupert Bishop - Politician, revolutionary, 1944-83 John Conteh - Boxer, born 1951 In 2006 Winfrey became the world's first black woman billionaire. Caryl Phillips - Author, born 1958 An African anti-colonial activist, Lumumba played a major role in gaining the Democratic Republic of the Congo's independence from Belgium, and was elected its first Prime Minister. Harriet Tubman - Abolitionist, 1820-1913 In 1913, John Archer was elected Mayor of Battersea, the first person of African descent to reach such a position in the UK. try again, the name must be unique, Please Holmes became the first British woman to win two gold medals after winning both the 800m and 1,500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Born in Guyana, Rodney was a leading Pan-Africanist and Black Power leader. Nicknamed "Moses", she later served in the Civil War. A week before his assassination he had declared that, “While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” Steve Biko. Muhammad Ali - Boxer, born 1942 Do you agree with the list? will be published daily in dedicated articles. Inspired by the music she heard as a child, she has founded the Centro Experimental de Musica Negrocontinuo (Institute of the Black Continuum), dedicated to the genre. Born a slave in Haiti (then the French colony of St Dominique), Toussaint successfully led a slave rebellion against the colonisers. We believe the people we have chosen are a good indicator.". Arthur Wharton - Footballer, 1865-1930 'active' : ''"> He was assassinated after an army-supported coup. Ignatius Sancho - Writer, composer, 1729-80 Some of them have successfully energized their followers and have made a positive impact in their lives. John Archer - Campaigner, 1863-1923 Ali Ibrahim 'Farka' Touré - Musician, 1939-2006 Most liked. between two cultures. Supported by members of the Boston gentry, she became a literary sensation and appeared before George Washington. His books and speeches focused on his experiences. His albums and shows with his band, The Wailers, were legendary.