Every Month is Black History Month because Black History is American History
Black Excellence
Celebrating the trailblazers whose vision and courage shaped American culture, politics, and art in extraordinary ways.
History belongs to all of us. Throughout Black History Month and beyond, we honor remarkable individuals whose contributions continue to inspire and influence our world today. These are their stories—stories of resilience, creativity, and transformative leadership.
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The Godmother of Jazz
Pianist · Composer · Arranger · Mentor
1910 — 1981
Read Her Story →
A Soldier's Statesman
General · Secretary of State · Leader
1937 — 2021
Read His Story →
The Architect of the March
Activist · Organizer · Strategist · Peacemaker
1912 — 1987
Read His Story →
The Purple One
Musician · Innovator · Icon · Visionary
1958 — 2016
Read His Story →
The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
Singer · Songwriter · Actress · Survivor
1939 — 2023
Read Her Story →
The Voice of the Constitution
Congresswoman · Lawyer · Educator · Orator
1936 — 1996
Read Her Story →
Witness to the Truth
Writer · Essayist · Playwright · Prophet
1924 — 1987
Read His Story →
The Caged Bird Who Sang
Poet · Memoirist · Activist · National Treasure
1928 — 2014
Read Her Story →
Unbought and Unbossed
Congresswoman · Educator · Presidential Candidate
1924 — 2005
Read Her Story →
The Woman Who Built an Empire
Entrepreneur · Philanthropist · Activist · Pioneer
1867 — 1919
Read Her Story →

What Leadership Looks Like
44th President & First Lady
2009 — 2017
Read Their Story →
The Human Computer
Mathematician · NASA Pioneer · Hidden Figure
1918 — 2020
Read Her Story →
The Queen of Gospel
Singer · Civil Rights Icon · Gospel Legend
1911 — 1972
Read Her Story →
The Trailblazer
Secretary of Commerce · DNC Chairman · Pioneer
1941 — 1996
Read His Story →
Sweetness
NFL Legend · Humanitarian · Chicago Icon
1954 — 1999
Read His Story →
Mamba Forever
NBA Champion · Olympic Gold Medalist · Icon
1978 — 2020
Read His Story →
The First Leading Lady
Actress · Singer · Tony Winner · TV Pioneer
1935 — 2019
Read Her Story →

Unforgettable
Singer · Pianist · Pioneer · Grammy Winner · Father & Daughter
Nat: 1919 — 1965 · Natalie: 1950 — 2015
Read Their Story →
Equal Justice Under Law
Supreme Court Justice · Civil Rights Lawyer
1908 — 1993
Read His Story →
Good Trouble
Congressman · Civil Rights Leader · Freedom Rider
1940 — 2020
Read His Story →
The Voice
Singer · Actress · The Greatest Voice of Her Generation
1963 — 2012
Read Her Story →
Pay It No Mind
Activist · Performer · Stonewall Icon · Revolutionary
1945 — 1992
Read Her Story →23
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Celebrating 28 Icons of Black Excellence
We are all one. And if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way.
— Bayard Rustin
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