First African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in the movie Monsters Ball.

Widely viewed as the best Basketball Player ever, shoes outsell other stars even though he’s retired. He purchased a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2010.

First African-American to win Miss America.

This person was born on a cotton plantation in Louisiana and became a Self-Made Millionaire after inventing a line of African-American hair care products.

The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by this noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher.

Developed 300 derivative products from peanuts among them cheese, milk, coffee, etc. He was also a professor at Tuskegee University. Recognized as the greatest African American inventor in history by Time Magazine in 1941.

Acclaimed American poet, author and activist who was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928. She wrote “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, and “Phenomenal Woman”.

In the field of entertainment, the King of Pop holds the record for the most Grammy Awards won in a single year with Eight (8).

She transformed the face of media and revolutionized daytime talk shows with her self-titled talk show, which aired for 25 seasons.