Famous Black Political Figures

• Annan, Kofi

  The 7th U.N. Secretary-General, 1997-2006

• Booker, Cory

  U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 2013-present

• Chisholm, Shirley

  The first African-American woman to run for U.S. president

• Garvey, Marcus

  Founder of the "back to Africa" movement

• Harris, Kamala

  The first woman to be elected vice-president of the United States

• Jackson, Jesse

  Aide to Martin Luther King and candidate for U.S. president

• Maathai, Wangari

  The first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize

• Mandela, Nelson

  The first black president of South Africa

• Moseley-Braun, Carol

  The first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate

• Newton, Huey

  Co-founder of the Black Panthers

• Sharpton, Al

  New York's African-American preacher, activist and presidential candidate 

• Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson

  The Nobel Prize-winning president of Liberia

• Young, Coleman

  Mayor of Detroit, 1974-1993

See: Famous African-Americans (for Black History Month)