Racial inequality in the United States has greatly improved since the 1960s and certainly before that. Many leaders during the last century and before that are to be thanked for ushering in that change through their sheer determination and courage.
As the times change, new leaders must take up the mantle and be role models for younger and older generations. Therefore, this article will explore Black leaders who will shape the future. That said, the focus won’t be on individual personalities because it will be difficult to fit all of that within the scope of this article. So, instead, we’ll talk about progress in general and which leaders are an active part of certain types of progress.
Black Leaders Fighting for the Environment
There are many Black environmentalists who have been actively working toward protecting the planet for future generations. What’s also important to understand is that the impact of climate change has disproportionately affected marginalized communities (particularly those consisting of people of color).
Their access to environmental resources is disproportionate, and they have had to deal with toxic soil, water-related issues, and pollution on far more occasions than white people have. Thus, there are several black leaders who are determined to address that and improve the case of climate change on the whole. Some notable leaders include the following.
- Savonala “Savi” Horne, who is the Land Loss Prevention Project’s Executive Director
- Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, is only a 14-year old activist
- Tanya Denise Fields of the Black Feminist Project
Black Leaders in the Field of Science and Technology
The role and contributions of African American people in Science and Technology have often been ignored in history. Thankfully, some authors, such as Philip Franklin with his book “The African American Inventor Package,” are trying to change that narrative by highlighting the stories of multiple brilliant Black engineers and technicians. That said, there are still many African American leaders in technology. Some examples include the following.
- Victor J. Glover, Jr., who is the first Black astronaut to work and live at the International Space Station
- Christopher Young, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, and former McAfee CEO
- Jessica O. Matthews, CEO and Founder of Uncharted Power Inc.
Black Leaders in Art
Perhaps we may forget to think about artists when we consider Black leaders who will shape the future. However, artists have a significant role in shaping the way people think about things. Thus, some notable leaders are listed below.
- Amanda Gorman, who is the youngest inaugural poet in the history of the United States
- Jean Michel Basquiat, a renowned artist who includes social commentary in his work
Black Leaders in Politics
The final few Black leaders who will shape the future to consider are politicians. Here are some names.
- Kamala Harris, who is the first Black, first woman, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States
- Raphael Warnock, the first Black Senator of Georgia
Buy the book African American Inventor Package to learn about the unsung black inventors in history.