Here are 10 influential leaders who are dedicated to protecting and promoting civil rights.
As Black History Month begins and a potential Civil Rights Movement 2.0 looms, it's time to honor modern-day Black heroes.
February 1st 2025.
February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and honor the contributions of Black Americans throughout history. This year, as the country continues to grapple with issues of racial injustice and inequality, it is especially important to celebrate the contemporary heroes who are leading the charge for change. These 10 leaders are dedicated to protecting Black lives and fighting for civil rights, and their work is more vital than ever.
One of these leaders is Al Sharpton, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who has been involved in the civil rights movement for over 60 years. Sharpton gained recognition for his response to injustice in the streets of New York City and has led many demonstrations, including a march through Queens following a brutal attack on three Black men by a white mob. Another notable figure is Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney from Lumberton, North Carolina, who is known for representing the families of victims of police brutality and wrongful death. Crump gained national attention after his involvement in the Trayvon Martin case and is currently representing Black families impacted by recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a St. Louis native, has been actively involved in the fight for racial justice since she joined protests against the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson. She co-founded the organization Campaign Zero and was chosen to serve on former President Obama's task force for policing. Bryan Stevenson, from Milton, Delaware, began his work in civil rights at Harvard University and is most known for founding the Equal Justice Initiative. He is a fierce advocate for prison reform and has created several powerful memorials and monuments to honor the victims of racial injustice.
Derrick Johnson, born in Detroit, Michigan, is the president and CEO of the NAACP. He has been on the frontlines of the organization's fight for civil rights and has written extensively about the connection between COVID-19 and the Black community. Sherilynn Ifill, a Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights at Howard Law School, has a long history of advocacy and leadership in the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She has been named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2021 and is known for her visionary approach to civil rights.
Kristen Clarke, a Jamaican-born Brooklynite, has dedicated her legal career to fighting for civil rights. She has worked with the Department of Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and was recently called to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. LaTosha Brown, born in Selma, Alabama, is committed to protecting voter rights, particularly in the South. She founded the Black Voters Matter Fund in 2016 and continues to work towards empowering Black communities through civic engagement.
Lee Merritt, from Los Angeles, California, has made a name for himself as a civil rights attorney, taking on high-profile cases of police brutality such as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Marc Morial, a New Orleans native, served as the city's youngest mayor and is currently the president and CEO of the National Urban League. Melanie Campbell, from Mims, Florida, has been a civil rights activist since her youth and has made significant contributions to voter outreach and mentorship programs for Black youth.
Michelle Alexander, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a renowned advocate, author, and attorney who has been a leader in the fight against racial profiling and police brutality. She is best known for her book, The New Jim Crow, which examines the systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Tamika D. Mallory, a Harlem, New York native, has been actively involved in the National Action Network and is known for rallying younger activists around civic engagement and civil rights. She helped organize the historic Women's March on Washington in 2017 and has a memoir coming out in February.
Finally, Tarana Burke, a Bronx-born activist, has been working towards social justice for over 30 years. She has been a leader in the fight against police brutality and housing discrimination, but is most known for her work in the Me Too movement, advocating for survivors of sexual violence and gender-based discrimination. As we enter Black History Month and continue to face the challenges of the Civil Rights Movement 2.0, let us celebrate and honor these contemporary heroes who are dedicated to protecting Black lives and fighting for civil rights.
One of these leaders is Al Sharpton, a native of Brooklyn, New York, who has been involved in the civil rights movement for over 60 years. Sharpton gained recognition for his response to injustice in the streets of New York City and has led many demonstrations, including a march through Queens following a brutal attack on three Black men by a white mob. Another notable figure is Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney from Lumberton, North Carolina, who is known for representing the families of victims of police brutality and wrongful death. Crump gained national attention after his involvement in the Trayvon Martin case and is currently representing Black families impacted by recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham, a St. Louis native, has been actively involved in the fight for racial justice since she joined protests against the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson. She co-founded the organization Campaign Zero and was chosen to serve on former President Obama's task force for policing. Bryan Stevenson, from Milton, Delaware, began his work in civil rights at Harvard University and is most known for founding the Equal Justice Initiative. He is a fierce advocate for prison reform and has created several powerful memorials and monuments to honor the victims of racial injustice.
Derrick Johnson, born in Detroit, Michigan, is the president and CEO of the NAACP. He has been on the frontlines of the organization's fight for civil rights and has written extensively about the connection between COVID-19 and the Black community. Sherilynn Ifill, a Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights at Howard Law School, has a long history of advocacy and leadership in the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She has been named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2021 and is known for her visionary approach to civil rights.
Kristen Clarke, a Jamaican-born Brooklynite, has dedicated her legal career to fighting for civil rights. She has worked with the Department of Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and was recently called to serve as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. LaTosha Brown, born in Selma, Alabama, is committed to protecting voter rights, particularly in the South. She founded the Black Voters Matter Fund in 2016 and continues to work towards empowering Black communities through civic engagement.
Lee Merritt, from Los Angeles, California, has made a name for himself as a civil rights attorney, taking on high-profile cases of police brutality such as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Marc Morial, a New Orleans native, served as the city's youngest mayor and is currently the president and CEO of the National Urban League. Melanie Campbell, from Mims, Florida, has been a civil rights activist since her youth and has made significant contributions to voter outreach and mentorship programs for Black youth.
Michelle Alexander, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a renowned advocate, author, and attorney who has been a leader in the fight against racial profiling and police brutality. She is best known for her book, The New Jim Crow, which examines the systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Tamika D. Mallory, a Harlem, New York native, has been actively involved in the National Action Network and is known for rallying younger activists around civic engagement and civil rights. She helped organize the historic Women's March on Washington in 2017 and has a memoir coming out in February.
Finally, Tarana Burke, a Bronx-born activist, has been working towards social justice for over 30 years. She has been a leader in the fight against police brutality and housing discrimination, but is most known for her work in the Me Too movement, advocating for survivors of sexual violence and gender-based discrimination. As we enter Black History Month and continue to face the challenges of the Civil Rights Movement 2.0, let us celebrate and honor these contemporary heroes who are dedicated to protecting Black lives and fighting for civil rights.
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