People Who Inspire Me
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a pioneering African American mathematician whose calculations were vital to NASA’s space missions, including John Glenn’s orbital flight. She overcame racial and gender barriers to become a key figure in the early space program and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was a civil rights leader who advocated for nonviolent protest to end racial segregation and injustice in the U.S. He led key movements like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was assassinated in 1968, leaving a lasting legacy for equality and social change.
Malcolm X
Malcolm X (1925–1965) was a key African American civil rights leader. After a troubled youth and time in prison, he joined the Nation of Islam, advocating for Black empowerment and racial separatism. His views evolved after a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he embraced a more inclusive approach to racial equality. Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 but remains a symbol of resistance against racism and oppression.
