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Martin Luther King, Jr.
(1929-1968)
Civil Rights Leader
1964 Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.
For
more information, visit this link. Or visit the website for The King Center. |
Mahatma Gandhi
(1869-1948)
Spiritual and political leader for India's independence from Britain
through nonviolent protest.
For more information, visit the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. |
Nelson Mandela
(1918-)
Resisted South African apartheid (imprisoned, 1962-1982); President of South
Africa (1994-1999).
1993 Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
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Aung San Suu Kyi
(1945-)
Nonviolent activist for democracy and human rights in Myanmar (Burma).
Under house arrest since 1990.
1991 Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
Rigoberta Menchú Tum
(1959-)
Human Rights Activist for Rights of Indigenous Peoples
1992
Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
The Dalai Lama
(1935-)
Spiritual Leader of the Tibetan people
1989 Recipient of Nobel Peace
Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
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Abraham Lincoln
(1809- 1865)
16th President of the United States; issued Emancipation Proclamation
in 1863 that declared the freedom of slaves. |
Frederick Douglass
(1818-1895)
Escaped slavery and became prominent activist for abolition of slavery
and for the civil rights of all oppressed people. |
Rosa Parks
(1913-)
Civil rights activist who challenged racial segregation in 1955 by refusing
to give up her seat on a bus for a white man. |
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Susan B. Anthony
(1820-1906)
Social activist who lobbied against slavery and for women's rights.
She is most notably known for her involvement in suffragist movement (women's right to vote).
For more information, visit
this link. |
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
(1815-1902)
Pioneer with Susan Anthony in women's rights movement. For more
information, visit this link. |
Jane Addams
(1860-1935)
Pioneer social worker and feminist.
1931 Recipient of Nobel Peace
Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
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Simone de Beauvoir
(1908-1986)
Philosopher and social essayist.
Her 1959 book, The
Second Sex, had an important impact on 20th Century feminism. |
Betty Friedan
(1921-)
Feminist activist; co-founder of National Organization for Women (NOW). Wrote
influential 1963 book The Feminine Mystique.Visit the NOW website |
Patsy Mink
(1927-2002)
Feminist activist, first Asian-American woman as well as woman of color to be elected
to Congress. A leader in the passage of Title IX and named NOW Woman of Vision in June, 2002. |
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Gloria Steinem
(1934-)
Contemporary feminist activist; founding editor Ms. Magazine.
For
more information, visit the Ms. Magazine website. |
Maya Angelou
(1928-)
Author, civil-rights activist, and feminist. Confronts themes of racism and
classism in her writings and speeches.
For more information, visit this link. |
Marian Wright Edelman
(1939-)
Founder of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), which advocates for
rights of children.
For more information, visit the CDF webpage. |
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Russell Means
(1939-)
Activist for Native American rights; first national director of American
Indian Movement (AIM).
For more information, visit the AIM website. |
Cesar Chavez
(1927-1993)
Farm worker rights organizer; founded United Farm Workers (UFW).
For
more information, visit the UFW website. |
Malcolm X
(1925-1966)
Activist for African American pride and empowerment.
For more information,
visit the official Malcolm X website. |
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Elie Wiesel
(1928-)
Jewish Holocaust survivor and advocate for peace.
1986 Recipient of Nobel
Peace Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
Mother Teresa
(Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu)
(1910-1997)
Devoted life to working among the poorest
of the poor.
1979 Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.
For more information, visit this link. |
Amartya Sen
(1933-)
Economist whose work has helped understand world poverty and famine.
1998
Recipient of Nobel Prize in Economics.
For more information, visit this link. |
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.Ralph Nader
(1934-)
Consumer advocate, environmentalist, critic of corporate abuse; founder of
Public Interest Research Group (PIRG);
For more information, visit this link. Or visit the PIRG website. |
Jesse Jackson
(1941-)
Civil rights activist and religious leader; founder of Operation PUSH (People
United to Save Humanity), now known as the Rainbow/Push Coalition (RPC).
For more information, visit the RPC website |
Noam Chomsky
(1928-)
Equally famous in linguistics and politics. Has been a critic of abuses of
power by government and corporations. Two of his notable books include Manufacturing Consent and Deterring Democracy. |
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Ronald Takaki
(1939-)
Historian who has addressed dilemmas of race and ethnicity in the U.S. Some
of his influential books include Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th Century America; Strangers from a Different Shore:
A History of Asian Americans; and A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. |
Harvey Milk
(1930-1978)
First openly gay man elected to public office in U.S. (San Francisco City
Council, 1977); assassinated in 1978.
For more information, visit this link. |
Audre Lorde
(1934-1992)
Poet; activist for gay and lesbian rights; advocate for celebration of
African American culture.
For more information, visit this link. |
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Eleanor Roosevelt
(1884-1962)
First Lady of the United States (1933-1945); head of U.N. Human Rights
Commission that drafts Declaration of Human Rights (1946-1947); civil rights and human rights activist.
For more information,
visit this link. |
Frances Fox Piven
(1932-)
Political scientist whose work has addressed the role of welfare as a
form of political and economic control over the poor and the working class. Two of her notable books include Regulating
the Poor and Why Americans Don't Vote. |
Howard Zinn
(1922-)
Historian and social justice activist. His most famous book is A People's
History of the United States. Some of his essays are collected in the Zinn Reader: Writings on Disobedience and Democracy.
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John Muir
(1838-1914)
One of the founders of the environmentalist movement; first President of
Sierra Club.
For more information, visit this link. Or visit the Sierra Club website. |
Rachel Carson
(1907-1964)
Exposed how chemicals used in agriculture were polluting the water supply
and ourselves.
For more information, visit this link. |
Julia Butterfly Hill
(1974-)
Environmental activist; founder of Circle of Life Foundation. Wrote
book on social activism, One Makes A Difference: Inspiring Actions That Change a World.
For more information, visit
this link. Or visit the Circle of Life Foundation's website. |
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Wilma Mankiller
(1945-)
The first woman elected as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Advocate
for the Cherokee Nation; established the Cherokee Community Development Department. For more information, visit this link or the National Women's Hall of Fame. |
Bono
(Paul Hewson)
(1960-)
Singer/songwriter and social activist. Has lobbied for Third World
debt relief, human rights, and the environment. |
Naomi Klein
(1970-)
Activist journalist; her award-winning book, No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies,
highlighted the far-reaching impact of global corporations on culture and poverty. For more information, visit the No Logo website. |
