* Frederick Douglass: Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick Douglass escaped to freedom in 1838. He became a prominent abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Douglass's autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave", is considered a classic of American literature.
* Sojourner Truth: Born into slavery in New York, Sojourner Truth escaped to freedom in 1826. She became a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth's speech, "Ain't I a Woman?", delivered at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, is considered a powerful indictment of racism and sexism.
* W.E.B. Du Bois: Born in Massachusetts in 1868, W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He was a prominent sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and Pan-Africanist. Du Bois's book, "The Souls of Black Folk", is considered a seminal work in African-American literature.
* Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Georgia in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent civil rights activist. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-56, and he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. King was assassinated in 1968.
