Unfortunately, some of the coolest people in American history are the ones that we’ve forgotten, even though they’ve had a huge impact on the country we know today. Forget Martin Luther King Jr. and Thomas Edison—-countless others did groundbreaking stuff but never got their due credit. Let’s look at ten of these unsung heroes. You might not know their names now but after this, you’ll wonder why they aren’t more famous.
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The Teen Who Said No First
Nine months before Rosa Parks became a household name for keeping her seat on a Montgomery bus, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin did the same thing. She was also arrested for it. It was March 1955 and her decision was one of the most important events in the civil rights fight. So why don’t we hear about Claudette? Mostly because she was a single mother. Leaders back then preferred to put Rosa under the spotlight instead.
Journalist Who Fought Lynching
Ida B. Wells was a journalist who wasn’t afraid to write about the real horrors of lynching in America. During the late 1800s, she exposed the brutality that African Americans faced at the time. This fearless reporting helped to start the anti-lynching movement, although it’s a mystery why we don’t mention her name more.
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The Man Behind the March
You know the famous 1963 March on Washington? Bayard Rustin organized the whole thing and was an important advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But being openly gay, Rustin often had to stay behind the scenes. It’s a shame because more people should know who he was as he helped with one of the most important days in civil rights history.
The Navy’s Computer Whiz
Grace Hopper, a Rear Admiral in the US Navy, was a genius with some of the first computers. She created the first software compiler, which helps translate computer languages so machines and humans can understand each other better. Essentially, Hopper made computers easier for everyone to use. Yet not everyone knows her name.
Stood Up to Internment
During World War II, Fred Korematsu fought against American internment camps for Japanese Americans. Korematsu took his fight all the way to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, it didn’t go his way. Still, his bravery in standing up for civil rights is truly admirable and his story deserves much more recognition.
The Strategist for Women’s Votes
Alice Paul fought hard to get women the right to vote in America and led the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Parade. She even started the National Woman’s Party! Paul wanted people to hear women’s voices loud & clear. Even though she played a huge part in getting women’s voting rights, not enough people know her story.
Cyclist Who Broke Color Barriers
Being the world’s fastest cyclist is always difficult but imagine doing it at a time when racial segregation was the norm. That was Major Taylor in 1899. He managed to set a precedent for African American athletes everywhere and that talent knows no color. However, his speed and groundbreaking story weren’t enough—most people don’t know his name.
Doctor Who Saved Millions
Charles Drew was a doctor who completely changed the way we store blood. He created the first large-scale blood bank during World War II and his work has saved millions of lives since then. Sadly, not everyone knows his name or how he made transfusions safe & accessible for everybody.
Champion for Native Rights
In 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in America was passed and it was all thanks to Elizabeth Peratrovich’s work. A Tlingit woman, Peratrovich gave a passionate testimony about the injustice Native Americans faced. Essentially, Peratrovich fought for equality way before it was a national conversation. She was a real pioneer.
The Woman Behind the New Deal
The first woman to hold a cabinet position in the US sounds like quite an important role—and it was. Frances Perkins served as Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was the brains behind the New Deal programs, like Social Security, that helped pull America out of the Great Depression. Our nation wouldn’t be the same without her.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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