Honoring Bold African American Leaders for Black History Month

Black History Month was officially recognized by former President Gerald Ford in 1976. He called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

This year, the African American Employee Resource Group, or AAERG, reached out to NASA Johnson Space Center’s community to highlight bold African American Leaders — and today, we celebrate and pay homage to these trailblazers with our Little Leaders. While there are many bold leaders who deserve praise and recognition for shaping today’s world and the future, here we highlight a few of our personal heroes who have been pivotal in crafting new avenues toward environmental restoration and social justice.

Clockwise from top left: Katherine Johnson, Dr. Mae Jemison, Sharon McDougle, and Leland Melvin. 

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Bobby Satcher, Katherine Dunham, Bessie Coleman, and Cornelius Coffey.

Clockwise from top left: Yara Shahidi, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Victor Glover.

Clockwise from top left: Jerry Lawson, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Ruby Bridges, and Mark Dean.

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman, Dr. Moogega Cooper, Billie Holiday, and Arthur Wharton.

Clockwise from top left: Kobie Boykins, Tyra Banks, and Vanessa Wyche.