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AfroAmerica Network Most Influential Black Persons as of 2025

Charles Onana, Black Man of Year 2024

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 Most Influential Black Person and AfroAmerica Black Person of the Year, as of 2025

In the table below are the Most Influential Black persons and AfroAmerica Black Persons of the Year, as the year 2025 starts. Each year, AfroAmerica Network names a Black Man and a Black Woman of the Year. The influential Black persons are usually selected for a much longer period. Click on the name/link to explore more.

 

MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK MEN


Barack Obama, President, Law Professor 


Benjamin Lloyd Crump, American Civil Rights Attorney


Cornell Ronald West, Philosopher, Professor, Political and Social Activist, and Actor 


Henry Louis Gates Jr., Professor, Historian, and Filmaker.


Denzel Washington, Entertainer, Businessman


LeBron James, Basketball Player, Activist


Tyler Perry,  Actor, Director, Producer, and Screenwriter


Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr, Entertainer, Businessman


Reverend Al Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist


Christopher Julius Rock aka Chris Rock, American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker.


Wynton Marsalis, Jazz Musician


David Steward, Businessman


Trevor Noah, Comedian, Television host, and Political commentator


David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle, American Comedian and actor


Michael Bakari Jordan, Actor, Director, and Producer


Rothaniel Jerrod Carmichael, Actor, Comedian, Writer, and Filmmaker


Dr. Denis Mukwege, Congolese Medical Doctor, Activist and Religious Leader


Hakeem Sekou Jeffries, American Politician and Attorney


Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, Nigerian Politician and Businessman


Bola Ibrahim Traoré, Burkinabé Military Officer and Politician


Idriss Akuna Elba Obe, English and Sierra Leonean Actor, DJ, Rapper, Singer, and Kick-boxer


AfroAmerica Black Person of the Year
Year Men              Women

2024

 Charles Auguste Onana 

 Jasmine Felicia Crockett

2023

  Jordan Haworth Peele 

 Quinta Brunson

2022

  Rev. Raphael Warnock

 Francia Márquez

2021

   Kémi Séba        

Nikole Hannah Jones

2020

   Evariste Ndayishimiye

Kamala Harris

2019

   Julius Malema.

 Ava DuVernay

2018

   Abiy Ahmed Ali.

 Stacy Yvonne Abrams

2017

   Colin Rand Kaepernick.

 Diane Rwigara

2016

   Nate Parker

 Ieshia Evans

2015

   John Pompe Magufuli.

Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi

2014

   Rasheen Aldridge, Jr.

Marie Bamutese

2013

   Jakaya Kikwete

Tawanda Jones

2012

   Thulani Madondo

Nina Turner

2011

   Herman Cain

Dr. Susan Rice

2010

   Rev DeForest Soaries

Victoire Umuhoza Ingabire

2009

   Roy Foster

Dr. Regina Benjamin

2008

   Barack Hussein Obama

Michelle Obama

2007

   Geoffrey Canada

Patricia June O'Shane

2006

   Jose de Paula Neto

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

2005

   Earvin Magic Johnson                                      

Winnie Byanyima

2004

   Baraka Obama 

Joyce Mujuru 

2003

   Sean "P.Diddy" Combs 

Shoshana Johnson

2002

   Chief Moose 

Safiya Husain

2001

   Robert Mugabe

Condaleezza Rice

MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK WOMEN


Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzanian Politician


Naomi Osaka, Japanese Tennis Player and Activist


Rosalind G. Brewer, aka Roz, Business Woman and Executive


Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, aka Thee Stallion, American rapper


Lauren Keyana Palmer, aka Keke, American actress and singer


Williams Sisters, Tennis/Models


Oprah Winfrey, Businesswoman and Entertainer


Michelle Obama, Attorney, First-Lady


 Lupita Amondi Nyong'o, Actress, Activist, Teacher


Simone Arianne Biles, American Artistic Gymnast and Actvist


Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson, American Jurist


Ava Marie DuVernay, American filmmaker, television producer and film publicist


Yara Shahidi, Actress, Model, Activist


Karine Jean-Pierre, French-American Political Advisor and Journalist


Taraji Penda Henson, Actress and Activist


Angela Evelyn Bassett, Actress and Philantropist


Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett, American Viral Immunologist


Amanda Gorman, American Author, Poet and Activist


Rashida Jones, American Journalist and Company Executive


Tracie D. Hall, American Librarian, Author, Curator, and Activist


Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Tanzanian Lawyer, Leader, and Activist


Tiwatope Omolara Savage, Nigerian Musician, Singer, Songwriter, and Actress


 


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