Essence's 50 Most Inspiring African Americans

Beliefs Ethnicity

The remaining 37 were not major public figures like three doctors from Newark or four moms.

Vote Ranking  

1

Oprah Winfrey

TV Personality

61.61% (207 of 336 votes)

2

Will Smith

Vocalist

60.0% (432 of 720 votes)

3

Michael Jordan

Basketball Player

59.69% (114 of 191 votes)

4

Denzel Washington

Actor

58.18% (32 of 55 votes)

5

Colin Powell

U.S. Secretary of State

47.62% (10 of 21 votes)

6

Maya Angelou

Poet

43.75% (21 of 48 votes)

7

Condoleezza Rice

U.S. Secretary of State

42.11% (24 of 57 votes)

8

Thurgood Marshall

U.S. Supreme Court Justice

42.06% (53 of 126 votes)

9

Venus Williams

Tennis Player

40.52% (109 of 269 votes)

10

Halle Berry

Actress

38.73% (110 of 284 votes)

11

Serena Williams

Tennis Player

36.02% (210 of 583 votes)

12

Janet Jackson

Vocalist

32.06% (134 of 418 votes)

13

Muhammad Ali

Boxer

31.93% (53 of 166 votes)

14

Vonetta Flowers

Athlete

0% (0 of 1 votes)