Slideshow: Black Americans who fought for our independence

Olaudah Equiano
Equiano playing a huge part in abolitionism of slavery. Born in what is now known as a Nigeria, Equiano was kidnapped and brought into slavery. As a freedman, he wrote about the horrors of the slavery.

(File Photo)

Nat Turner
Turner led the slave rebellion of 1831 – killing more than 50 white people while freeing slaves, but which, led to more than 50 slave executions. Turner was captured and executed on Nov. 11, 1831.

(Library of Congress)

Harriet Tubman
Tubman led in helping slaves escape using the Underground Railroad. A runaway slave herself, Tubman brought her family and more than 300 slaves to freedom.

(File Photo)

Sojourner Truth
Born Isabella Baumfree, self-named Sojourner Truth escaped from slavery in the 1820s. She was the first black woman to win a case against a white man to get back her son. This abolitionist was a traveling preacher, wrote about racial inequality and helped black troops in the Civil War.

(Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

Frederick Douglass
Born a slave, he learned how to read as a child. Douglass wrote the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave", which gained attention for abolition. He used his intellect and writings to fight against slavery until it was abolished.

(Getty Images)

W.E.B. Du Bois
Opposed to Booker T. Washington’s views on African-American progression, he created the Niagara Movement. Du Bois wanted more political representation for blacks civil rights. He also headed NAACP in 1910.

(AP Photo)

Booker T. Washington
Opposed to W.E.B. Du Bois’ views on African-American progression, Washington believed through education, industrial skills and patience could help the black community gain social-economic status.

(AP Photo)

Marcus Garvey
Garvey created the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1912 – dedicating it to helping African Americans relocated to Africa -- also known as the Back-to-Africa Movement.

(AP Photo)

Thurgood Marshall
Later a judge, Marshall was a lawyer who won the Supreme Court case, Brown vs. the Board of Education – against separation in schools of black and white students.

(AP Photo)

Martin Luther King, Jr.
He had a dream, one where all people had equal rights. King Jr. popularized non-violent protesting and is arguably the most popular civil rights leader, due to his non-violent approach and inspirational speeches.

(AP Photo)

Coretta Scott King
Active in the Civil Rights Movement before, she kept the dream alive after her husband's assassination -- by continuing on advocating civil rights. She was also active in the Women's Movement.

(Photo by Allison Silberberg/Getty Images)

Malcolm X
Opposite of Martin Luther King Jr., was an activist who advocated black civil rights separation from whites. He was also a member of the Nation of Islam and the founder of the Organization of Afro-American Unity.

(AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler)

Rosa Parks
Parks helped the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery in 1955. Parks refusal to give up her seat also sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

(AP Photo)

Bayard Rustin
Rustin counseled Martin Luther King Jr. on nonviolent strategies during the Civil Rights Movement. His effectiveness as a civil rights leader was questioned because of his sexuality.

(Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Medgar Evers
Evers helped with desegregation efforts at the University of Mississippi. He filed suit against the the university for denying his admission. NAACP took interest -- making him secretary -- before being assassinated in his driveway.

(PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer)

Fannie Lou Hamer
Hamer helped organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to help African Americans vote in 1964.She also became the vice chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

(File Photo)

A. Phillip Randolph
Randolph founded the March on Washington Movement -- to desegregate the Armed Forces and provide better working opportunities for African Americans. He also founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters -- labor organizing for African Americans.

(AP Photo)

Stokely Carmichael
Carmichael led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He also popularized the phrase, "Black Power". After leaving the SNCC, he was associated with the Black Panther Party.

(STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Huey P. Newton
With his fist held high, Newton co-founded the Black Panther Party with Bobby Seale in 1966 -- a left wing organization focused on the defense and the rights of African Americans. He was shot and killed in 1989.

(Photo by David Fenton/Getty Images)

Angela Davis
She has ran into trouble with belonging to the Communist Party and the Black Panther Party. However, Davis was a political activist advocating human rights since the Civil Rights Movement until now.

(AP Photo/stf)