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Men of Change

Men of Change

From Carter G. Woodson to Ryan Coogler, MEN OF CHANGE transform professions, fight for justice, revolutionize art, and touch millions of lives. These men represent many more men – and the communities that shape them.

They've made their mark in politics, sports, science, entertainment, business, religion, and more. All have made themselves heard by owning who they are on every step of their journey.

Here are the MEN OF CHANGE.

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Storytellers

Myth-Breakers

Fathering

Community

Imagining

Catalysts

Bob Moses,

Bob Moses, 1964. Photo by Mark Levy. In the collection of Queens College.

Bob Moses

Michael Seibel,

[Michael Seibel (headshot)], date unknown. Martin Klimek. Image Courtesy of Michael Seibel.

Michael Seibel

Muhammad Ali/Cleveland Summit,

Muhammad Ali and Family, 1978. Ron Harvey. Mirrorpix/Courtesy of Everett Collection/Ron Harvey.

Muhammad Ali/Cleveland Summit

Charles Hamilton Houston,

Dr. Charles Houston, 1931. Addison N. Scurlock. Scurlock Studio Records. Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Charles Hamilton Houston

Dr. Rob Gore,

[Dr. Rob Gore], date unknown. Image Courtesy of Dr. Rob Gore.

Dr. Rob Gore

LeBron James,

LeBron James, 2017. Liam MacRae.

LeBron James

Andrew Young,

[Andrew Young], 1968. Roland L. Freeman. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture © Roland L. Freeman.

Andrew Young

Robert F. Smith,

[Robert Smith], 2017. Leah L. Jones. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Robert F. Smith

Bayard Rustin,

Bayard Rustin, 1963. Orlando Fernandez. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, NYWT&S Collection, LC-DIG-ppmsca-35538.

Bayard Rustin

Duke Ellington/John Coltrane/Miles Davis/Louis Armstrong,

[Duke Ellington composing at the piano], 1928. Valentino Sarra, Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Duke Ellington/John Coltrane/Miles Davis/Louis Armstrong

James Baldwin,

James Baldwin, Istanbul 1964 1964. Sedat Pakay. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, © Sedat Pakay 1964.

James Baldwin

Romare Bearden,

Romare Bearden, date unknown. Frank Stewart. Copyright Frank Stewart.

Romare Bearden

Charles Bolden,

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Pauses for a Moment after Watching Orion Splashdown, 2014. Bill Ingalls. NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Charles Bolden

Kendrick Lamar,

[Kendrick Lamar], 2018. Andrew Lih. Courtesy of Fuzheado/Andrew Lih.

Kendrick Lamar

Ryan Coogler,

[Ryan Coogler and Danai Gurira on the set of the film Black Panther], 2017. Matt Kennedy. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company, © Marvel/Matt Kennedy.

Ryan Coogler

Shaka Senghor,

[Shaka Senghor], 2016. Shawn Lee of SHAWN LEE STUDIOS.

Shaka Senghor

Ta-Nehisi Coates,

[Ta-Nehisi Coates], date unknown. Gabriella Demczuk. Photo: © Gabriella Demczuk.

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Alvin Ailey,

Alvin Ailey at Jacob's Pillow, date unknown. John Lindquist. © Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Alvin Ailey

August Wilson,

August Wilson, 2004. Photo by David Cooper.

August Wilson

Carter G. Woodson,

[Dr. Carter G. Woodson—educator/historian & publisher/late 40’s], 1948. Robert S. Scurlock. Scurlock Studio Records. Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Carter G. Woodson

Dick Gregory,

Dick Gregory - 1968 Rally, NYC, 1968. Anthony Barboza. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, © Anthony Barboza.

Dick Gregory

John H. Johnson,

John H. Johnson, date unknown. David Jackson. Johnson Publishing Company Archive, Courtesy Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution.

John H. Johnson

W.E.B. Du Bois,

W.E.B. DuBois, [from the portfolio 'O, Write My Name': American Portraits, Harlem Heroes], 1936. Carl Van Vechten. ©Van Vechten Trust; Compilation/Publication © Eakins Press Foundation, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Kehinde Wiley,

Photograph by Chad Batka

Kehinde Wiley