As Black History Month ends, it is essential to appreciate the Black history that defined generations and to celebrate the trailblazers who paved the way for past and present sports players.   

This list will consist of athletes who changed the game in their respective sports and were difference-makers in their communities. Here are the rest of the most influential African American Athletes of all time, starting at No. 5. 

5.)  

Jesse Owens, sprinter/long-jumper 

Owens, one of the greatest Olympic sprinters in U.S. history, was the youngest of 10 children and had one of the most historic performances in Olympic history. In the 1936 Olympics, Owens received four gold medals, ran the 100-meter in 10.3 seconds, and set an Olympic record in the 200-meter run in 20.7 seconds. He also won the long jump, where he leaped over 26.4 feet, and the four-by-100-meter race, in which the U.S. ran 39.8 seconds. 

 In 1976, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and served on the Illinois State Athletic Commission before passing away in 1982.  

 Another notable fact is that the man who placed second in 1936 in the 200 meters was Mark Robinson, the older brother of the following entry on this list, Jackie Robinson.  

4.) 

 Jackie Robinson, Baseball player 

Born less than 90 minutes from Valdosta in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson has a special place in the history of professional sports. His breaking of the color barrier in 1947, when he became the first Black player in MLB history, is more than enough to make it on this list. 

 His perseverance toward non-supporters turned him into an icon. His work with the NAACP and his scholarship foundation have left a significant impact beyond what he did in the field. Robinson was the first African American man inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, and in 1972, he passed away at 53.  

In 1997, his jersey was retired among all MLB teams. Each year, on April 15, it was declared Jackie Robinson Day, and every player would wear number 42 in his honor through the MLB for that day. Jackie Robinson inspired all athletes in many ways, and without his bravery and courage, the sports world as we know it would look drastically different.  

3.)Bill Russell, Basketball player 

The late great Russell set the standard for what it means to be an NBA champion. Not only did he win an astonishing 11 NBA Championships in his 13-year career, all with the Boston Celtics, but he was not only the first-ever Black head coach in NBA history while also still being an active player but the first-ever Black Head Coach out of the four major sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL.

 Russell holds the record for the most finals MVPs in NBA history and would later have the award named after him. As a head coach, Russell won over 300 games. He was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1978 and as a coach in 2021. Russell died in 2022 at the age of 88.  

 He is a trailblazer. He was one of the first generation of Black athletes to speak against injustices and leave a remarkable legacy that will never be forgotten. 

2.) 

Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Basketball player 

Before there was Michael Jordan, Kobe Byrant, Lebron James, or Stephen Curry, there was a standard man for the NBA. Born as Lew Alcinder, Jabbar dominated the NBA and, up until 2022, was the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored. He also held the most all-star selections ever. 

 He mastered the most unstoppable move in basketball history, “The Sky-Hook.” Before he could begin his dominant run during his college days at UCLA, the NCAA banned players from dunking in a game in response to the move’s creation. At UCLA, he only lost two games in four seasons for the Bruins and won four national championships. 

 Jabbar changed his name at 19 when he converted to the Nation of Islam and is now known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar. In his 21-year career, he won five NBA championships, playing for two teams: the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers.  

After his playing days, he became a renowned speaker and philanthropist and was one of the other first-generation Black social activists. Jabbar continues to be a consistent professional, one of the most respected players in NBA history, and one of the greatest athletes ever. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1996 and was named to the 50th and 75th NBA anniversary teams.  

 1.) 

Muhammad Ali, Boxer 

Undoubtedly the greatest boxer of all time, he is also the most cherished and possibly outstanding athlete ever. He was part of the first generation of Black social activists in the 1960s. Born Cassius Clay, he dominated his opponents with 55 wins and only six losses in his career.  

After joining the Nation of Islam, Clay denounced his name and initially changed it to Cassius X before changing it to Muhammad Ali in 1964. Ali won nine WBC world heavyweight championships; however, in 1967, he was drafted into the Vietnam War. He refused, was stripped of his championship, and banned from boxing in the United States for three years. 

 In response, many athletes came to his defense, such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and civil rights activist Malcolm X. After the ban was lifted, Ali returned to the ring to recapture his WBC championship in 1974 after defeating George Foreman. He was revered as a global activist during the civil rights movement and was a cherished hero until he died in 2016. 

 His use of poetry, such as “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” is one of the most famous quotes in sports. His quick response and fighting made him an icon and one of the most influential Black athletes of all time.