Person of Year

Monday, January 16, 2023 is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  were held in the Unites States, nationwide. This year, unlike in 2021 and 2022 hit by worldwide COVID-19 pandemic,  people interractions were allowed. The day has been marked by  commemorations including events,  marches, speeches, and peaceful protests to remember and celebrate the national civil rights leader who was instrumental in challenging the racial caste system that delineated how millions of Americans lived their lives and promoted racial injustices targeting minorities, especially Blacks.  

 Most Influential Black Person and AfroAmerica Black Person of the Year, as of 2023

In the table below are the Most Influential Black persons and AfroAmerica Black Persons of the Year, as the year 2023 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...

Francia Márquez, a Black woman from Colombia, South Amerrica has marked history in 2022.  On Sunday 19, 2022, Francia Márquez, a vice presidential candidate and running mate of Gustavo Petro became the First Black in Colombia to be elected Vice-President. Her win marked a major step towards racial equality.

  Reverend Raphael Warnock, 52, is a member of the US Senate from Georgia. He recently made history, twice, when he was elected to the US Senate in highly contested elections iin 2020 and 2022.  Known for his leadership as pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, he ran for US Senate and managed to help change  the political landscape of the State of Georgia and to embark on life-changing, ambitious initiatives. 

Monday, January 17, 2022 is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  are held in the Unites States, nationwide. This year, like in 2021, will have limited people interractions given the on-going worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. In normal times, the day  would usually be marked by massive commemorations including marches and peaceful protests to remember and celebrate the national civil rights leader who was instrumental in challenging the racial caste system that delineated how millions of Americans lived their lives and promoted racial injustices targeting minorities, especially Blacks.  

 Most Influential Black Person and AfroAmerica Black Person of the Year, as of 2022

In the table below are the Most Influential Black persons and AfroAmerica Black Persons of the Year, as the year 2022 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...

Nikole Hannah-Jones, an African-American renowned journalist and HBCU Howard University professor, is a Pulitzer Prize winner. As a reporter for The New York Times Magazine and the creator of the 1619 Project, she covered racial injustice.

 Kémi Séba, aka Capo Chichi, is a Pan-Africanist political leader, known for his opposition to and criticism of French neocolonialism, the Communauté Financière Africaine or African Financial Community (CFA) in Africa, and dictators ruling some of the African countries, most of them being once French colonies.. 

Monday, January 18, 2021 is  Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  are held in the Unites States nationwide. The day is usually marked by massive commemorations including march protests to remember and celebrate the national civil rights leader who was instrumental in challenging the racial caste system that delineated how millions of Americans lived their lives and promoted racial injustices targeting minorities, especially Blacks.  This  year is unique:  Rev Martin Luther King Jr.'s  the birthday falls in a period of major political changes, including transition to a new presidency, and racial tensions in the United States and in the middle of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Kamala Harris, the US Vice-President elect, is currently California Senator and served as former district attorney and California State Attorney General. She is the first Black woman to be on a U.S. presidential ticket, hence will be the first Black Woman to be US Vice-president.

 General Evariste Ndayishimiye is one of the freedom fighters who liberated Burundians from years of oppression. He is the current President of  Burundi.  Democratically elected on May 20, 2020, he was initially due to take office on August 20, 2020 at the end of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza' s  term. The sudden death of the latter on June 8, 2020 at the age of 55 after 15 years in power changed the situation. General Evariste Ndayishimiye, was sworn in on Thursday June 18, 2020, becoming the 10th President to rule the country, but only the second to be democratically elected.