Find over 600 famous and influential Black scholars in 20 academic disciplines. In this series, we feature Black academics and professionals who have impacted their fields of study and have become the most searched and cited Black scholars today.
We have identified over 600 Black scholars who are highly cited and searched people using our machine-powered Influence Ranking algorithm, which produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data.
Influence is dynamic, therefore some of the people listed are contemporary scholars while others may be more historical figures. In either case, according to our AI, these are the most influential Black scholars in their given fields over the past 30 years.
Find out more about our Methodology.
Cornel West currently holds the title of Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard Divinity School. Prior to this, he has held positions at Princeton University (where he maintains the title of Professor Emeritus), Union Theological Seminary, Yale University, and the University of Paris. West earned his bachelor’s degree at Harvard University in 1973, and completed his PhD at Princeton University in 1980, making him the first African-American to earn a PhD in philosophy from Princeton.
West is well recognized as a social critic on racial and political issues, as well as a public intellectual. Indeed, his influence can be traced as much (or more) to his public activism and visibility as it can his academic work. West is often cited in mainstream media, and frequently makes public, television, radio, and print appearances. West is known as a strong voice of left-wing politics and social justice in America, though he has also frequently been critical of prominent left-wing politicians, including Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. Also notable is the fact that West has established a public presence removed from politics and philosophy entirely, including cameos in films from The Matrix franchise, as well as a spoken word and hip hop albums.
Neil deGrasse Tyson was born in New York City in 1958. He attended Harvard University where he earned a BA degree in physics and then received a Master's degree in astronomy from University of Texas at Austin. In 1988, he enrolled at Columbia where he completed MPhil and PhD degrees in astrophysics. Best known as a public spokesperson for science, Tyson is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City. He has been a researcher at Princeton University and after joining the Hayden Planetarium he became its director and oversaw the massive reconstruction project of the Planetarium completed in 2000.
Tyson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physics at Harvard University and his MA in Astronomy from The University of Texas at Austin. Tyson received a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Columbia University, where with his advisor R. Michael Rich he obtained funding from NASA and the ARCS Foundation to attend international conferences and make use of expensive equipment such as observatories, where in Chile he obtained important images of a supernova which advanced research in Chile and around the world.
Considered the best of the sciences and humanities, modern anthropology necessitates an interdisciplinary approach. Among our list of influential Black anthropologists today, you will find famous anthropologists exploring complex problems with innovative solutions. These scholars are teachers, mentors, and practitioners whose works have advanced the field and help prepare the next generation of anthropologists.
Our list of influential Black biologists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of biology include ecologists, biomedical engineers, educators, immunologists, and scientists. They are doing groundbreaking work and advancing the field, helping to prepare the next generation of biologists.
Our list of influential Black chemists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of chemistry include chemical engineers, biochemists, pharmacists, nuclear chemists, researchers, educators, and more. These innovators are doing groundbreaking work and advancing the field in areas like nanotechnology, molecular chemistry, and medicine, helping to prepare the next generation of chemists.
Our list of influential Black communications professionals and professors is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of communications include journalists, writers, editors, broadcasters, educators, and more. These leaders in the field are paving the way for the next generation of communications professionals.
Learn about more influential Black communications professors and professionals today
Our list of influential Black computer scientists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of computer science include educators, computer scientists, rock scientists, computer engineers, and more. These innovators are doing groundbreaking work and advancing the field in areas like biotechnology, healthcare, and aeronautics, helping to prepare the next generation of computer scientists.
Learn about more influential Black computer scientists today
Our list of influential Black Earth scientists is composed of leaders in the field who are paving the way for the next generation of Earth scientists. They are doing groundbreaking work in areas like hydrology, geochemistry, oceanography, education, and meteorology.
Our list of influential Black economists is composed of leaders in the field who are paving the way for future economists. They are doing groundbreaking work in areas such as government, business, education, and public policy.
Our list of influential Black educators is composed of leaders in the field who are paving the way for future educators. These scholars are doing groundbreaking work to remove educational disparities and increase awareness in areas such as Black feminism. Among this group of influencers are educators, writers, poets, activists, and politicians.
Our list of influential Black engineers is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of engineering include biomedical, aerospace, civil, environmental, mechanical, and electrical engineers, among others. They are doing groundbreaking work and advancing the field, helping to pave the way for the next generation of engineers.
Our list of influential Black historians is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of history are conducting research in areas like political theory, comparative history, social movements, the African Diaspora, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of historians.
Our list of influential Black lawyers and legal scholars are leaders in creating, teaching, and interpreting the laws that benefit each of us. These prominent scholars are judges, jurists, attorneys, politicians, law professors, and Supreme Court justices. They are paving the way for the next generation of experts in the law.
Learn about more influential Black lawyers and legal scholars today
Our list of influential Black literary scholars are giants in their field. These prominent scholars are educators, literary critics, writers, poets, and linguists. They are paving the way for the next generation of literary scholars.
Our list of influential Black mathematicians is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of mathematics are paving the way for the next generation of mathematicians, working in areas such as robotics, academia, national security, astronomy, and more.
Our list of influential Black medical practitioners is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of medicine are conducting research and treating patients in areas like family medicine, oncology, epidemiology, opthalmology, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of medical practitioners.
Learn about more influential Black medical practitioners today
Our list of influential Black nurses exemplifies the breadth of disciples and practice found in nursing. These leaders are military personnel, educators, public health specialists, activists, and organizational leaders. Their example is inspiring the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals.
Our list of influential Black philosophers are giants in the field of philosophy. These leaders are known both for their academic work and their activism. They are paving the way for the next generation of philosophers.
Our list of influential Black physicists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of physics are conducting research in areas like nuclear research, medicine, astronomy, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of physicists.
Our list of influential Black political scientists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of political science write about and research topics such as urban politics, social justice, marginalized groups, poverty, and more. These innovators are paving the way for the next generation of political scientists.
Learn about more influential Black political scientists today
Our list of influential Black psychologists is as diverse as the field of study. These leaders in the field of psychology write about and research topics such as Black juveniles, crime, racial diversity, social inequality, and more. These innovators are paving the way for the next generation of psychologists.
Our list of influential Black religious studies scholars is comprised of leaders in the field who are developing ideas in areas such as activism, political theology, poverty, racial reconciliation, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of religious studies scholars.
Learn about more influential Black religious studies scholars today
Our list of influential Black social workers leads the field in research and practice in areas like mental health, gender inequality, domestic violence, substance abuse, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of social workers.
Our list of influential Black sociologists leads the field in research and advocating in areas such as race and technology, women’s studies, social policy, inequality, and more. They are paving the way for the next generation of sociologists.
Want more? Use our Influential People and Influential Schools tools to research the fields of study that interest you, in the time frame of your choice.
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