

In the 1936 Olympics in Germany, Hitler planned to show the world the superiority of the Ayran race. However, Owens’ achievements don’t stop there. Jesse is a name with Hebrew origins and means ‘God sees.’ African-American athlete, Jesse Owens broke five world records in 1935, making sporting history.

One of Edmonstone’s students was Charles Darwin, so it is likely that Edmonstone’s teaching played a part in Charles Darwin’s ground breaking theory of evolution. Edmonstone was an important scientific researcher, and went on to teach at Edinburgh University. John is an ever-popular name which has Hebrew origins, and means ‘favoured by God.’Īfter being born into slavery, John Edmonstone moved to Scotland when he gained his freedom. Stevie Wonder’s incredible musical career began when he was just 11 years old, and since that time he has sold over 100 million records, and has been awarded 25 Grammy Awards, which is the most won by a solo artist. After being born prematurely, Stevie Wonder developed a condition where his retinas detached, leaving him blind. Stevie, a variation of Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning ‘garland.’ Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Morris, and is one of the most successful musical artists in history. Harold founded the League of Coloured Peoples (LCP), and was instrumental in changing government policies towards black people. After being refused housing and missing out on a job as a doctor because he was black, Moody decided that it was time for change.

Moody was subjected to racism when he arrived in London from Jamaica to study medicine at King’s College London. The name Harold is from the old English meaning ‘ruler of an army.’ Harold Moody was a doctor, preacher, and a lobbyist for social reform. Zephaniah is a vocal supporter of many causes relating to racism, veganism, animal rights, and homophobia. Benjaminīenjamin is a Hebrew name meaning ‘son of sorrow.’ Benjamin Zephaniah is a well-known poet, writer, and actor. His approach to activism was non-violent and focused on civil disobedience, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King’s “I have a dream” speech is one of the most well-known moments in history. Martin Luther King Jr became the voice and face of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Martin is a Latin name derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. During his lifetime, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize, and after his retirement, continued his philanthropic work with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. After being released in 1990, Mandela subsequently became the first black president of South Africa. Nelson is a name of Danish origin meaning ‘Neil’s son.’ Anti-apartheid campaigner, Nelson Mandela was famously imprisoned for 27 years for conspiring to overthrow the state. In 20019, Obama became the first African-American president of the United States and the first American president not to be born in North America. As a student at Harvard University, Obama became the first black person to head the Harvard Law Review. The name Barack has Arabic origins and means ‘blessed.’ Barack Obama has been making history throughout his career. Our favourite baby boy names after incredible black menįrom history-making civil rights campaigners, through to incredible sportsmen, there are plenty of names to choose from right here: Barack If you are trying to decide on a name for your baby boy, why not take some inspiration from some of these incredible black men? Naming your child after an inspirational figure is a great way to choose a name that is significant and meaningful.
