Although Black Americans make up about only 13% of the U.S. population, their contributions and impact in the country and around the world far surpasses their number, and is evident of a long lineage of resilience and excellence, especially over a traumatic slave past. In a U.S. based poll of the most admired people in the world, 25% of the people Americans say they admire the most are Black. The listees – from politics, media, education, and entertainment – are all exemplary and proof of the power of willpower, tenacity, and vision. Check out the list to see if your favorites made the list.