Rosa Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005)
- Brief biography: African American civil rights activist.
- Key achievement: Refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
- Historical context: Segregation in the American South.
- Impact: Catalyzed the Montgomery Bus Boycott, advancing the Civil Rights Movement.
- Notable quote: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.”
- Legacy: Symbol of resistance against racial segregation.
Charles Darwin (February 12, 1809 – April 19, 1882)
- Brief biography: English naturalist, geologist, and biologist.
- Key achievement: Formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Historical context: Victorian era scientific revolution.
- Impact: Fundamentally changed our understanding of life sciences.
- Notable work: “On the Origin of Species.”
- Legacy: Evolutionary theory remains cornerstone of modern biology.
Toni Morrison (February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019)
- Brief biography: American novelist, essayist, editor, and professor.
- Key achievements: Nobel Prize in Literature, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
- Historical context: Post-Civil Rights era African American literature.
- Impact: Brought African American literature into the mainstream.
- Notable work: “Beloved.”
- Legacy: Influenced generations of writers, expanded the American literary canon.
Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564 – January 8, 1642)
- Brief biography: Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer.
- Key achievements: Improved the telescope, supported heliocentrism.
- Historical context: Scientific Revolution in Europe.
- Impact: Laid foundations for modern physics and astronomy.
- Notable quote: “And yet it moves” (attributed).
- Legacy: Considered the “father of modern science.”
Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003)
- Brief biography: American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist.
- Key achievements: Unique blend of jazz, blues, and classical music.
- Historical context: Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
- Impact: Used music as a powerful tool for social change.
- Notable work: “Mississippi Goddam.”
- Legacy: Continues to inspire musicians and activists worldwide.