Whether they are civil rights activists, singers, actors, dancers, or rappers, we must recognize the Black legends who made significant impacts in such a short amount of time.
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These are the Black icons who died too young.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Considered one of the leaders of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on the world is legendary. King was a man who fought for integration, labor rights, and the right to vote. Unfortunately, he was assassinated at the young of 39.
Malcolm X
In many ways, Malcolm X had some of the same goals as MLK. He just had a different method. A Mulsim minister based in Harlem, N.Y., he was a spokesman for Black empowerment and defending Black people against acts of hate. He was also assassinated at the age of 39.
Fred Hampton
What this man did in his 21 years of life is incredible. Fred Hampton was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party in Chicago and founded the Rainbow Coalition, an organization to work for social change.
Otis Redding
One of the most iconic singers of the 20th century. Otis Redding made some incredible songs during his time as a soul singer. In 1967, he died in a plane crash. He was only 27.
Jimi Hendrix
If you talk to any guitarists about who their biggest inspirations are, there is a good chance they say, Jimi Hendrix. Although he died at 27, he’s considered one of the biggest contributors to modern-day Rock.
Marvin Gaye
Who had a more soothing voice than Marvin Gaye? The man just knew how to make people feel good with his voice. By the time he was murdered, he had already put out several great albums, but there are still many more he could’ve created.
Sam Cooke
You have to be a special singer to be considered the “King of Soul” after just 33 years of living. Cooke is one of the most impactful R&B singers ever who released numerous songs that continued to be played in households across the country.
2Pac
Incredibly, Pac left such a large mark in the genre even though he died at the young age of 25. He released so many albums and songs that continue to inspire artists across genres today.
Notorious B.I.G.
Unlike Pac, Biggie was not able to release as much music during his career. But still, you could argue his career was just as impactful, as he is considered one of the greatest MCs of all time.
Aaliyah
The popstar who never was. Aaliyah had the talent and ability to become one of the biggest artists in the world. Even though she released some beloved music, she had so much more to give. Unfortunately, she died in a tragic plane crash.
Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle was just becoming a national figure before he died at 33. He was a Los Angeles legend for a long time due to his work in the community and his savvy business moves. He became a national figure after the release of his debut album, Victory Lap.
Whitney Houston
Can you think of any singer who had a better voice than Whitney Houston? You probably can’t. The pop star was a worldwide sensation and one of the best-selling artists during her career. She died at 48.
Left Eye
Left Eye was a talented MC known for her work with the R&B group TLC. Although she never put out any albums as a solo artist, she did release some successful singles. Unfortunately, we never got to see how her career would’ve played out if she never died in a car accident at the age of 30.
Eazy E
He was known as the Godfather of Gangsta Rap. There’s an argument that west-coast hip-hop would not be as popular as it was during the 1990s if it wasn’t for Eazy E, who founded NWA. He died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with AIDS.
Minnie Riperton
A Chicago legend, Minnie Ripperton was another icon that should’ve been able to be appreciated by another generation of music fans. Incredibly, she still left a huge mark on the industry because of her breathtaking voice.
Bob Marley
Everyone will be talking about the legacy of Bob Marley in the coming weeks due to the release of the movie about his life, “One Love.” The Jamaican singer helped make reggae international and was a source of inspiration and peace to everyone who listened to him. He died at 36 years old.
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway is another soul legend who was able to make a huge impact during his short time on this earth. He sang some of the most memorable songs in American history, most notably, “This Christmas.”
J. Dilla
Unfortunately, his impact on the genre wasn’t appreciated until he passed, but J. Dilla is the producer that so many hip-hop purists look to now as inspiration. He even made arguably his best instrumental album, “Donuts,” while he was literally on his deathbed. Just an incredible talent, who had so much more to give to rap. He died at 32.
Walter Payton
There’s a reason the NFL named their Man of the Year Award after Walter Payton. “Sweetness” was not only one of the greatest running backs of all time, he was a hell of a man who was committed to helping others in the community. He died at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with a rare liver disease.
Len Bias
There is no doubt Michael Jordan still would’ve probably become the greatest Basketball player of all time. But if Len Bias was able to make it to the NBA, he may have had a rival. Just two days after being drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NFL Draft, Bias died of an overdose. He was 22.
Ernie Davis
The first Black college football player to win a Heisman. That’s saying something considering he succeeded the great Jim Brown at Syracuse University. Unfortunately, he was never able to showcase his talents in the NFL, as he died of leukemia just months after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He was 23.
Florence Ballard
One of the founding members of the Supremes, Ballard was the voice fans heard on many of the group’s most popular songs. Sadly, she dealt with many struggles in her career and died at 32 from a heart attack.
Tammi Terrell
It’s a shame that Tammi Terrell never got to have a long career like her frequent Motown collaborator Marvin Gaye. She was such a great singer and, unfortunately, she died at the age of 24 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.
Chadwick Boseman
Boseman was one of the more popular actors of the 21st century who played many iconic characters including Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and most notably, Black Panther. He shockingly died at 43 after a long battle with cancer.
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