The life and times of some of the greatest Black leaders ended abruptly due to a number of assassinations, and even though the tactic is gruesome, some see it as a necessary action to take against leaders who challenge their views or popularity.

Ironically, the murders have turned many slain leaders into timeless heroes. With several influential Black leaders having been assassinated in recent history, here is Face2Face Africa‘s highlight of 10 icons and their respective legacies.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an African-American leader born in January 15, 1929, as the second child of Martin Luther King Sr. (1899-1984). A Baptist minister and social activist, Dr.

King Jr. played an important role in the history of the American Civil Rights Movement.

A brilliant and dogged fighter, he advocated — up to his death — equal rights for all, no matter the color or race. Dr. King preached for an egalitarian society but adopted a peaceful and nonviolent approach to the struggle. He later became a thought leader and was the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

He was assassinated while standing on the balcony of a motel in Memphis. In his honor, the Ronald Reagan Administration signed a bill to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy every January.

Amilcar Cabral

Amilcar Cabral was one of the greatest thinkers and revolutionary leaders Africa produced in the 20th century. A leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, he fought against imperialism in all its forms and advocated for the freedom of his people to deliver them from the yoke of colonial vestiges.

Unfortunately, Cabral didn’t live long enough to see the independent Guinea he fought so hard for; he was allegedly assassinated by the Portuguese colonialists outside his home in Conakry, where his party had his headquarters.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was an African-American, Black Nationalist leader who dedicated his entire life to freeing Black people of the world from the bondage of segregation and racism. Unlike Dr. King, Malcolm X encouraged Blacks worldwide to reject racism by any means necessary and didn’t support non-violence.

Before he became an icon, Malcolm was sent to jail for 10 years on charges of larceny.

It was during this period that he read several books that irrevocably changed his thinking.

When he left prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and embraced the ideology of Black Nationalism. He promoted the ideals of the organisation and later became its spokesmen. He was later assassinated by three members of the Nation of Islam on February 21, 1965.

Thomas Sankara

Thomas Sankara will always be remembered as one of the greatest leaders of Burkina Faso. Born in 1949, Sankara grew to become a fine military officer and adherent of Pan-Africanism.

He learned his trade from Madagascar and France, where he attended a parachute academy and became exposed to left-wing political ideologies. His decent character ensured that he was always useful in one government position or the other but his hard stance against corruption ruffled feathers and subsequently lead him to prison.

He became the president of Upper Volta — now Burkina Faso — through a military coup led by his friend and ally Blaise Compaore. As president, he initiated people-oriented programs and became a popular globally recognized public figure. Internal conflict in the country led to his assassination in 1987 by the aforementioned Compaore.

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