Behind this movement were great philosophers and thinkers who gained mass momentum and rolled the ball forward. These enlightenment thinkers fought to overcome challenges faced by black Americans and were outspoken with their ideas. Here are two of the biggest names of this movement and a little about them:

W.E.B. DuBois

W.E.B. DuBois was a well-established man, carrying many titles including sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, author, writer, and first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was the editor for its official magazine, The Crisis. He sought to transform the way that black Americans were viewed in society and greatly valued education, firmly believing that it would raise the race. His goal was complete integration.

Marcus Garvey

Marcys Garvey was a political leader, publisher, and journalist. He was best known for being a gifted orator. Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) which still remains active today, uplifting people of African descent. He gained a mass following for his Back to Africa movement, also known as Garveyism. He suggested that African Americans move from the country run by white elitists and establish a country of their own in Liberia. Garvey played a huge role in inspiring racial pride among African Americans.

Though their platforms both sought to uplift the African American community, we can see where they may have had some disagreements. (And they did, publicly.)