Politics and Law:
* Alcee Hastings: Former U.S. Representative and federal judge
* Kamala Harris: Vice President of the United States
* Thurgood Marshall: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
* Charles Rangel: Former U.S. Representative
* Eleanor Holmes Norton: U.S. Representative for the District of Columbia
* Condoleezza Rice: Former U.S. Secretary of State
* Julian Bond: Civil rights leader and politician
* Vernon Jordan: Civil rights leader and business executive
* Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader and politician
Entertainment:
* Chadwick Boseman: Actor (Black Panther)
* Taraji P. Henson: Actress (Empire)
* Anthony Anderson: Actor (Black-ish)
* Debbie Allen: Actress, dancer, and choreographer
* Spike Lee: Film director
* Denzel Washington: Actor
* Nia Long: Actress
* Laverne Cox: Actress and transgender advocate
* Phylicia Rashad: Actress (The Cosby Show)
* Harry Belafonte: Singer and actor
Academia and Science:
* Toni Morrison: Nobel Prize-winning author
* David Dinkins: Former Mayor of New York City
* Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett: Lead scientist for the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
* Dr. Patricia Bath: Ophthalmologist and inventor
Business and Media:
* Oprah Winfrey: Media executive, actress, and philanthropist
* Don Cheadle: Actor and producer
* Ken Chenault: Former CEO of American Express
* David S. Taylor: CEO of Procter & Gamble
* Ed Bradley: Former correspondent for 60 Minutes
Sports:
* Arthur Ashe: Tennis legend
* Cheryl Reeve: Head coach of the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA)
* Earl Lloyd: First African American to play in the NBA
This is just a small sample of the many notable people who have attended Howard University. The institution has played a vital role in the education and development of numerous leaders and change-makers across various sectors.