Carmen E. Turner

ran  one of the largest transit systems in the United States when she was named General Manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in 1983. During her time at the agency she oversaw one of the largest expansions of DC's Metrorail system in the agency's history, nearly doubling in size. 

In 1988, the American Public Transit Association (now the American Public Transportation Association) officially recognized WMATA as the nation's best rail and bus transit system. APTA named Turner as transit manager of the year in 1989. 

Marshall ("Major") Taylor  was the word's first black sports superstar. He was world cycling champion in 1899, American sprint champion in 1900, and set numerous track cycling records. Nicknamed "Major" in his youth in Indianapolis and later known as "the Worcester Whirlwind" after his adopted hometown in Massachusetts, he was the second black world champion in any sport (after Canadian-born bantamweight boxer George Dixon of Boston won his title in 1891). 

In the Jim Crow era of strict racial segregation, Taylor had to fight prejudice just to get on the starting line. He faced closed doors and open hostility with remarkable dignity. In his retirement he wrote his autobiography,  "The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World."

William T. Coleman  was the first black U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Ford from March 7, 1975, to January 20, 1977. He was also the second black United States Cabinet member. Coleman was an influential lawyer and championed the cause of civil rights in milestone cases before the Supreme Court.  

Garrett Augustus Morgan

fought for recognition as the inventor of the gas mask and the mechanical traffic signal. In 1920, he started a newspaper, The Cleveland Call, and opened an all-black country club. In 1923, he patented a mechanical traffic signal that he sold to General Electric. It was widely used, yet Morgan earned only $40,000 for the invention.

Granville T. Woods was one of the most prolific inventors and innovators of his day. Known to some as the "Black Edison," Woods was incredibly instrumental in the development and improvement of many electrical/communication systems that allow modern railways to function. He is most well known for significantly improving the third rail which is primarily used today to supply electricity to subway trains.

Woods also invented the induction telegraph, the combination telephone and telegraph system which he later patented as the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph which allowed communications between train stations from moving trains. Additionally, he patented improvements to overhead electrical wire systems to power trains and modifications to the Westinghouse automatic air brake for trains.