1

Althea Gibson

Image: Josephine Gasser

Born in 1927, Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and a professional golfer. As a sportswoman her ability was extraordinary, but her major achievement was breaking the color barrier in tennis in the 1950s.

Althea was the first African-American woman to play the U.S. National Championships and the first black woman to win a Grand Slam in 1956.

She won 11 Grand Slams, five singles titles, five doubles, and one mixed doubles title. And she opened the door for other black sportswomen to be under the spotlight. Quite impressive, right?

2

Eleanor Roosevelt

Image: René DeAnda

If aviation or sports were controversial places for women, imagine politics! But that didn’t stop Eleanor Roosevelt, a key figure in American politics .

As Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, who presided over America from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor was the longest-serving first lady of the United States and, as such she was unwaveringly committed to the people. She redefined the concept of the first lady.

She advocated for human rights and social justice and used her position to work for women, African Americans, and the impoverished. And to top it all, she was a central figure in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3

Amelia Earhart

Image: Tomas Martinez

Even if she was born in 1897, Amelia is considered a key figure of the 20th century because she was an aviation pioneer . As such she broke several records: She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first to promote commercial air travel.

But that wasn’t all, Amelia was an activist for women’s rights and wrote best-selling books narrating her adventures as a pilot. The mysteries behind her disappearance during her flight across the Pacific only made her a bigger icon.

4

Estée Lauder

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Most of the professions held by the women in this article are accepted for women today, but not so long ago, being a woman and a successful businessperson wasn’t very common: That was the case with Estéé Lauder who launched her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband.

The brand's success never went unnoticed and it is a best-selling company in the present world. But to top her achievements, Lauder was listed as one of the 20 most influential businesspeople of the century!

5

Aretha Franklin

Image: Alberto Bigoni

During the 20th century, the music industry has seen some of the best singers and songwriters of all time. America has no shortage of talented musicians, but being named the Queen of Soul is something else altogether!

Aretha was a black singer, songwriter, and pianist, and her music gained her the Rolling Stones magazine recognition of "Greatest Singer of All Time" not once, but twice! Not to mention the 18 Grammy Awards or the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other acknowledgments.

Her music has inspired millions of people around the world and it is still a reference in music and culture today.

6

Marilyn Monroe

Image: Jarvik Joshi

Marylin doesn’t need any kind of introduction, does she? She was and still is to this day a pop culture icon. Her work as an actress had a massive impact on the entertainment industry, but her work as a model did something else to the fashion industry: She was known as the "blonde bombshell" and gave birth to a true revolution in terms of body shapes, relationships, and more.

Influential and controversial depending on who talked about her, she was living proof that there is no such thing as bad marketing: All things considered, she still was the best-paid Hollywood actress of the time.

7

Helen Keller

Image: Aaron Burden

Keller’s story is both shocking and inspiring at the same time. At only 19 months of age, Hellen lost her sight and hearing due to an illness. But having a rough childhood never stopped her. Instead, and despite her disability, she became an advocate for the rights of disabled people, a political activist, and a lecturer.

She wrote 14 books, and hundreds of speeches and fought for women’s right to vote, labor rights, and world peace. If you want to be inspired by her story, you can read her autobiography The Story of My Life .

8

Julia Child

Image: Alyson McPhee

French cuisine is exquisite and we’ve got Julia Child to thank for the fact that we Americans know about it. Child revolutionized American cooking by bringing French cuisine to America through her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show "The French Chef."

In her TV show, Child taught French cooking techniques in a way that is accessible to everyone. She was approachable and enthusiastic which made her an influential figure beyond the kitchen, she was a cultural icon.

9

Toni Morrison

Image: Olga Tutunaru

In the field of literature, Morrison is our chosen one since she was a true giant. Toni Morrison wrote novels that deeply influenced American literature and culture as well.

Her writing made her the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In her novels, like Beloved, Sula, and Song of Solomon , Morrison explores the topics of identity, race, history, and heritage. Her characters offer deep insights into the African American experience and humanity which makes her legacy an everlasting one.

10

Rosa Parks

Image: Ant Rozetsky

No article about influential women of the 20th century would be complete if we didn’t mention Rosa Parks.

In 1955, she refused to give her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her courageous act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and initiated the modern Civil Rights Movement. With a simple, but huge action, she challenged the whole system of racial segregation and inspired a nationwide movement for equality.

The bus boycott was the beginning, yet her work continued beyond that as she fought tirelessly for civil rights for the rest of her life.

1

"Mad tight"

Image: Andre Benz

Where it is used: New Jersey / New York

In the Northeastern U.S., particularly in New Jersey and New York, "mad tight" is used to describe something that's very cool or impressive. For example, "That concert was mad tight!" This usage reflects the region's tendency to intensify expressions for emphasis.

2

"Lagniappe"

Image: Joe Lavigne

Where it is used: Louisiana

In Louisiana, "lagniappe" refers to a little something extra, often given as a bonus. A French Creole term derived from a Quechua word, this quirky expression reflects the state’s rich cultural blend and tradition of generous hospitality.

3

"Bless your heart"

Image: Dani Guitarra

Where it is used: Southern United States

In the South, "bless your heart" can be a genuine expression of sympathy or, depending on the tone, a polite way to say someone is naive. This phrase highlights the region's emphasis on politeness and layered communication.

4

"Pop"

Image: Troy Coroles

Where it is used: Midwest and parts of the Northeast

In many Midwestern and Northeastern states, "pop" is the preferred term for a carbonated soft drink. Conversely, in the South, "coke" is commonly used to refer to any type of soda, regardless of brand.

5

"Spodie"

Image: wes lewis

Where it is used: Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Seattle, a "spodie" is an outdoor high school party where attendees share a large container of mixed alcohol and sugary drinks.

6

"Wicked"

Image: Venti Views

Where it is used: New England

In New England, especially in Massachusetts, "wicked" is used as an intensifier, meaning very . For example, "It's wicked cold outside." This usage is a distinctive feature of the New England dialect.

7

"Fixin' to"

Image: Adiel Gavish

Where it is used: Southern United States

In the South, "fixin' to" means preparing to do something soon. For instance, "I'm fixin' to go to the store."

8

"Hella"

Image: Scott Webb

Where it is used: Northern California

In Northern California, particularly in the Bay Area, "hella" is used to mean a lot or very. For example, "That party was hella fun." While scholars aren’t certain whether it originated as a contraction of "hell of a" or from the similarly used word "hellacious," it remains a hallmark of local vernacular.

9

"Y'all"

Image: Helena Lopes

Where it is used: Southern United States

"Y'all" is a contraction of "you all" and is commonly used in the South to address a group. It's a defining feature of Southern speech and culture.

10

"Jawn"

Image: Heidi Kaden

Where it is used: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"Jawn" is a versatile term from Philadelphia that can refer to anything —a person, place, or thing. For instance, "Pass me that jawn over there." According to some sources, it originated as a slang pronunciation of the word "joint" in African American Vernacular English.

1

Peanuts

Image: ZENG YILI

We’ll start with what some describe as "arguably the longest story ever told by one human being." When Charles Schulz started Peanuts in 1950, he wasn’t aware that he would single-handedly produce a plethora of amazing stories until his death in 2000. The original Peanuts run, which introduced iconic characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Linus, appeared in over 2,600 newspapers and has been translated into 21 languages.

2

Marmaduke

Image: Oliver Bichard

As any Great Dane owner can tell you, these massive dogs can sometimes be a handful. However, if the comic strip Marmaduke has taught us anything, it’s that no matter how messy their lovable dog is, the Winslow family will always care for their Great Dane, the titular Marmaduke. This comic strip was created in 1954 by cartoonist Brad Anderson, who continued to make Marmaduke comics for 61 years until his death in 2015.

3

Krazy Kat

Image: Shelby Murphy Figueroa

While perhaps not as well-known as other comic strips in this article, George Herriman’s Krazy Kat (also known as Krazy and Ignatz ) is considered by many critics to be one of the most influential comic strips in history. At first glance, Krazy Kat , which ran from 1913 to 1944, appears to be a simple gag-a-day comic depicting an anthropomorphic cat and his mouse rival. However, Herriman’s impressive artwork and groundbreaking creativity have led critics to regard Krazy Kat as one of the most significant pieces of American art .

4

Garfield

Image: Jason Yuen

Garfield is a strong contender for the title of "world’s most famous cartoon cat." True, he is competing with heavy hitters like Tom from Tom and Jerry or Felix the Cat, but this Monday-hating, lasagna-loving orange cat is truly a force to be reckoned with. Created by Jim Davis in 1976, Garfield was first introduced in a comic strip named Jon after the cat’s owner. However, Garfield quickly took the spotlight, and the comic strip was renamed Garfield in 1977. From that point onward, Garfield became an international icon, earning the Guinness World Record for being the world's most widely syndicated comic strip.

5

Calvin and Hobbes

Image: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0

Can you remember the stuffed animal you would carry everywhere as a child, going on imaginary adventures all across your backyard? Well, for many of us, Calvin and Hobbes perfectly encapsulates those beloved memories. Created by Bill Watterson in 1985, this comic strip depicts the adventures of a young boy named Calvin and his best friend Hobbes, a whimsical and friendly tiger. What’s most moving about this comic strip is that both Calvin and the readers see Hobbes not as a stuffed animal, but as the best friend a young boy could have.

6

The Far Side

Image: Luis Cortés

Up until this point, we’ve been focusing on multi-paneled comic strips, which have several panels at their disposal to tell a compelling story. However, The Far Side has the remarkable distinction of making us laugh heartily with just a single panel. Written and drawn by Gary Larson, this comic strip combines surreal humor with unexpected punchlines , often depicting social situations or the author’s unique view of the world.

7

Dilbert

Image: The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0

The break rooms of offices across America are filled with newspapers, which tired employees read during their breaks before returning to work. In that sense, artist Scott Adams perfectly chose office humor as the ideal backdrop for his comic strip, Dilbert . First published in 1989, the strip tells the story of the titular Dilbert, a white-collar engineer trying to navigate the hilarious madness of working in an office.

8

The Family Circus

Image: William Fitzgibbon

At times, the chaos of living with a big family might seem not too dissimilar to the frenzy and excitement of a circus. This seems to be the premise behind the beloved comic strip The Family Circus , created by cartoonist Bil Keane and continued by his son Jeff after Bil’s death. This comic strip revolves around an unnamed family and the many adventures that their three small children and modern life bring to them.

9

Popeye

Image: Jonathan MONCK-MASON

Years before becoming the world’s most famous sailor, Popeye debuted in 1929 as a character in a comic strip called Thimble Theatre . Interestingly, he first appeared when the series was already in its tenth year, but he quickly became its most famous character, eventually overshadowing the original cast and becoming the protagonist. In due time, the strip was renamed Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye before being simply shortened to Popeye in the 1930s.

10

Little Nemo in Slumberland

Image: Hayffield L

We’ll end with the oldest comic strip in this article, which many believe to be the father of all American comic strips. In 1905, American cartoonist Winsor McCay first published Little Nemo in Slumberland . The comic revolved around the titular Nemo, a young boy who often found himself embarking on wonderful adventures in the dream world. McCay’s remarkable artistry and surreal imagery influenced generations of cartoonists and visual artists throughout history.