1. Black Panther

Thanks to Captain America; Civil War more people have been introduced to the King of Wakanda T'Challa also known as Black Panther. He made his debut in 1966 in Fantastic Four # 52 and is the first mainstream African American hero. His abilities include super human strength, speed, and durability. In February 2018 a live action film based on the character will hit theaters. Black Panther will be portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. He will also reprise his role in Avengers Infinity War

2. Miles Morales

Marvel

The Afro-Latino Spider Man. There's aren't many well-known Latino super heroes to begin with let alone an Afro-Latino one, but Miles Morales who is the current spiderman is putting an end to that. He was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sarah Pichelli. Bendis along with Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso got their inspiration for the character from Barack Obama and actor/rapper Donald Glover (Childish Gambino).

The upcoming Spider-Man film, Spider Man: Homecoming will still focus on Peter Parker, but will allude to Miles Morales. Maybe in the future, a film or TV show will be based on him

3. Black Lightning

DC Comics

The manipulator of electricity appeared in 1977 in Black Lightning #1. He is the first major African-American to appear in DC Comics. The original hero was a white racist named Black Bomber who when under stress would turn into a black super hero. When the editor who approved of Black Bomber left, Black Lightning was created. His team affiliations include The Justice League, Outsiders, and U.S. Department of Education.

Development on a series based on the character began in 2016. In May 2017 CW picked up the series. It's created by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. It will star Cress Williams as Black Lightning, China Anne Mcclain and Nafessa Williams as his children. No official air date has been given, but it will premiere sometime in 2018.

4. Kamala Khan

Kamala Khan also known as Ms. Marvel is a teenage Pakistani American with shape shifting and healing abilities. She made her first appearance August 2013 in Captain Marvel #14. She's Marvel's first Muslim character to have their own series (Ms. Marvel). In 2015, Ms. Marvel won a Hugo Award for best graphic story.

5. Night Thrasher

Making his Marvel appearance December 1989, Night Thrasher is the founder/leader of New Warriors. A comedy television series based on the superhero team is currently being developed. It will premiere on Freeform in 2018. Members included are Squirrel Girl, Mister Immortal, Speedball, Microbe, and Debrii.

6. Luke Cage

Luke Cage is the first African American super hero to be featured as a protagonist in a titular comic book series. Making his 1972 debut in Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #1, Cage is known for his strength, unbreakable skin, and marriage to Jessica Jones. If you're more of a TV watcher than comic book reader you can catch cage in the Netflix series "Jessica Jones, "Luke Cage," and "The Defenders." He's portrayed by Mike Colter in all 3 series.

7. Silk

Marvel

Cindy Moon is an Asian- American heroine who's apart of of the Spider-Man comics and shares some of the same abilities. She made her faceless debut April 2014 in The Amazing- Spider Man Vol. 3 #1. SIlk will appear in the upcoming film Spider Man:Homecoming. She's portrayed by Tiffany Espensen

8. RiRi WIlliams

Marvel

The Teenage African- American Iron Man debuting May 2016 in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2 #7 . At 15, RiRi is a college student studying engineering. She makes a suit similar to Iron Man's, when Tony Stark gets word of it, he decides to meet her. Her abilities include inventor and engineer genius level intellect. She now appears in the comics under the name Ironheart

Parish Hodges

Writing since June 2017 · 1 story contributed