ALT Mahalia Jackson. Jackson was a cultural titan who transformed American music, business and civil rights. Over a career that spanned more than four decades, she proved that unyielding faith could move the world. She took gospel music out of Black churches and broadcast it to international concert halls and festivals. Selling an estimated 22 million records, she established gospel as a globally revered art form. She used her commanding contralto voice to anchor the Civil Rights Movement. Her music acted as a spiritual shield that cut through the fear of white supremacist violence. Long before she achieved commercial wealth, Jackson leveraged local entrepreneurship to fund activist causes. Throughout her life, she adamantly refused to record secular music. By forcing the mainstream entertainment industry to accept her on her own spiritual terms, she set a standard for artistic dignity, community stewardship and moral conviction. Photo credit: Michael Ochs / Getty Images.