# Contributions to America

Part of the American Cultures Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/american-cultures/guide/index.md)

*Celebrating Contributions*

> **4.** Tell about a contribution made to our country by three different people, each from a different racial, ethnic, or religious background.

America's greatest achievements are not the work of one group — they are the combined contributions of people from every background imaginable. This requirement asks you to research and share the stories of three individuals who made a real difference, each from a different racial, ethnic, or religious background.

### How to Choose Your Three People

You have a lot of freedom here. Your three people can come from any time period, any field, and any part of the country. The key rule is that each person must be from a **different** racial, ethnic, or religious background.

Think broadly. "Contributions to our country" does not just mean presidents and generals. It includes scientists, artists, activists, inventors, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, writers, and everyday people who changed their communities.

> **Tip**
>
> Choose people whose stories genuinely interest you — not just the first names that come to mind. Your counselor has probably heard about the same famous figures many times. Dig a little deeper and find someone whose story surprises you. Your enthusiasm will come through in your presentation.

![A Scout at a library table with books and a laptop open, researching notable Americans from different backgrounds, with sticky notes and a notebook nearby](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/american-cultures/guide/contributions-research?v=d7a248ee)

### Where to Look

Here are some starting points for your research:

**Science and technology:**
- Who invented or discovered something that changed American life?
- Think about medicine, agriculture, engineering, computing, space exploration

**Arts and culture:**
- Who created music, literature, film, or art that defined an era?
- Think about writers, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, architects

**Civil rights and social change:**
- Who fought for justice, equality, or the rights of others?
- Think about activists, lawyers, organizers, religious leaders

**Government and military:**
- Who served the country through leadership, diplomacy, or military service?
- Think about elected officials, diplomats, service members, judges

**Business and innovation:**
- Who built companies, industries, or economic opportunities?
- Think about entrepreneurs, labor organizers, agricultural innovators

### Examples to Inspire You

These examples are here to spark your thinking — not to be your answers. Use them as a starting point, then find your own people.

**Science:** Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American physicist, designed an experiment that disproved a fundamental law of physics (the conservation of parity) in 1957. Her work reshaped our understanding of the universe, yet she was overlooked for the Nobel Prize that her male colleagues received.

**Arts:** Langston Hughes, an African American poet and writer, became one of the defining voices of the Harlem Renaissance. His poems and stories captured the beauty, struggle, and resilience of Black life in America and influenced generations of writers.

**Civil rights:** Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American civil rights activist, defied the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He took his case to the Supreme Court, and although he lost in 1944, his conviction was overturned decades later. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.

**Innovation:** Nikola Tesla, a Serbian Orthodox Christian immigrant from Croatia, invented the alternating current (AC) electrical system that powers virtually every home and business in America today. His work made modern electricity possible.

> **Did You Know?**
>
> The first self-made female millionaire in American history was Madam C.J. Walker, an African American entrepreneur who built a hair care empire in the early 1900s. She used her wealth to support Black communities, fund scholarships, and advocate for anti-lynching legislation.

### What to Include in Your Presentation

For each person, cover these points:

**Contribution Profile** — Cover these for each of your three people

- [ ] The person's name and background (racial, ethnic, or religious identity)
- [ ] What they contributed — be specific about what they did or created
- [ ] Why it mattered — how did this contribution change America or affect other people?
- [ ] What obstacles they faced — many contributors had to overcome prejudice, poverty, or other barriers
- [ ] What you found most interesting or inspiring about their story

[National Park Service — People](https://www.nps.gov/people/index.htm): Explore the stories of people from diverse backgrounds who shaped American history, organized by heritage, era, and topic.

[National Women's History Museum](https://www.womenshistory.org/): Discover the contributions of women from all backgrounds who shaped American history through interactive exhibits and biographies.

### Going Beyond the Famous Names

One of the most powerful things you can do for this requirement is to find someone local. Is there a person from your own community — past or present — who made a significant contribution from a different cultural background? A local hero's story can be even more meaningful than a famous figure's because it shows that contributions to America happen everywhere, not just in history books.

Ask your librarian, check your local historical society, or talk to longtime residents. You might be amazed at what you find.

You have now explored how individuals from different backgrounds have shaped this country. The final requirement asks you to take everything you have learned and share it with others.

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- Next: [Leading a Discussion](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/american-cultures/guide/req5/index.md)