Origins & Early Life

Russell Charles Means (Lakota: Waŋblí Ohítika; November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an Oglala Lakota activist for the rights of Native Americans, libertarian political activist, actor, musician and writer. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) after joining the organization in December 1969 and helped organize events that attracted national and international media coverage. Means was active in international issues of indigenous peoples, including working with groups in Central and South America and with the United Nations for recognition of their rights. He was active in politics at his native Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and at the state and national level.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Beginning an acting career in 1992, he appeared on numerous television series and in several films, including The Last of the Mohicans, Pocahontas, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He released his own music CD. Means published his autobiography Where White Men Fear to Tread in 1995. Means was born on November 10, 1939, in Porcupine, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, to Theodora Louise Feather and Walter "Hank" Means. His mother was a Yankton Dakota from Greenwood, South...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alphonse Mucha — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Barry Mann — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): American songwriter and musician known for successful collaborations, especially with Cynthia Weil.
• Adam Yauch — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Alfred F. Young — Contemporary (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American historian of the Revolution and working-class social history.
• Blue Ivy Carter — Contemporary (Born in 2012) (2012): American singer, actress, and dancer, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
• Arthur Rimbaud — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1891): Transgressive French poet whose work profoundly influenced modern literature and surrealism.
• Bayinnaung — Shared historical date (11-10 · Died) (1581): Emperor of the Toungoo Dynasty, who forged the largest empire in Southeast Asian history.
• 21 Savage — Shared historical date (10-22 · Born) (1992): Atlanta-based rapper known for his distinctive style and career evolution.
• Ann Rule — Shared historical date (10-22 · Born) (1931): Pioneering American true crime author, famed for exposing serial killers like Ted Bundy.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• November 10 (11-10) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 10
• 2012 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2012
• October 22 (10-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 22