This is true.
There are several examples of this in American history. For example, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was an extremely charismatic individual who helped fight for equal treatment for African-Americans in the US. Along with King, there were other charismatic leaders like Rosa Parks and Malcolm X.
Another example would be the Women's rights movements of the 1960's and 1970's. Individuals like Betty Friedan provided a powerful voice for women all across the country.