Contemporary Black biography. profiles from the international Black community / Volume 98
(eBook)

Isaias Afewerki, president of Eritrea -- Kwame Alexander, prolific poet and dedicated literacy advocate -- Michelle Alexander, outspoken civil rights lawyer and professor -- Derrick Bell, distinguished civil rights advocate and first black law professor to gain tenure at Harvard -- LeRoy Bell, soulful vocalist and songwriter who won acclaim on TV's X Factor -- Steve Benjamin, unifying politician who became the first black mayor of Columbia, SC -- Otis Blackwell, seminal rock and roll songwriter -- Tabi Bonney, Washington, DC-based rap artist and video director -- Avery Brooks, imposing actor known for television and theater roles -- Selena Sloan Butler, influentional [sic] advocate who founded parent-teacher organizations -- Troy Carter, trail-blazing music producer and manager -- Orlando Cepeda, Puerto Rican Hall-of-Fame baseball star of the 1960s -- Don Chaney, star basketball player and coach -- Nick Chiles, award-winning journalist and author of successful relationship books -- Common, iconic Chicago rapper who transitioned to acting and writing -- Paul Cuffe, early advocate of the pan-African and black-nationalism movements -- Yaya DaCosta, promising actor -- Fred Dean, Hall-of-Fame football player -- Ava DuVernay, acclaimed independent filmmaker --

Earth, Wind & Fire, enduring pop music collective -- Esi Edugyan, prize-winning Canadian novelist -- Garth Fagan, celebrated modern dance innovator -- Allyson Felix, Olympian sprinter -- Victor O. Frazer, Washington insider who represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in Congress -- Joe Frazier, heavyweight boxing great who died in 2011 -- Blake Griffin, talented NBA all-star playing for the Los Angeles Clippers -- Walt Hazzard, respected basketball player and coach -- Heavy D, good-natured rapper, producer, and actor -- Jamie Hector, intense actor and community activist -- T.J. Holmes, charismatic television journalist -- Kris Jenkins, former all-pro defense lineman -- Vitolio Jeune, Haitian dancer who earned recognition on So You Think You Can Dance -- Syleena Johnson, soulful R&B singer featured on Kanye West's "All Falls Down" -- Andruw Jones, skilled Major League Baseball hitter and center fielder -- Kenny Leon, renowned Broadway stage director -- Julius Malema, controversial president of the African National Congress Youth League -- Miguel, rising singer-songwriter with a genre-blending sound -- The O'Jays, defining voices of Philadelphia soul -- Steve Perry, passionate educator championing underpriveledged [sic] students --

James O. Plinton Jr., Tuskegee flight instructor who became the first black executive for a major U.S. airline

Public Enemy, politically and socially influential and acclaimed rap group

Hiram Rhoades Revels, first African-American senator and member of Congress

Sanya Richards-Ross, record-breaking track and field star

Myron Rolle, talented scholar, athlete, and philanthropist

Romeo, precocious child star turned grown-up rapper and entrepreneur

Brandon Roy, former Portland Trail Blazers guard

Fred Shuttlesworth, pivotal civil rights figure who cofounded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

James Stewart Jr., prolific motorcycle racer

Tricky Stewart, chart-topping record producer who crafted hits with Beyonce, Rihanna, and many others

Jesse Stone, pioneering rock and roll songwriter

Deborah Tillman, inspiring child-care specialist starring in America's Supernanny

Tricky, genre-blending English musician known as a founder of "trip-hop"

Alton R. Waldon Jr., first African American to represent Queens, NY, in the U.S. House of Representatives

Tristan Walker, forward-thinking tech entrepreneur

Nancy Wilson, Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B singer.