music
This influential west coast rapper released the albums All eyes on me and Me against the world.
Tupac
Starred in the the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and won the first Grammy for the rap category.
Will Smith
This retired four-star general became the first African American U.S. Secretary of State, serving under president George W. Bush
Colin Powell
This comedian and actress won an Academy award for Ghost and is one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status
Whoopi Goldberg
This neo-expressionist artist rose from the New York City graffiti scene to international fame in the 1980s, known for his raw, text-filled paintings and collaborations with Andy Warhol
Jean-Michel Basquiat
This Brooklyn-born rapper released an iconic 1994 debut album and was known by the nickname "Biggie Smalls".
The Notorious B.I.G.
Influential talk show host that launched her own network, OWN and became the first black woman billionaire through her media empire and long running daytime talk show
Oprah Winfrey
In 1991, this former Atlanta mayor became the first Black mayor to serve as US ambassador to the United Nations
Andrew Young
Before earning an Oscar nomination for Chicago and starring in the sitcom Living Single, this rapper-turned actress released the empowering anthem U.N.I.T.Y
Queen Latifah
This British supermodel was one of the original "Big Five" of the 1990s and became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of the French Vogue
Naomi Campbell
This powerhouse singer of "I Will Always Love You" starred in The Bodyguard and became one of the best selling music artists of all time
Whitney Houston
This comedy family helped create the sketch show In Living Color and launched the careers of siblings like Keenee, Damon, Shawn, and Marlon. This show went on to revolutionize TV and even the Superbowl halftime show as we know it today.
The Wayans Family
This long serving New Orleans mayor held office from 1978-1994 and was a key figure in shaping the city's post desegregation era
Marc Morial
In this 1996 family sports comedy, basketball legend Michael Jordan teams up with Looney Tunes characters to win a high-stakes game against alien opponents.
Space Jam
This designer founded the label FUBU in 1992- short for "For Us By Us"- a brand that became a staple in 90s hip-hop fashion
Daymond John