Black Authors and Writers
A pioneer in the sci-fi genre, she was one of few females and blacks who wrote in the genre. In 1995, she received the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, one of the coveted genius grants.
Who was Octavia Butler?
He was the first African American male to be admitted into the Arts Student League of New York. He was also the designer for the original Murray's Superior Hair Dressing Pomade.
Who was Charles Dawson?
America’s most dazzling R&B icon arguably belongs to this person. He taught himself to play numerous instruments, eventually signing with Warner Records. His success afterward was greatly attributed to his album 1999 and the intensely popular soundtrack to the film Purple Rain.
Who was the Artist formally known as Prince?
She is an entertainment icon and a living legend with a career spanning more than six decades. The first Black person to star in a prime-time drama in the '60s, Tyson has made history numerous times with her acting performances and her ability to break records, paving the way for other Black women in entertainment. In 2018, she became the first Black actress to receive an honorary Academy Award and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2020.
Who is Cicely Tyson?
He was a groundbreaking author who died in 2009 but left an impressive literary mark. He virtually created a new genre–gay, black men in conflict and in loving relationships. His best known work is Invisible Life, 1991.
Who was E. Lynn Harris?
He worked on high profile campaigns such as helping design 7-Up.
Who was Thomas Miller?
Sometimes called The Voice, her career had many record-breaking accomplishments, including several chart-topping singles, multi-Platinum albums, and Grammy awards.
Gospel music served as a primary influence in her music until she caught the eyes of Clive Davis, who immediately signed her to Artista records.
Who was Whitney Houston?
She showed true strength and hope as a Black woman in Hollywood in the 1940s. Because of the color of her skin, McDaniel was forced to sit in the backroom inside the Academy Awards' segregated venue when she became the first Black person to win an Oscar for the film "Gone With the Wind." She was not allowed to attend the film's premiere and was often criticized for her portrayal of the racist stereotype, the Mammy. Still, she paved the way for Black representation in the film industry.
Who is Hattie McDaniel?
He was a poet, playwright, editor, and novelist. His most famous poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers was written and published a year after he graduated from high school. His home in New York City has landmark status.
Who was Langston Hughes?
He designed a sickle cell anemia exhibit as well as exhibitions of the Underground Railroad for different Chicago museums to illuminate the public to Black History, past and present.
Who was Leroy Winbrush?
She grew up making music under the influence of her Caribbean roots. She eventually released her debut album, Music of the Sun, in 2006, leading with the hit dance single “Pon de Replay.”
Who is Rihanna?
Well known for her role portraying Tina Turner in the emotional classic "What's Love Got to Do With It", she's appeared and starred in countless films representing Black culture, such as "Waiting to Exhale" and "Black Panther." She has also portrayed some of the most iconic women in history, including Rosa Parks, Katherine Jackson, Coretta Scott King, and Betty Shabazz. She made history in 2021 when she became the highest-paid Black actress in TV history, earning $450,000 per episode on the hit drama "9-1-1."
Who is Angela Bassett?
He founded the Philadelphia Tribune in 1884 and this newspaper continues to operate. He began writing articles at age 14 and promoted to editor before striking out on his own to start the Tribune.
Who was Christopher J. Perry?
A former Virginia-born slave, she became the personal dressmaker and close confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln.
Who was Elizabeth Keckley?
He is one of the most influential musicians and performer in the rock genre.
Soon after receiving his first acoustic guitar from his father, he started a music group called The Velvetones. He would later switch to more duos and trios, finding success with each one.
Through the 1960s and the 1970s, he released popular hits like “All Along the Watchtower,” “Purple Haze,” and “Foxy Lady,” giving fans a taste of his bluesy riffs.
Who is Jimi Hendrix?
The second Black man to win a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in "Training Day" in 2001, he has made his mark in entertainment history and broke barriers with his powerful on-screen portrayals. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom" by film historian Donald Bogle. Some of his most notable films include "Glory," "Remember the Titans," "Philadelphia," "Malcolm X," "He Got Game," and "Fences," which he directed.
Who is Denzel Washington?
She is known as the most prolific black woman writer of the first half of the 20th century. She is best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God and Dust Tracks on a Road.
Who is Zora Neale Hurston?
Chicago-born designer, entrepreneur, stylist, and DJ, he became the first African-American artistic director of Louis Vuitton when he was appointed to helm the French fashion house's menswear collections in March 2018.
Who is Virgil Abloh?
She grew up in New York, where she took piano lessons at seven and attended a prestigious performing arts school in Manhatten.
After capturing multiple producers’ attention, she finally signed to Arista Records and then to J Records and released some of her best albums with them.
Her career would earn her a 5x Platinum debut album Songs in a Minor (2001), multiple Grammy awards, and #1 singles like “Fallin’” and “My Boo.”
Who is Alicia Keys?
With a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Tony Award, and three Emmys, she is one of the most influential names in the entertainment industry. Well known for her dance choreography and director roles, she is also a talented actress starring in television shows like "In the House" and "Grey's Anatomy."
Who is Debbie Allen?