Joe Louis

by Cody

Joe louis’s real name was Joseph Louis Barrow. His nickname was Brown bomber. He was born may 13 ,1914. He died April 12, 1981. Joe won 69 out of 72 fits. He went to wise high school. His Jobs were a soldier in world war two. he also was a boxer after the army. he died a month and a day before his birthday. his family was Jacqueline, Marva trotter, Joseph Louis Barrow jr.

            Joe was the first African American to play in a PGA tour event. When he played in the PGA tour he got a historic role. His trainer for boxing was Jack Chappie. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1954 he golfed on his time off. Joe had Little time off because he had to tran. He got 4.6 moll a fit once he was fighting for a while. He was the only African American to win so many titles. He won 57 fights by knockouts. He was a world heavyweight champ.

Colin Powell

By Lucas
 

            Colin Powell was born on April 5, 1937. He is still alive today. Colin is 75 years old. He went to City College of New York, CUNY. After he was done with college he got a job as a soldier. He was a soldier for 35 years. He was a General in the war. Colin Powell was in a lot of wars. Colin married Alma Johnson. They had no kids. Colin Powell was in the war for 35 years and did not die in one of them.

            For his role in African American history is he was the first African American to serve as a General. During his military career Colin Powell also served as a National Security Advisor. He was Commander of the U.S. Army Forces. He was also a soldier. The interesting facts are he was the first African American to serve in the army. He is and still the only. He was the 12th Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. He was a four star General of the U.S. Army. He was serving under George W. Bush. He was the first African American to serve in that position. He is still alive to day.

Will Smith

By Dalron

Willard Christopher Smith Jr. is an outstanding African American.Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Will Smith went to Our lady of Lourdes K-8. He also went to Overbrook High school 8-12. His Wife was Sheree Zampino but they divorced. His second wife and his final is Jada Pinkett Smith. The children they had together are Jaden Smith and Willow Smith. Smith’s jobs are actor, rapper, producer. When he first started rapping it was with DJ Jazzy Jeff. They first met at a party and became really good friends. Will Smith is a really good rapper.

Will Smith is a great actor. He was nominated for eighty-two awards and won forty-two. Will even won the first ever grammy award in the rap category! Will has appeared in over 20 films. He also starred in the hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will also went to a Catholic school, but felt the priests and nuns were racist. Smith plays chess in his spare time. Will also speaks Spanish. Will is also about to star in a movie called After Earth. Will Smith is an amazing African American!

Harriet Tubman

By Justin  

            Harriet Tubman was born a slave. Her Full name was Araminta Harriet Ross. Harriet tubman was born in 1820. Tubman’s father was freed from slavery at the age of 45. She did not go to school. She married a free black man. His name was John tubman. Later she changed her name to Tubman. She worked in the underground railroad. She had safe houses in the underground railroad.

            Harriet Tubman freed hundreds of slaves. Harriet was in Civil war service. Later her advocacy of wonon suffixe fugitive slave. In 1849 she be she became ill. As she grew older and  stanger. She was assigned to more work. Like work the field and forest work. Driving oxen,plowing and Hauling logs. She died March 10, 1913. She lived to be 93.

Frederick Douglass

By Jackson

            Frederick Douglass was born as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Tuckahoe, Maryland, February 17, 1818. He had no education, because he was a slave. He was given to Lucretia Auld as a slave. He tried to escape slavery twice before succeeding. He married Anna Murray-Douglass in 1838. Sadly, she died in 1882. Two years later, he married Helen Pitts. Between the two wives, five children were born. Frederick became a Civil Rights Activist and an author. He played an important role in African-American history.

            Frederick Douglass was a great African-American. He was a human rights leader in the abolition movement. Here are some interesting facts about him. He was the first black citizen to hold a high U.S. government rank. His best-known work is his first autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. It was published in 1845. By the Civil War, he was one of the most famous black men in the country. His mother died when he was only seven. Frederick wrote four books. He even started a bank. Sadly, he died February 20, 1895 at the age of 77.

Gordon Parks

By Griselda

            Gordon Parks is an outstanding person. Gordon Parks was born on November 30, 1912 at Fort Scott, Kansas. His full name is Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks. He is known as an acclaimed photographer, accomplished  writer, filmmaker, and composer. His occupation is photographer, director, songwriter, pianist, and a writer. Gordon attended Segregated Elementary school. He went to high school but he was not allowed to participate at any activities because of his race. His dad’s name was Andrew Jackson Parks. His mom’s name was Sarah Parks. He was married to Sally Alvis.

            Gordon’s role in African American history was that he made his directorial debut with Flavio (1964). His next movie was The World of Piri Thomas (1968). His interesting facts were that in 1969 Gordon became the first African-American director of a major Hollywood movie. In 1948 he became a photographer for Life magazine. He was the first African-American to do so. Gordon died on March 7, 2006 at New York City.

Desmond Howard

By Aaron

Desmond Howard was one. Of the greatest college football players in. College football in 2011 he. Was inducted into the NCAA hall of fame. Plus he was the super bowl champion and. He was also the most valuable person. In super bowl 31 Desmond Howard. Was a Michigan legend Desmond Howard. was born May 15 1970 in Cleveland Ohio. Desmond Howard did not die and was not married.
 

Desmond Howard went to college and. Played for the Michigan wolverines and. Went to college to learn more about football his occupation. Was playing for the Nfl his role In african American history. He was the first. Black person to win the Heisman trophy for Michigan. Desmond Howard played for six Nfl teams in. His career the first one was the Washington Redskins. After that he played for the Jaguars then he. Went to the Packers and then the Raiders and then the packers again then he playe for the lions. For two years then quit the Nfl and then was a college football reporter. Desmond Howard was a great football player.    

Chris Rock

Ian
 

            Chris Rock is a very funny comedian. Chris was born on February 7, 1965 in south California. Chris’s full name is Christopher Julius Rock III. Chris married Malaak Rock in 1996. He went to James Madison High School. His occupation is a comedian, actor, and talk show host.  He is 48 years old. Chris has won many awards for different things. He is a great actor. Chris is in a lot of funny movies.

            Chris is a famous actor and comedian. He worked very hard to get his fame. He played in the Madagascar movies as Marty the zebra. He played in the movie Grown Ups. Chris’s nickname is Crissy. He is a African American comedian. Chris is making a new movie. He loved to be outside when he was young. Chris’s quote is “A man is only as faithful as his options”. Chris Rock is a great person.

Beverly Johnson

By Savannah
 

            Beverly Johnson was born October 13, 1952 in Buffalo New York. In 1971 she got married to real-estate agent Billy Potter. They divorced in 1974. In 1977 she remarried to a music producer, Danny Sims. Then they had a baby in december 27, 1978. It was a girl! They named her Anansa Sims. Then Danny and Beverly separated, and later divorced. She went to college in Northeastern University. Then she went to the modeling career, at the age of seventeen. She did a variety of modeling. For instance she's a fashion model, Model , and a super model. She also did acting. Some of her films were Crossroads, How To Be A Player, Ashanti, Perry Mason, and The class Of The Wicked.

Her role an African American History was she was the first African American to be a professional  model. She was the and true inspiration for African American models. She was the person who open the doors for African American Models. She was honored in 2006 along with other African Americans. She was the first black model to appear on a French Magazine. the name of that magazine was Elle. She was also the first black model to appear on Vogue. Beverly is 61 years old. Beverlys the reason why theres tons of African American models today. Without her African American models dream would be crushed.  

Oprah Winfrey

By Travis
 

Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on january 29,1954. Did you know Oprah had a son at age 14? her son died at birth. She also had a boyfriend named Stedman Graham. She studied at Lincoln High School. Tennessee state is where she went to college. Oprah is a billionaire, Oprah is a billionaire because she is a talk show host. The name of her show is The Oprah Winfrey Show. Also when Oprah was younger she worked for a radio station. She works hard for a living.

Oprah is the first black woman to be a talk show host. She gives money to poor black charities. Oprahs worth a few billion. Her show interest a ton of people. She gave 40 million dollars to South africa. In 2010 Oprah’s net worth was 2.7 billion dollars. At one time she was the richest black women. Oprah interviews famous people. She also  was in many relationships. Oprah is a nice and helpful lady.

Rosa Parks

By Taylor Y.
 

            Rosa Parks was born on February 4,1913  Tuskegee, Alabama . She died October 24, 2005. She was 92 years old. Rosa Parks married Raymond Parks. Raymond Parks was born on 1915. Raymond Parks was a Barber in 1932 and they remained married until his death in 1977. Rosa and Raymond Parks had no children. Rosa Parks went to Alabama state university,

highlander research and education center. Her occupation was social activist. She was a civil right icon who  wouldn’t give up her bus seat.            

Rosa Parks was the first  African American woman to be dedicated.  She was presented with a Congressional gold medal. Rosa Parks didn’t want to give up her seat. Rosa parks was the first black woman  to do a boycott. Rosa Parks  who was a civil right.
           She created a bus boycott.  She was a rested on the bus. She was African American. Rosa Parks was a brave African American.  

Maya Angelou

By Eleanor
 

         Maya Angelou is an amazing African American. She was born April 4,1928, St. Louis Missouri. Maya Is currently 84. From 1951-1954 she was married to Entasious Tosh Angelos. Then from 1960-1963 she was married to Vusumi Make, and from 1974-1981 Paul De Feu. She went to George Washington High School, and did not attend college. She is a poet, civil rights activist, dancer, and film producer. She is also a television producer, playwright, film director, author, and an actress. One more, she is a professor too. She has many occupations.

            Maya Angelou has many roles in African American history. For example she is one of the first African American women to be able to discuss her personal life publicly. Also She worked with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Her works have been thought of as a defence of black culture. An interesting fact is that when Maya was born her name was Marguerite Ann Johnson.She was the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural in1961. She won the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. She’s written many poems. One of them is “ I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing. “ Maya Angelou is fantastic!

Michael Jackson

By Gabriel
 

            Michael Jackson was a hit! Michael Jackson was also known as the king of pop and the inventor of the moon walk. The moonwalk is a dance move that you move back and walk forward. Michael Jackson was born on August  29, 1958 and died June 25, 2009. Michael Jackson had 3 children, Prince Michael II, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The kid’s mother was Debbie Rowe . Debbie Rowe was also Michael jacksons first wife. But on October 8, 1999 they divorced. But Jackson was remarried to lisa Marie Presly. Michael Jackson went to Montclair College Preparatory School. Michael Jackson died a singer.

            As Michael Jackson became more and more popular he became one of the most popular black musicians in history. Jackson was soon part of a band called Jackson 5.  Jackson Was very very ticklish. He loved animals. When he was a child loved to eat snacks and watch the three stooges. When he did his dances he wore a diamond encrusted glove! And after awhile he got diamond encrusted socks! Michael Jackson was very good at drawing. He was a good man.    

Aretha Franklin

By Sydnee
 

            Aretha Louise Franklin is one amazing African American.  Aretha is best known as the “Queen of Soul” who sang “Respect”.  Aretha was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. She has been married twice. She has four children. Their Names are Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf. She had Clarence, her oldest son at the age of fourteen. So for that reason she had to drop out of high-school.  She was married to her manager Ted White in the year of 1962 to the year of 1969, she forbids speaking of this though. A few years before that she had her second son Edward and then her father passed away.  After her dad passed away her children went to live with their grandmother. After she had her other two kids her family regrouped in  Detroit, Michigan. Thats where she made her first record deal. In the year of 2013 Aretha Louise Franklin will be turning seventy-one years old. Her occupation was a singer, songwriter, artist, and an actor.  What an exciting life Aretha Franklin has.

            Aretha has done some amazing things in her life. Aretha’s role in African American history goes for all of the United States too. The reason it goes for both is because she was not only the first African American to get on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the first girl. Some interesting facts about Aretha are that she still sings her anthem “Respect” acknowledging that it’s “a national anthem”. Another thing is that you should never ever tell Aretha to “ break a leg” before a show cause once it really did happen. She is a 15 time grammy winner. Aretha has been in fourteen movies. She has also sold over millions of records. Some people call her “Sister Re”. Others call her “Queen of Soul” or “Lady Soul”. She is a solo singer. One more very interesting thing about Aretha is that she can’t read music. Aretha has done some really cool things in her life!