African American

Jada Pinkett Smith has proven herself to be one of today's most versatile and gifted young actresses. Recently, she landed one of Hollywood's most sought after roles, as Niobe in…

Barbara Smith is best known for her innovating work as a critic, author, activist and lecturer. She was among the first to define an African American woman's literary tradition and…

Whether on stage or screen, Daytime Emmy Award-winner Sherri Shepherd’s magnetic personality and hilarious sense of humor never fails to delight audiences. In August 2009, Sherri was a part of…

Rondell Sheridan is best known for his role of Victor Baxter on the Disney Channel sitcom That’s So Raven. Although his role as Baxter may be the one he is…

Aspiring model Brittini Sherrod knows how to make an entrance, and she loves being the center of attention. As an only child, she's used to getting what she wants and…

Devyn Simone is a dating expert, matchmaker, and the executive producer, co-creator, and co-host of Love At First Swipe on TLC.

Carole Simpson has been a pioneer for both women and minorities in the vital field of journalism. Now, her blog is an effort to comment on the news of today…

Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, A leader in education, the arts, and the public sector for nearly 40 years, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., began her tenure as the 10th president of…

With an integral role on the team that set the standard for women’s professional soccer and a record 173 international appearances, Briana Scurry is widely recognized as one of the…

Bobby Seale is one of the last surviving architects of one of the most important social change movements in American and African American history. Taking to the stage with his…

Joseph Sebarenzi lost his parents, seven siblings, and countless other family members when 800,000 Tutsi were brutally murdered over the course of 90 days in 1994 by extremist Rwandan Hutu…

Ilyasah Al-Shabazz is a community organizer, social activist, motivational speaker, and author of the critically acclaimed Growing Up X (Random House, 2002). Her father, martyred human rights activist known as…

Russell-McCloud is a “visual speaking experience.” With more than 20 years on the lecture circuit, she is categorized as being one of the nation’s best. Her speaking style is engaging,…

Sonia Sanchez is an African-American poet most often associated with the Black Arts Movement. She has authored over a dozen books of poetry, as well as plays and children's books.…

When Kivi Rogers the funny looking one in the family, funny becomes your defense. And being one of seven children Kivi had to defend himself quite often. As if that…

Loretta J. Ross was a co-founder and the National Coordinator of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective from 2005-2012, a network founded in 1997 of women of color…

Tara Roberts is a National Geographic Storytelling Fellow and a Fellow at MIT’s Open Documentary Lab.

Robin Roberts has been the anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America since 2005. She began contributing to the morning program in 1995

Terrence James Roberts was one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock…

Sharon Robinson, daughter of the legendary baseball superstar Jackie Robinson, is an author, activist and educator. Sharon has written several widely praised books about her father, including her most recent…

David Robinson, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in mathematics, spent 14 years in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs. He was inducted into the…

Randall Robinson, an internationally respected social justice advocate and author, is also a professor of law at Penn State University. In 1979, he established TransAfrica, the mandate of which is…

Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,” acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson’s career spans over 4 decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including the Grammy Living…

T. Rodgers's is the first ever validated ex-gang leader to train L.A.P.D Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (C.R.A.S.H.). He’s also trained the L.A Sheriff’s’ O.S.S. (Operation Safe Streets), Oregon State…

A native of Tennessee, Jasper Redd began his comedy career in San Francisco. He has since been performing non-stop at comedy clubs and colleges all over the country. In 2005,…

Sonya Renee Taylor is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, an international movement and organization committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as…

Harold Reynolds exemplifies success on and off the field. During his 12-year career as a Major League Baseball player, Harold spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Mariners and a year…

Most will remember Matty Rich from his directorial and acting debut in the 1991 indie film, Straight Out of Brooklyn, which earned the young filmmaker critical acclaim and accolades for…

Atlanta born and raised, while in college, Louis Ramey was bitten by the comedy bug. On a dare from his friends, he took the stage to tell a few jokes…

Named Executive Producer of NBA Inside Stuff and NBA Entertainment-produced specials in March 1998, Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Ahmad Rashad is in his 15th season as host of NBA Inside Stuff.…

An accomplished actor and stage director, Phylicia Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a character whose enduring appeal has earned her numerous…

Kevin Powell is one of the most acclaimed political, cultural, literary and hip-hop voices in America today. Kevin is a native of Jersey City, raised by a single mother in…

A native of Bedford Stuyvesant, Tony Powell excelled academically and at the age of thirteen, was accepted into the prestigious Choate Rosemary Hall boarding school and went on to graduate…

From bringing characters to life on screen, performing on Broadway, producing, landing the title of national bestselling author with her literary debut and her deep-rooted philanthropic endeavors which touch lives…

Tyler Perry's inspirational journey from the hard streets of New Orleans to the heights of Hollywood's A-list is the stuff of American legend. Born into poverty and raised in a…

The term “gotta laugh to keep from crying” could easily be any comedian’s mantra but for one Louisiana transplant, Comedian Rodney Perry, the tracks of his tears have been a…

Detroiter Gail Perry-Mason has come a long way, from foster care to caring for others. Gail is a respected authority in the financial industry. Add to that bestselling author and…

Liza Jessie Peterson is a renowned actress, poet, playwright, educator and advocate. Liza has written several plays including her most recent one woman play The Peculiar Patriot, which embarked on…

Dr. Randal Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author and scholar, and as a leading voice for his generation in business and technology.  He is the founder, chairman…

The acclaimed late-night series RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS DEF POETRY. Poets to be selected from the following: Suheir, Black Ice, Poetri, Stacey Ann Chin, Lemon, Beau Sia, Mayda and the best…

On the court, Chris Paul, or CP3, as fans affectionately call him, is a force to be reckoned with, a fierce competitor, the face of the Los Angeles Clippers franchise,…

From Holly Robinson Peete first appearance on the award-winning children's show Sesame Street at the age of four to her most recent gig on the hit comedy series Mike &…

Cedric Pendleton, working full time in corporate sales, he emerged himself in a concentrated, back-breaking internship at Actor's Express Theater under then Artistic Director Chris Coleman, the result of which…

Phil Perry, All of the great singers possess certain distinctive qualities that cannot easily be replicated or denied

Dr. Orlando Patterson, a historical and cultural sociologist, is John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University. He has previously held faculty appointments at the University of the West Indies,…

Trying to survive in the male-dominated hip-hop industry, Kim Osorio excelled when she became the first ever and only female Editor In Chief of the Source Magazine. Having been with…

Minnesota’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Alan C. Page, was elected to the court in 1992 after serving as an assistant attorney general. He was reelected in 1998 and 2004.…

Clarence Page, the 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner for Commentary, is a columnist syndicated nationally by Tribune Media Services and a member of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board. Page is also…

Millions of Americans proudly watched Dan O’Brien win the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal to become the first American winner in the sport since 1976. As an Olympic Gold Medalist in…

Darryl McDaniels is a legendary music icon and the co-founder of Run-DMC, the legendary rap group that has sold over 30 million records, had several Top 10 hits and was…