African American

It was the God fearing church-going grandmother of Lester Barrie who first suggested he would someday be a gospel preacher, and at age 21, accepting his calling, preach is what…

Ishmael Beah is a human rights activist and author of the powerful memoir A Long Way Gone (Sarah Crichton Books, 2007) which recounts his childhood journey through war-torn Sierra Leone.…

Lawrence Beamen is a native of the Deep South (Mississippi) and his quiet, humble upbringing is a complete contrast to his booming voice and intense passion for music. The remarkable gift…

Swizz Beatz, Artist. Designer. Producer. Philanthropist. Each label describes Swizz Beatz, but none define him.

Dennis W. Archer is Chairman and CEO of Dennis W. Archer PLLC and Chairman Emeritus of Dickinson Wright PLLC, a Detroit-based law firm with more than 270 attorneys, with five…

Tichina Arnold is from Queens, New York. She discovered her penchant for entertainment when she was four, in a performance for her familys church congregation. In her youth she appeared…

He was an African American man driving a white car with Rubin "Hurricane" Carter the same night three people were killed by two other African American men driving the same…

Trained as a dancer from early childhood, Essence Atkins made the switch to acting as a teenager when she was cast in a guest role on "The Cosby Show" (NBC,…

A dreamer, visionary, and grassroots realist, Byllye Avery combines activism and social responsibility by developing a national forum for the exploration of health issues of African-American women. By gathering and documenting…

Former NBA Basketball Player; CBS College Sports Analyst & Yahoo Sports Contributor; Former ESPN Analyst. Throughout his basketball career, Greg Anthony has found success on three different levels – a…

Harry Allen, Hip-Hop Activist & Media Assassin, writes about race, politics and culture, for publications like VIBE, The Source, The Village Voice and others, and has been doing so for…

Experience the power of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and see for yourself why this extraordinary company is hailed as America's cultural ambassador to the world. From the pulse-racing thrill…

Dr. Claud Anderson is president of PowerNomics Corporation of America, Inc. and The Harvest Institute, Inc. PowerNomics is a company that publishes his books and produces the multimedia presentations in…

Kimberly Aiken was Miss America 1994. Aiken was 18 years old when she won the coveted title. She won Miss Columbia and Miss South Carolina en route to her 1994…

Well known performer and saxophonist, Gerald Albright has recorded 7 CD's on the Atlantic label. His contemporary collections have established him as a prominent artist. He was one of ten…

AADE's mission is to preserve and share the finest traditions of African and African American Dance and Music through research, education, performance and entertainment; to focus on the health and…

When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left the NBA in 1989 at age 42, no player had ever scored more points, blocked more shots, won more Most Valuable Player Awards, played in more…

Janus Adams is the author of three books and creator of the groundbreaking BackPax children's book-and-audio series. An Emmy-winning journalist and talk show host, she writes the syndicated column, "What…

Jamele “Harlym125” Adams is, hands-down, one of the most powerful performance poets in the country. A onetime NPS finalist with the Boston Poetry Slam team back in 2008, he now…

Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, singer, entrepreneur, investor and actor from New York City. Born in the South Jamaica…

The FootworKINGz (FWK) is an all-star dance ensemble featuring Chicago’s top footworkers. FWK’s ensemble includes Artistic Director, Charles “King Charles” Parks, the city’s undisputed champ. Other FWK members include choreographer/dancer,…

Voices of Glory is a group of siblings who are on a mission to change the world through their unique style of singing, tight harmonies, and inspirational message. Michael, Avery,…

The Langston Hughes Project is a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’s kaleidoscopic jazz poem suite. Ask Your Mama is Hughes’s homage in verse and music to the struggle for…

Krist Parker, also known as KRS-ONE (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone), is one of the most important and influential rappers in the industry whose ascent from street kid to…

Drs. Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, fondly known as The Three Doctors are extraordinary role models for anyone who’s been through any kind of life challenge or major…

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, rapper, actor, director, composer, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in hip hop, RZA is the de…

Nas is a Queens Born rapper, songwriter, actor, producer and entrepreneur. He was ranked number 5 on MTV's list of The Greatest MCs of All time and number 2 on…

Reginald “Reggie” Noble, better known by his stage name Redman, is an American MC, rapper, DJ, record producer and actor. He came to fame in the early 1990s as an…

De La Soul is a Grammy Award winning hip hop group from Amityville, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky, surreal lyrics, and their contributions…

After selling millions of albums, The Game being nominated for Grammys, delivering scene-stealing performances in major motion pictures and starring in a hit television program, it may seem like there…

Retta, the familiar face who plays Donna, the hilarious office assistant on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. During her almost decade-long career in stand-up, Retta has become one of the most…

Poetri was one of the the first poets featured on “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry” on HBO and has also been seen on ABC, NBC, BET, MTV and VH-1. He…

Craig Grant, a.k.a. muMs, is an actor, poet and playwright best known for his role in the HBO prison Drama OZ as the character ‘Poet’. His performances have led to…

Grammy Award-winning singer, composer, producer, and actor Ne-Yo has released three number one albums, has sold over 10 million albums sold worldwide and has won three Grammy Awards. He has…

Ludacris was born Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois, the son of Roberta Shields and Wayne Brian Bridges. Being of both African-American and Native-American descent. Early in his elementary years,…

Once dubbed "the Jay-Z of the South" by Pharrell Williams, T.I. gradually came into his own and established himself as one of rap's most successful MCs during the early 2000s.…

Spanning decades and cultures, the six members of Anthem combine boundless energy and diverse musical influences to showcase their own brand of reggae on their debut CD on Mack Avenue…

God Made Me Funky is an 8-piece Juno Award nominated band that guarantees a good time for all who see them play. A reputation for a wide array of music…

Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1969. The daughter of a political opponent of the Somali dictatorship, Ayaan Hirsi Ali grew up in exile, moving from Saudi…

Who said that Poetry has limitations? Flowmentalz will demonstratehow poetry has “No limitations”, by bringing infinite thought into all his work. Creative thinking magnified through sound is the best synopsis…

A native of New York’s Lower East Side and a current resident and local legend of Los Angeles, Shihan is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic spoken word artists of…

Dr. Ro is an award-winning health journalist and television personality known for her easy-to-apply diet, fitness, and health tips for women and families. A leading nutrition coach for over 2…

Joan Hecht is the award winning author of "The Journey of the Lost Boys," as well as founder and president of "Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan," a 501…

ButtaFlySouL as he is known by family, friends and students is a nationally recognized training consultant and inspirational speaker.  He is a powerful advocate for youth with a strong focus…

In this moving and thought-provoking work, playwright Jeff Stetson imagines for us what a clandestine meeting might have been like between two of the most influential men of their times:…

Named one of the greatest live bands around by Rolling Stone magazine, the legendary Roots Crew has become one of the best known and most respected hip-hop acts in the…

Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the “100 Greatest Standups of All-Time,” actor and comedian Sinbad has had audiences laughing for over three decades. His storytelling style of comedy…

Arrested Development (AD) are true trailblazers within hip-hop music. Since 1991 they’ve championed colorful sounds, while spreading a unique mixture of consciousness and musicality around the globe. AD’s hit song…

World-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis, born in 1960, has always been a man of numerous musical interests. The three-time Grammy winner has continued to exercise and expand his skills as an…

Ice-T, not only invented gangster rap, he has lived it. Ice-T is the original embodiment of LA hip-hop. Through his music, his book, The Ice Opinion, and his lecture tours…