People and her many fans remember the days when she was a member of The Supremes. This dynamic and amazing lady is an American singer, actress and record producer who at 70 is still going strong and performing. Diana Ross was born in Detroit where she began her career with Motown in the 60s. When Ross began her solo career in 1970 she came out with her first album Diana Ross which contained the hits “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. When she got into acting she showed amazing talent and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for her performance in “Lady Sings the Blues”.
Honour comes in all shapes and sizes. People can be honourable and events can be honourable. Rosa Park is one of the honourable people as she stood up for the rights of African Americans more then once. Being honourable is someone who believes in truth and doing the right thing, and tires to live up to high principles. Rosa Parks helped change the way we think and act towards the African American society.
People make history and history makes an impact on the world; Ella Baker did just that. Never putting herself at the center of attention, Baker’s main involvements in history include the establishment of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, working as a director of branches for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and lastly, forming meetings for the people from the Greensboro sit-ins that transformed into the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC). Although unable to face any grave consequences, Bakers mainly impact on history was during the Civil Rights era from 1931-1986. Baker was against segregation at the time when there was racial discrimination of African Americans and minorities.
Born as Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906, in Saint Louis. Her mother had dreams of becoming a music-hall dancer, but gave them up to become a mother and washerwoman and her father abandoned them when she was an infant. Most of her time as a youth was spent in poverty. To help support her family, she started cleaning houses and babysitting at the age of eight often being mistreated. At the age of 13 she ran away from home, found work as a waitress at a club where she met her first husband Willie Wells, who she divorced only weeks later.
Elvis Presley Elvis inspired and influenced rock musicians like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen. Elvis’ early life was mostly in Memphis, Tennessee with his cousins. His middle life was full of music. Presley’s late life had a downfall, but, he kept on going forward. To truly understand Elvis Presley, one must understand his early, middle, and late life.
All of her albums sold out in large numbers, making Selena successful with her music. I look up to Selena Quintanilla-Perez as my role model. It took a lot of hard work and courage for her to become a successful Mexican-American artist. As a Mexican-American woman, she broke barriers and made recording history with her music. She changed Latino music by combining different genres in her music to connect with other cultures besides her own.
The Life of Sojourner Truth: An Abolitionist Sojourner Truth, whose original name was Isabella Baumfree, was born in Upstate New York in around 1797. In that day, the birthdays of children born into slavery were not kept track of, so the exact date of Isabella’s birth is not known. She grew up in a slave family with 11 siblings. In 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth.
Often referred to as "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most popular female jazz singers in the United States. Throughout her career, Ella was awarded thirteen Grammys and sold over 40 million albums. With a voice that not only encompassed a large range, but a dynamic and powerful sound, Ella could sing almost anything from scatting to the popular tunes of her day. She performed in the top venues all around the world to packed houses, with audiences as diverse as the music she created. Ella came from a small town and impoverished family, but through her talent and determination, skyrocketed to fame creating a legacy that has withstood the sands of time.
Josephine Baker was an outstanding african american woman born June 3, 1906 in St. Louis Missouri. Josephine, being born into poverty, became a highly praised singer and dancer in France. She was regarded as one of the most famous americans living overseas. Throughout her life she did lots of performances with her unique dance costumes, became a civil rights activist, and adopted many children and, as a result, made herself a spot in history. Josephine Baker was known for her unique dance apparel which brung her a lot of attention as a dancer.
"I’ve always been a writer. My songs are the door to every dream I’ve ever had and every success I’ve ever achieved,” says Dolly Parton. Over the years, Dolly Parton has created an amazing image of being a renowned superstar. She has contributed to countless milestones in entertainment world of country music. Spanning from her classical songs such a “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and her mega-hit “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly).
Although some people might argue that Shirley Chisholm does not demonstrate leadership qualities, a closer examination proves that the former congresswoman was a strong leader because of her independence, perseverance,and willingness to take risks. Shirley Chisholm is a great leader because she blazed a trail by being the first African American Congresswoman. For example, “Chisholm indulged her maverick nature in a spectacular gesture. She became the first black woman to run for president” (Morin pg1).This proves that she was the first black individual in her field to run for president so this makes her a trailblazer because all leaders should possess this for the reason that no leader can lead from behind.
Bessie Smith, an African American blues singer was killed in a car accident. Her songs have touched the lives of many black people across the country, and her songs will be forever missed. Elizabeth (Bessie) Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 15, 1894. Bessie was one of the seven children that William and Laura Smith had. Her father died shortly after she was born and in 1906, her mother and two of her brothers died, so her aunt ended up raising her and her remaining siblings.
Hamidah Waldron Dr. Tennyson HUM 209 25 March 2015 Angela Bassett Angela Bassett is a Yale trained, Academy nominee, and a Golden Globe winning actress. She’s best known for her dramatic roles. Angela Bassett breakthrough role was playing Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It. Bassett worked hard to fight through stereotypical roles African American women were usually given and she excelled tremendously.
Michelle Obama Essay Have you influenced the world and become a role model to others? Well Michelle Obama has in many ways. She supports many causes, a young mother, a fashion icon, and the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama has been a role model to many Americans. Currently she is married to the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the first lady.
I recently had the privilege of listening to Leymah Gbowee, from Liberia, Africa, give a talk on her peace and female activism efforts in West Africa. Gbowee is a very down to earth soul. She started her talk off asking if she should sit or stand and decided to sit and, in her words, “Rest my aching bones and let this be a conversation.” Leymah was born in Monrovia, Liberia and grew up as a child and young woman living with her parents and sisters when the 1st Liberian Civil War broke out. She started out as a trauma counselor treating child soldiers and went on to social work school to become a Social Worker.
