First Name

Last Name

Description

Paul Joseph

Adams III

Founding director of the independent Providence-St. Mel High School

Ethel Skyles

Alexander

Former Illinois State Senator from 26th District

Howard "Louie Bluie"

Armstrong

World's greatest fiddle player, country blues musician, storyteller and artist. Subject of a film and PBS documentary

James

Avery

Actor, Emmy winner, poet. Most famous for playing the uncle in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Lee

Bailey

Broadcaster and founder of Lee Bailey Communications

Ernie

Banks

Great All Star Chicago Cubs baseball player. "Mr. Cub"

Etta Moten

Barnett

Elite actress and singer

Marion

Barry

SNCC volunteer. Former mayor of Washington, D.C.

Michael

Battle

Seventh president of Interdenominational Theological Center; administrator at Hampton University, Virginia State University, Chicago State University.

Ruth

Beckford

Former Katherine Dunham Dancer, writer and actress

Lerone

Bennett, Jr.

Editor of Ebony, historian, author of Before The Mayflower

Rev. James Luther

Bevel

Reverend, organizer and daring social activist. Hero of 1963's Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama

Sanford

Bishop, Jr.

Congressman from Georgia

Timuel

Black

Respected educator, activist, community leader and philosopher. Chicago historian.

Julian

Bond

SNCC volunteer, Georgia State Legislator, narrator and chairman of the board of the NAACP

Alvin

Boutte, Sr.

Chicago businessman and co-founder of Independence Bank

Barbara

Boyd

Groundbreaking broadcast journalist

Leo

Branton, Jr.

Established private legal practice when no integrated or African American law firms existed.

Andrew F.

Brimmer

Economist and former vice president of the Federal Reserve

Edward

Brooke III

Senator, lawyer, Mass. Attorney General, WWII soldier

Harry

Brooks

Commanding General of 25th Infantry Division; promoted improving education in the military.

Tyrone

Brooks

SCLC civil rights activist and Georgia State Representative

Alma

Brown

Widow of Sec. Of Commerce Ron Brown, VP of Chevy Chase Bank, National Urban League

Philip

Brown

Schoolteacher for 4 decades; authored books documenting African American education and segregation during his retirement.

Oscar C.

Brown, Jr.

Black music theorist, jazz singer, songwriter, poet and playwright. Host of PBS series, From Jump Street

Diann

Burns

Co-anchor of the ten o'clock news at WLS-7, Chicago's ABC affiliate

Tom

Burrell

Advertising mogul, founder of Burrell Communications Group

Margaret

Burroughs

Artist, educator and institution-builder. Founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago

John

Bynoe

Coordinated civil rights program at U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; director of Boston-area Regional Office of Civil Rights

Peggy Cooper

Cafritz

President of the D.C. Board of Education and award-winning documentary producer

Zerrie

Campbell

First female president of Malcolm X College

Jean

Carne

Singer, started with "Earth, Wind, & Fire," #1 hits, performed with wide variety of other famous musicians, successful solo career

Hon. Robert

Carter

Former NAACP lawyer and U.S. District Court Judge

Emma

Chappell

Trailblazer in African American commerce and director of the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project

King

Cheek

President of Shaw University, Morgan State University.

Augusta

Clark

Retired City Council member of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Frank

Clark

Worked his way up from the mailroom to become president of Illinois electric company ComEd

Phillip

Clay

First black chancellor of MIT; professor of urban planning at MIT.

Eddy

Clearwater

Blues guitarist performing in Chicago since 1953; has toured around the world with many legends of the blues.

Joseph

Clipper

Renowned portrait photographer; work commissioned by U.S. congresspeople, U.S. Military, Howard University, and others.

Janet Langhart

Cohen

Award-winning television journalist; newspaper columnist for Boston Herald; now a media consultant.

Marva

Collins

Founder of Westside Preparatory School

Nathan

Conyers

Civil Rights Attorney and Owner of Conyers' Riverside Ford and Jaguar dealerships.

Jacques

Cook

Attorney at major private firms; served as legal counsel for U.S. Senate Budget Committee; worked at International Development Bank.

Evern

Cooper Epps

President of UPS Foundation; Vice president of UPS Corporate Relations

Rafael

Cortada

President of Metropolitan Community College (Minneapolis), Community College of Baltimore, El Camino College, University of the District of Columbia and Wayne County Com

Allan

Crite

Prominent and prolific painter and author of several books

Delores

Cross

Educator/College president of Morris Brown College

Betty

Currie

President Bill Clinton's personal secretary.

Janette

Dates

Howard University professor specializing in blacks in the media

Angela

Davis

Activist, author, educator, former communist and Black Panther

Belva

Davis

Media personality, first African American female newscaster in San Francisco

Ossie

Davis

Profound writer, director, actor and producer

Tyrone

Davis

Recorder of over 50 hit songs

Merri

Dee

Versatile broadcaster and civic leader

Ronald V.

Dellums

Former Congressman from Northern California's 9th District. President of Healthcare InternationalManagement Co.

David

Dinkins

1st African American Mayor of New York City

David

Driskell

One of the world's leading authorities on African American art

Katherine

Dunham

Legendary dancer, choreographer and anthropologist

Ramona

Edelin

Former CEO, National Urban Coalition, Education Activist

Archie

Epps III

Former director of admissions at Harvard University. Author of Malcolm X Speeches at Harvard

Russ

Ewing

Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist

Mel

Farr

Car dealer was highest grossing black business in 1998.

Rev. Dr. Floyd H.

Flake

Pastor of Allen A.M.E. Church and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Thomas C.

Fleming

Accomplished writer and founder of 2 African American Newspapers in the Bay Area

Samuel A.

Floyd, Jr.

Director emeritus and consultant to the Center for Black Music

Badi

Foster

CEO of the Phelps-Stokes fund, former college professor

Norman C.

Francis

President of Xavier University of New Orleans

Dr. Harold

Freeman

Preeminent authority on cancer as it relates to poverty

Paul

Freeman

Music director of the Chicago Sinfonietta

Kenny

Gamble

Lyricist of the songwriting team of Gamble and Huff. Originator of the Philadelphia Sound/Civic activist

Ed

Gardner

Launched Soft Sheen Products, New Regal Theatre. Black on Black Love Campaign. Chicago community philanthropist

Kenard

Gibbs

President of Vibe Magazine; business and marketing consultant.

Earl

Graves

Founder of Black Enterprise Magazine and author of New York Times bestseller, How to Succeed in Business Without Being White

William

Greaves

New York based documentary film producer/director/actor. Ralph Bunche:An American Odyssey

Sam

Greenlee

Activist, former officer in the U.S. Foreign Service, writer and talk radio program host

Betty

Gross

Former Director of Nursing School at Provident Hospital

Cecil

Hale

Former WVON radio personality and record executive

Joel

Hall

Founder of Joel Hall Dance Center; created 40 original ballets.

Charles

Harrison

Commercial product designer for Sears/Viewmaster

Charles

Hayes

Labor organizer and congressman

Dorothy

Height

President of National Council of Negro Women for over 40 years, social activist

Ora

Higgins

First AA female personnel manager to engineer corporate integration plan

Walter

Hill

Professor, Howard U., Senior Archivist @ National Archives

Asa

Hilliard III

Fuller E. Calloway Professor of Educational Psychology at Georgia State University. Author of The Maroon Within Us

Geoffrey

Holder

Toni Award winning actor, dancer, painter, director, costume designer. Known as UnCola nut spokesman.

Bishop Joseph L.

Howze

Retired Catholic Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi

Joyce

Hughes

Trailblazing law professor at Northwestern University

Richard

Hunt

Internationally renowned sculptor

Abner Val Jean

Jackson

Co-owner of Jackson's Mortuary in Wichita. Civic activist

Dorothy O.

Jackson

Deputy Mayor of Akron. Civic activist

Jesse

Jackson, Jr.

Influential congressman from Illinois 1st Congressional District

Vernon

Jarrett

Print, radio and television journalist

Ella

Jenkins

Popular children's folk musician

Eric

Johnson

Owner of Johnson Hair Products and Baldwin/Richardson Foods

Hon. Sterling

Johnson

Federal judge appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Louis

Johnson

Dancer, choreographer, dance director who has choregraphed for the stage (Damn Yankees & Hallelujah Baby) and screen (The Wiz & Cotton Comes to Harlem)

Shirley

Jones

Co-founder of Kendren Community Mental Health Center, providing a full range of psychological services in the Watts-Compton area of Los Angeles

Emil

Jones, Jr.

Democratic Leader of the Illinois State Senate

James G.

Kaiser

Owner of a Lexus dealership

Maulana

Karenga

Founder of Kwanzaa, writer, social activist, teacher

Herb

Kent

Radio personality "The Cool Gent"

Woodie

King

Founder of the New Federal Theatre, National Black Touring Circuit, writer of theater trends and critiques

Artis

Lane

Award-winning portrait painter and sculptor; subjects include John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Henry Kissinger, Barbara Bush, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jordan, and Rosa Parks.

Allie

Latimer

Founder of Federally Employed Women organization; counsel for various government agencies, including NASA.

LaSalle

Leffall

President of American College of Surgeons; Chairman of President's Cancer Panel; authored over 150 articles.

John

Levy

Renowned music manager; clients included Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Hancock, Roberta Flack, and Wes Montgomery.

Ramsey

Lewis

Jazz pianist. Ramsey Lewis Trio

Kimberly

Lightford

Illinois State Senator; elected to second term in 2003.

Evelyn

Lowery

Founder and Chairwoman of SCLC's Women's Organizational Movement of Equality Now; Wife of SCLC leader Joseph Lowery.

James

Lowry

President: Chicago office of Boston Consulting, leader in diversity in the workplace

Freddie

Lucas

First African American lobbyist at J.C. Penney corporation; worked as a consultant for General Motors corporation;

Dr. Julianne

Malveaux

Pioneering economist, columnist and talk radio host

Joe

Marshall

Youth Club Founder in San Francisco

Walter

Massey

Distinguished physicist and President of Morehouse College

Barry A.

Mayo

Broadcasting management pioneer

Iola

McGowan

Former board member of Chicago Park District and former vice president of Illinois Democratic Party

George

McKenna III

Reformer whose tactics have been modeled at schools nationwide

Terry

McMillan

Author of Mama, Disappearing Acts, Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Jun

Mhoon

Touring drummer with Staples Sisters; vice president of A&M Records; founded own record label, I AM Records, in 1987.

Michael

Mitchell

Director of Washington, D.C. NAACP; reporter for Baltimore Afro-American.

Peggy A.

Montes

Founder of Bronzeville Children's Museum, the first and only African American children's museum in the country

Geraldine

Moore

Leader of all female band that backed comedian Jackie "Moms" Mabley

Charles

Morrow

Illinois State Representative from the 32nd district; first elected in 1987.

Otis

Moss

Staff member of Martin Luther King, Jr.; pastor in Cleveland, Ohio area since 1961;

Laura W.

Murphy

Director of the ACLU's Washington office

John

Murphy III

Chairman, publisher Afro-American from 1974 to present

Najwa I

Founder of Najwa Dance Corps; integrates African and Carribean dance styles into her choreography.

Shirley

Nathan-Pulliam

First Carribean born person and first registered nurse elected to Maryland General Assembly (1994); worked as registered nurse since 1962.

Fayard

Nicholas

Elder member of famed tap-dancing duo, The Nicholas Brothers; appeared in dozens of films and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dr. Virgil C.

Norris

Surgeon and community activist in Tallahassee, Fla., 1st black doctor in Boca Raton

Lorenzo

Pace

Internationally acclaimed multi media and performance artist

Lutrelle F. "Lu"

Palmer

Black activist journalist founder of "Lu's Notebook", radio spot, Lu's Bookshelf and Chicago Black United Communities (CBUC)

Gordon

Parks, Sr.

Poet, novelist, music composer, documentary and fashion photographer, and director of films including The Learning Tree and Shaft

Richard

Pegue

Dusty set radio personality

Dr. Muriel

Petioni

Community health worker in Harlem

Bob

Petty

Broadcast journalist since 1971

Donald

Porter

Former member of the 1950's Doo Wop group The Spaniels, who had a hit with "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"

Dr. Alvin

Poussaint

Preeminent child psychiatrist and expert on race relations

Dr. Maurice

Rabb

Pioneering ophthamalogist in cornea and retinal vascular diseases

Patricia

Ralph

Only African American nun in Community of St. Joseph; currently a school principal in Washington, D.C.

William

Raspberry

Newspaper columnist for the Washington Post

Bernice Johnson

Reagon

Civil rights activist, folklorist, musician

Martha

Reeves

Lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas; recorded several hits for Motown Records.

Linda Johnson

Rice

Executive officer at Johnson Publishing since 1987; was vice president of fashion department at Ebony magazine; daughter of founder John H. Johnson.

Lloyd

Richards

Influential actor and director of the Yale Drama School

Leroy

Richie

Pioneering executive lawyer at the Chrysler Corporation and the United States Golf Association

Herman

Roberts

Consummate businessman. Founder of a taxi company, night club, bowling alley and motel chain in Chicago

Bobby

Robinson

Negro League baseball player considered to be one of the game's greatest third basemen

Ray M.

Robinson

Retired president of AT&T's southern region and president of Atlanta's historic East Lake Golf Club

John

Rogers, Jr.

Founder of Ariel Capital Management Corporation

Frank

Ross

Accounting executive

Dorothy Walker

Runner

Social activist, organizer for women's and health issues

Herman J.

Russell

Construction executive, founder of the Herman J. Russell Entrepreneural Scholarship Foundation

Rev. Al

Sampson

Activist minister and consultant on Black Heritage Bible. Ordained by Dr. King

Adelaide

Sanford

Teacher and principal in Brooklyn, vice chancellor of the State University of New York's Board of Regents

Gus

Savage

Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois and forceful voice for equality

Michael

Scott

President of Chicago Park District, Chicago Board of Education, Chicago Office of Cable Communications; executive at Comcast; member of Harold Washington administration.

Rev. Al

Sharpton

Nationally known activist minister. Founder of National Action Network

Russell

Simmons

Cultural icon has brought hip-hop to the masses; founder of Def Jam Records, Def Jam Comedy, Def Jam Poetry; founder of Simmons-Lathan Media Group.

Dr. Horace E.

Smith

Renowned pediatrician and bishop in Chicago

Calvin

Smyre

State Representative of Georgia from the city of Columbus

Pervis

Spann

"The Blues Man", radio personality and businessman

Shelby

Steele

Political commentator . Winner of National Book Award for The Content of Our Character

Morris "Butch"

Stewart, Jr.

JoyArtMusic president & founder, music producer

Lou

Stovall

Printmaker and art educator, founder of Workshop, Inc.

Allen

Stringfellow

Collage and watercolor artist

Robert

Stull

Successful inker for Marvel and DC Comics; fuses comics and hip-hop with Armanda Design Group.

Dr. Louis

Sullivan

Former United States Surgeon General

Jackie

Taylor

Actress, director and founder of the Black Ensemble Theatre Company

Rev. Gardner

Taylor

Honored theologian, Minister of Concord Baptist in Brooklyn and founding president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention

Welton

Taylor

Discovered antibiotics can treat tetanus and gangrene

Rosalyn

Terborg-Penn

Student civil rights activists; professor at Morgan State University since 1969; expert in African American Women's history

Reginald

Thomas

Influential Chicago fashion designer; incorporates African themes into his designs.

William

Thompson

Armament officer in the 99th Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen

Thomas N.

Todd

Established first Civil Rights Office in a United States Attorney's office. Dynamic public speaker.

Lorraine

Toussaint

Successful film and television actress; nominated for 4 NAACP Image Awards.

Charles

Tribbett

Named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful African American executives in America; currently runs his own executive recruiting firm.

Morrie

Turner

Creator of Wee Pals, the first multi-ethnic cartoon strip syndicated in the United States.

McCoy

Tyner

Legendary jazz pianist; member of famed John Coltrane Quartet; has made over 80 recordings and won 4 Grammy Awards.

C.T.

Vivan

Close friend and lieutenant of Martin Luther King, Jr.; civil rights leader was member of SNCC, SCLC; participated in Freedom Rides; founder of Black Action Strategies and Infor

George

Wallace

Inspired standup comedian

William

Warfield

Extraordinary vocalist and college professor

Maxine

Waters

Outspoken advocate of women, children, poor people and people of color

Wayne

Watson

Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago

Wellington

Webb

Former Colorado State Rep. And 1st African American Mayor of Denver. Elected for 3rd term.

Lloyd

Wheeler

The great great grandson of black abolitionist, John Jones. And past CEO of Supreme Life Insurance Co.

Willye B.

White

Five time Olympian. Youth foundation founder

DeWayne

Wickham

Journalist and columnist for USA Today; author, a founding member of NABJ.

Dianne

Wilkerson

First African American woman elected to Massachusetts State Senate; currently is the only African American In the Massachusetts Senate.

Eddie

Williams

President of the Joint Center, independent Washington think tank

Julius

Williams

Internationally known conductor and composer; professor at Berklee College of Music; works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic and Cleveland Orchestra, among

Serena

Wilson

Master quilter; taught special education in Ohio and Germany.

Ernest

Withers

Photojournalist, documented civil rights movement and rising musical stars in Memphis

Robert L.

Woodson

Creator, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise to fight poverty

Robert E.

Wooten, Sr.

Founder & director, Wooten Choral Ensemble, gospel choir

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A.

Wright

Outspoken pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ is the author of four books.

N. Don

Wycliff

Award winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune

Doris

Zollar

Chair of Ladies Board of Operation PUSH and Entrepreneur