bio.Now
bio.Now
Fascinating people making headlines.
Contributor
Leila Taha
(101 posts)
Leila Taha is a regular contributor for BIO Now. She would love for Michael Jackson's ghost to haunt her house.
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Fact or Fiction Friday: Presidential Nicknames Edition
February 17, 2012 by Leila TahaPost a commentAs the country gears up for the 2012 presidential race, we turn our attention to an important aspect of presidential history: The presidential nickname. Nearly...
also in this article
- In these groups:
- U.S. Presidents
- Famous Leos
- Famous People Named Benjamin
Benjamin Harrison
U.S. President / 1833 - 1901
Benjamin Harrison is best known as the 23rd president of the United States. He was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.
- In these groups:
- Fantastic Facial Hair
- Political Party Crashers
- U.S. Presidents
Martin Van Buren
Governor, U.S. President, U.S. Vice President, U.S. Representative / 1782 - 1862
Martin Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States. His shrewd dealings laid the foundations for the Democratic Party and the modern political machine.
Grover Cleveland
Lawyer, Governor, Mayor, U.S. President / 1837 - 1908
The 22nd and 24th president, Grover Cleveland is the only POTUS to serve two nonconsecutive terms, as well as the first to be married in the White House.
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Little Known Facts About Black History
February 3, 2012 by Leila TahaFebruary is Black History month, which means that every year we remember the African-Americans who have made history—and made America what it is today—often with...
also in this article
- In these groups:
- African-American Expats
- Blacklisted
- Famous Arians
Paul Robeson
Civil Rights Activist, Actor, Football Player, Lawyer, Singer / 1898 - 1976
Paul Robeson was an acclaimed 20th century performer known for productions like The Emperor Jones and Othello. He was also an international activist.
- In these groups:
- African-American Expats
- Famous Jazz Musicians
- Famous Geminis
Josephine Baker
Civil Rights Activist, Dancer, Singer / 1906 - 1975
Josephine Baker was a dancer and singer who became wildly popular in France during the 1920s. She also devoted much of her life to fighting racism.
Hattie McDaniel
Film Actress / 1895 - 1952
Actress and radio performer Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940, for her supporting role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
- In these groups:
- Famous Leos
- Famous Explorers
- Famous People Named Matthew
Matthew Henson
Explorer / 1866 - 1955
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole with Robert Edwin Peary in 1909.
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African-American Inventors
February 14, 2012 by Leila TahaAfrican-Americans have faced many obstacles over the course of history, but this hasn't stopped bright, innovative individuals from developing inventions that have...
also in this article
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Inventors
- Famous Black Scientists
- Famous Pisceans
Garrett Morgan
Entrepreneur, Inventor, Publisher / 1877 - 1963
Garrett Morgan blazed a trail for African-American inventors with his many patents, including those for a hair-straightening product, a breathing device, and an improved sewing machine and traffic signal.
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Inventors
- Famous Taureans
- Famous Inventors
Elijah McCoy
Entrepreneur, Engineer, Inventor / 1844 - 1929
Elijah McCoy was a 19th century African-American inventor best known for inventing lubrication devices used to make train travel more efficient.
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Inventors
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Inventors
Lewis Howard Latimer
Engineer, Inventor / 1848 - 1928
Lewis Howard Latimer was an inventor and draftsman best known for his contributions to the patenting of the light bulb and the telephone.
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Inventors
- Famous Black Scientists
- Famous Libras
George Carruthers
Physicist / 1939 -
Scientist George Carruthers created inventions, such as the ultraviolet camera, or spectograph, which was used by NASA in the 1972 Apollo 16 flight, revealing the mysteries of space and the Earth's atmosphere.
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Key Figures of Baseball Integration
January 31, 2012 by Leila TahaBaseball, American's national past-time, has a complicated history. Like much of American society in the 1940s, professional baseball was originally segregated...
also in this article
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Athletes
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Baseball Players
Larry Doby
Baseball Player, Coach / 1923 - 2003
Baseball player Larry Doby was the second African American player in the major leagues and first in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians.
- In these groups:
- African-American Biopics
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Black Athletes
Satchel Paige
Baseball Player / 1906 - 1982
Legendary pitcher Satchel Paige became the oldest player to join Major League baseball, with a career that spanned 40 years.
- In these groups:
- Baseball Nicknames
- The Ed Sullivan Show Guests
- Famous Black Athletes
Willie Mays
Baseball Player / 1931 -
Willie Mays played professional baseball for the Giants and the Mets. He was one of the best batters and fielders at the time.
- In these groups:
- Famous Lookalikes
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Civil Rights Activists
Branch Rickey
Civil Rights Activist, Business Leader / 1881 - 1965
Branch Rickey was an innovative baseball executive known for his groundbreaking 1945 decision to bring Jackie Robinson into the major leagues, thereby breaking the color barrier.
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Fact or Fiction Friday: Grammy Awards Edition
February 9, 2012 by Leila TahaThis Sunday, February 12, is the 54th Annual Grammys. Each year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honors outstanding achievements in the music...
also in this article
LeAnn Rimes
Film Actress, Television Actress, Singer / 1982 -
Country singer LeAnn Rimes's album Light Up My Life became the first to debut at number one on the pop, country and contemporary Christian Billboard charts.
- In these groups:
- Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith
- Famous Fathers
- Hollywood Heartthrobs
Will Smith
Actor, Entrepreneur, Rapper / 1968 -
Will Smith was on the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and has had a successful career as a film actor in several blockbusters since 1992.
- In these groups:
- Irish Eyes
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Singers
Sinead O'Connor
Activist, Songwriter, Singer / 1966 -
With her signature shaved head, Sinead O'Connor emerged with a powerful and expressive voice, complex songs, and a fair share of controversy.
- In these groups:
- Captains of Industry
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Inventors
Thomas Edison
Entrepreneur, Inventor / 1847 - 1931
Inventor Thomas Edison created such great innovations as the electric light bulb, the telephone and the phonograph. A savvy businessman, he held more than a 1,000 patents for his inventions.
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Fact or Fiction Friday: Jackson Pollock
January 26, 2012 by Leila TahaNicknamed "Jack the Dripper" for his technique of dripping paint over a canvas on the floor, Jackson Pollock is one of the most celebrated American artists in...
also in this article
- In these groups:
- Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
- Famous Scorpios
Lee Krasner
Painter / 1908 - 1984
Modernist abstract painter and collage artist Lee Krasner, wife of Jackson Pollock, created the Little Image painting series and the multimedia collage "Milkweed."

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