b
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Mary McLeod Bethune
Educator, Civil Rights Activist / 1875 - 1955
Mary McLeod Bethune was an educator and activist, serving as president of the National Association of Colored Women and founding the National Council of Negro Women.
See full bio
(1875-1955)
Educator, Civil Rights Activist
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Doc Blanchard
Football Player / 1924 - 2009
Doc Blanchard was a collegiate football player who won the 1945 Heisman Trophy while at West Point.
See full bio
(1924-2009)
Football Player
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Chadwick Boseman
Actor, Director, Screenwriter / 1982 -
Chadwick Boseman is an American actor known for his roles on the TV show Lincoln Heights and as baseball great Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42.
See full bio
(1982-)
Actor, Director, Screenwriter
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James Brown
Activist, Dancer, Songwriter, Singer / 1933 - 2006
James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," was a prolific singer, songwriter and bandleader, as well as one of the most iconic figures in funk and soul music from 1956 to 2006.
See full bio
(1933-2006)
Activist, Dancer, Songwriter, Singer
c
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John C. Calhoun
U.S. Vice President, U.S. Representative / 1782 - 1850
John C. Calhoun was an American congressman, secretary of war, seventh vice president, senator and secretary of state. He championed states' rights and slavery.
See full bio
(1782-1850)
U.S. Vice President, U.S. Representative
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Chubby Checker
Singer / 1941 -
Chubby Checker was an early rock 'n' roller who had a hit with the song and dance sensation, "The Twist."
See full bio
(1941-)
Singer
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Alice Childress
Author, Playwright / 1916 - 1994
Alice Childress is an African-American playwright associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She is also the author of several young adult novels.
See full bio
(1916-1994)
Author, Playwright
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Septima Poinsette Clark
Educator, Civil Rights Activist / 1898 - 1987
Septima Poinsette Clark was a pioneering educator and activist who championed teacher’s rights with organizations like the NAACP.
See full bio
(1898-1987)
Educator, Civil Rights Activist
d
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Viola Davis
Film Actress, Theater Actress / 1965 -
Viola Davis has earned raves for such films as Doubt and The Help, and for such Broadway plays as King Hedley II and Fences.
See full bio
(1965-)
Film Actress, Theater Actress
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Andy Dick
Television Actor, Comedian / 1965 -
Actor and comedian Andy Dick has appeared in such shows as News Radio, Less Than Perfect and Dancing with the Stars.
See full bio
(1965-)
Television Actor, Comedian
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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.
See full bio
(1923-2003)
Baseball Player, Coach
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Marian Wright Edelman
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Writer / 1939 -
Marian Wright Edelman is best known for her legal advocacy on behalf of African-Americans during and after the Civil Rights Movement.
See full bio
(1939-)
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer, Writer
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John Edwards
U.S. Representative / 1953 -
John Edwards served in the U.S. Senate from 1998 to 2004. He was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in the 2004 election, and twice ran for president.
See full bio
(1953-)
U.S. Representative
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Ernest Everett Just
Educator, Biologist / 1883 - 1941
African-American cell biologist Ernest Everett Just made pioneering contributions to the cytology and embryology of marine organisms.
See full bio
(1883-1941)
Educator, Biologist
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Tyler Florence
Chef, Television Personality, Writer / 1971 -
Tyler Florence is best known for hosting Food Network's Food 911, How to Boil Water, Tyler's Ultimate and The Great Food Truck Race.
See full bio
(1971-)
Chef, Television Personality, Writer
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Joe Frazier
Boxer / 1944 - 2011
Joe Frazier was the world heavyweight boxing champion from February 1970 until January 1973 and fought in the famous "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.
See full bio
(1944-2011)
Boxer
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Arthur Freed
Producer, Songwriter / 1894 - 1973
Lyricist and movie producer Arthur Freed brought us Singin' in the Rain (1952), An American in Paris (1952) and Gigi (1958).
See full bio
(1894-1973)
Producer, Songwriter
g
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Kevin Garnett
Basketball Player / 1976 -
Kevin Garnett is an American professional basketball player who is considered one of the most versatile and dominant players of his time.
See full bio
(1976-)
Basketball Player
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Leeza Gibbons
Talk Show Host, News Anchor, Television Producer / 1957 -
Leeza Gibbons is an entertainment personality. She's known for hosting the TV shows Entertainment Tonight and Extra, as well as her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential.
See full bio
(1957-)
Talk Show Host, News Anchor, Television Producer
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Althea Gibson
Golfer, Tennis Player / 1927 - 2003
Tennis star Althea Gibson was the first African American to play at Wimbledon. She also broke racial barriers in professional golf.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1927-2003)
Golfer, Tennis Player
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William Gibson
Author / 1948 -
William Gibson is a science fiction writer and one of the pioneers of the cyberpunk movement with novels such as Neuromancer.
See full bio
(1948-)
Author
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Dizzy Gillespie
Songwriter, Singer, Trumpet Player / 1917 - 1993
A jazz trumpeter and composer, Dizzy Gillespie played with Charlie Parker and developed the music known as "bebop." His best-known compositions include "Oop Bob Sh' Bam," "Groovin' High," "Salt Peanuts" and "A Night in Tunisia."
See full bio
(1917-1993)
Songwriter, Singer, Trumpet Player
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Lucas Glover
Golfer / 1979 -
Lucas Glover is a professional golfer who has been in the top 30 on the earnings list since 2005.
See full bio
(1979-)
Golfer
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Sarah Moore Grimké
Civil Rights Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Journalist / 1792 - 1873
Abolitionist and feminist Sarah Moore Grimké and her sister Angelina were the first women to testify before a state legislature on the issue of blacks' rights.
See full bio
(1792-1873)
Civil Rights Activist, Women's Rights Activist, Journalist
h
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Nikki Haley
U.S. Governor / 1972 -
Nikki Haley was elected governor of South Carolina in 2010, becoming both the first female and Indian-American to fill the role.
See full bio
(1972-)
U.S. Governor
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Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Radio Personality, News Anchor, Journalist / 1942 -
Charlayne Hunter-Gault is best known as one of two African-American students first admitted to the University of Georgia and is an award-winning journalist.
See full bio
(1942-)
Radio Personality, News Anchor, Journalist
j
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Jesse Jackson Jr.
U.S. Representative, Journalist / 1965 -
Jesse Jackson Jr. is the son of the famous Reverend Jesse Jackson. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2012.
See full bio
(1965-)
U.S. Representative, Journalist
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Jesse Jackson
Civil Rights Activist, Minister, Journalist / 1941 -
Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights leader, Baptist minister and politician who twice ran for U.S. president.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1941-)
Civil Rights Activist, Minister, Journalist
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Shoeless Joe Jackson
Baseball Player / 1887 - 1951
Joe Jackson was a top major league baseball player during the early 20th century who was ousted from the sport for his alleged role in game fixing.
See full bio
(1887-1951)
Baseball Player
k
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Eartha Kitt
Actress / 1927 - 2008
Singer and actress Eartha Kitt is best known for her holiday song "Santa Baby," and for playing Catwoman in the 1960's TV show Batman.
See full bio
(1927-2008)
Actress
m
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Andie MacDowell
Film Actress, Model / 1958 -
Andie MacDowell is an American actress and model notable for her roles in Sex, Lies and Videotape, Short Cuts, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day.
See full bio
(1958-)
Film Actress, Model
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Eric Massa
U.S. Representative / 1959 -
Former U.S. Representative Eric Massa served just over a year in the House before he was accused of sexual misconduct with a male staffer.
See full bio
(1959-)
U.S. Representative
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Kelly Miller
Mathematician, Scientist / 1863 - 1939
African-American mathematician and scientist Kelly Miller was an important figure in the intellectual community of his time.
See full bio
(1863-1939)
Mathematician, Scientist
p
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Mary-Louise Parker
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1964 -
Mary-Louise Parker is an American Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress known for her role on the Showtime television show Weeds.
See full bio
(1964-)
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress
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John Phillips
Singer / 1935 - 2001
Singer John Phillips was a member of the popular 1960s folk rock band The Mamas and the Papas, along with Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips.
See full bio
(1935-2001)
Singer
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Charles Pinckney
Diplomat, U.S. Representative, U.S. Governor, Writer / 1757 - 1824
Charles Pinckney was an American Founding Father, governor of South Carolina and signer of the U.S. Constitution.
See full bio
(1757-1824)
Diplomat, U.S. Representative, U.S. Governor, Writer
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Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Military Leader, Dictator, Diplomat / 1746 - 1825
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was an American Revolutionary War veteran, South Carolina legislator and two-time presidential candidate.
See full bio
(1746-1825)
Military Leader, Dictator, Diplomat
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Melvin Purvis
Civil Servant / 1903 - 1960
Melvin Purvis was the FBI agent responsible for bringing several notorious criminals to justice, among them outlaws John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd.
See full bio
(1903-1960)
Civil Servant
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Alonzo J. Ransier
Civil Rights Activist, Governor, U.S. Representative / 1834 - 1882
Alonzo J. Ransier was an African-American politician from South Carolina served during post-Civil War Reconstruction.
See full bio
(1834-1882)
Civil Rights Activist, Governor, U.S. Representative
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Chris Rock
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director, Producer / 1965 -
Former Saturday Night Live castmember Chris Rock has appeared in such films as Bad Company and is the creator of the television show Everybody Hates Chris.
See full bio
(1965-)
Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Director, Producer
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Darius Rucker
Songwriter, Singer / 1966 -
Darius Rucker is a singer/songwriter known as the frontman of the musical group Hootie & the Blowfish and as a solo country artist.
See full bio
(1966-)
Songwriter, Singer
s
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Tim Scott
U.S. Representative / 1965 -
Junior Senator Tim Scott is the seventh African American to win election to the U.S. Senate. He is also a former U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
See full bio
(1965-)
U.S. Representative
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Robert Smalls
Political Leader / 1839 - 1915
Robert Smalls was an enslaved African American who became a politician, serving in both the South Carolina legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.
See full bio
(1839-1915)
Political Leader
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Susan Smith
Murderer / 1971 -
Susan Smith is best known for her murder of her two sons in order to carry on a relationship with a man.
See full bio
(1971-)
Murderer
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Charlotta Spears Bass
Educator, Editor, Journalist / 1874 - 1969
Charlotta Spears Bass was a journalist and activist who, as editor of the California Eagle, championed African-American equality and freedom.
See full bio
(1874-1969)
Educator, Editor, Journalist
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Strom Thurmond
U.S. Representative / 1902 - 2003
Strom Thurmond served as a U.S. senator for South Carolina from 1956 to 2003, during which time he switched from Democrat to Republican due to his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He resigned from the Senate at age 100—becoming the oldest congressman in U.S. history.
See full bio
(1902-2003)
U.S. Representative
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Benjamin Ryan Tillman
Governor, U.S. Representative / 1847 - 1918
Benjamin Tillman, Pitchfork Ben, is best known as the former governor of South Carolina and white supremacist.
See full bio
(1847-1918)
Governor, U.S. Representative
w
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John B. Watson
Psychologist, Academic Author / 1878 - 1958
Psychologist John B. Watson is remembered for codifying and publicizing behaviorism with his article “Psychology as a Behaviorist Views It” and other research.
See full bio
(1878-1958)
Psychologist, Academic Author
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William Westmoreland
General / 1914 - 2005
William Westmoreland was a U.S. Army general who made a name for himself as commander of American troops in Vietnam.
See full bio
(1914-2005)
General
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Vanna White
Game Show Host / 1957 -
Vanna White is the longtime co-host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune.
See full bio
| Watch video
(1957-)
Game Show Host