They are the famous African-American writers who have fearlessly examined cultural stigmas, provided intimate life details, presented new ideas and created remarkable fiction through literary works. For their prophetic genius, these men and women have received Pulitzer Prizes, NAACP awards and even Nobel Prizes, among other honors. Our list of prominent African-American authors includes Toni Morrison, who has detailed the lives of black characters who struggle with identity amidst racism and hostility; Langston Hughes, a founder of the Harlem Renaissance; and Maya Angelou, who has eloquently chronicled various eras of her life through her autobiographies.
Female journalists and nonfiction writers have covered some of the world’s most pressing concerns, including ethnic civil rights, reproductive freedom, voting access and overall gender equality, with iconic thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir, Judy Chicago, Ida B. Wells and Dr. Ruth Westheimer having shaped forward-thinking conversations. These pioneers have often been joined in their efforts by the women who work in general news. Correspondents like Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Lisa Ling, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters are known for insightful current-affair analysis and an inspiring breadth of vision, creating a more inclusive media landscape.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
To devote oneself to a field of study is to become a part of the fabric of that field—be it language, medicine, politics or culture. Female scholars shine among these intellectuals, including pediatric trailblazer Virginia Apgar and anti-Communist crusader Jean Kirkpatrick. Mary Wollenstonecraft championed equal education rights for women, Angela Davis and Bell Hooks vastly contributed to the Civil Rights Movement, and feminist poet Adrienne Rich explored the complexities of marriage and motherhood. Browse full biographies of these and other great minds who paved the way for the female scholars of today to change the shape of the world of tomorrow.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
In entertainment, where the line between fiction and reality is often blurry, names are a crucial part of a celebrity's image. Stage names are often chosen to make an actor or musician's name easier to pronounce or remember, or simply to make it sounds more attractive. Here are famous celebrities who have changed their names.
Is it something in the water? Both Ocean's Eleven star George Clooney and celebrity heartthrob Johnny Depp hail from the "Bluegrass State," where Clooney lived up until his acting career took off in the 1980’s.
Check out our full list of Kentucky-born celebs, which runs the gamut from 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln to heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali.
Browse notable scholars such as Peter Mark Roget, Miguel de Unamuno, and Bell Hooks.