We are highlighting examples of Black excellence throughout the year! Feel free to send suggestions to Rachel at rstoler@frcog.org.

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Black Excellence: Roberta Hoskie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberta_Hoskie Roberta Hoskie is an American real estate broker, writer, and media personality based in New Haven, Connecticut. She is the author of the book Poverty Curse Broken, president and CEO of Outreach Realty Servicing, Outreach School of Real Estate, and the 1000 Black Families National Homeownership Program. She is…

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Black Excellence: Jehana Ray

https://www.packlesstravel.com/about Welcome toPackLess Travel! Headquartered in Boston, a city known for its casual vibe and inclusive atmosphere, we’re building a community that values a more relaxed, efficient, and eco-friendly approach to travel. We’re proud to serve a diverse group of explorers who share our vision for a simpler and more…

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Black Excellence: Alantha Miles

https://breakthrough.org/alantha-victim-advocates-create-ripple-effect After incidents of violence in the Garfield Park neighborhood, Breakthrough’s victim advocates respond to support victims and their families. Alantha Miles, victim services coordinator, hopes her team leaves an impression that inspires participants to show that same love, grace, and understanding to others. https://www.cornersresearch.org/team/alantha-miles In 2020, Alantha Miles was…

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Black Excellence: Juliet Barnes

https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/chicago-stars-fc-appoints-juliet-barnes-director-of-medical/n-6182038 CHICAGO – Chicago Stars FC General Manager, Richard Feuz, has named Juliet Barnes as the club’s new Director of Medical, the Chicago Stars announced today. “We are excited to have Juliet join Chicago Stars FC,” said Feuz. “Juliet’s decades of experience across sports, most recently with the United States…

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Black Excellence: Braxton Cook

https://www.braxtoncook.com/bio Braxton Cook (born March 27, 1991 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an Emmy Award Winning Artist and one of this generation’s most exciting emerging voices in the Jazz world. Not only does he exhibit world-class virtuosity on the alto saxophone but he is also a uniquely talented vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist…

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Black Excellence: Martin Aliker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Aliker Martin Jerome Okec Aliker (21 October 1928 – 15 April 2024) was a Ugandan dental surgeon, businessman, and community leader. He was a senior adviser to the President of Uganda and sat on the board of directors of nearly forty Ugandan companies. He was the chancellor of Victoria University…

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Black Excellence: Monique Clesca

https://haffd.org/blog-2-2/blog-post-title-three-p3yc8 Monique Clesca is currently an international consultant after a career of more than 25 years specializing in high-level policy dialogue, human rights, youth and women programming, development, and crisis communication and writing. A feminist pro-democracy, pro-social justice activist, she is also a member of the Civil Society Commission to…

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Black Excellence: Roderick Cox

https://roderickcox.com Winner of the 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award by the U.S Solti Foundation, Berlin-based American conductor, Roderick Cox, has been praised as a conductor who is “paving the way” (NBC News) and recognised as a “trailblazer… a conductor who will be amongst the vanguard” (Minnesota StarTribune). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roderick_Cox_(conductor) Roderick…

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Black Excellence: Willard “Will” S. Evans Jr.

https://www.alumni.northwestern.edu/s/1479/02-naa/16/landing.aspx?sid=1479&gid=2&pgid=45863 Willard “Will” S. Evans Jr. is a seasoned leader in both the public and private sectors. Known for his collaborative personal style and business acumen, he has extensive leadership experience that encompasses business, government, academic, civic, emergency, and social service organizations.

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Black Excellence: Demi Johnson

https://www.wlox.com/2024/05/30/gulfport-teen-receives-national-geographic-award-plan-save-mississippis-oyster-reef-population GULF COAST, Miss. (WLOX) – Remember Demi Johnson? The now ninth grader is headed to the nation’s capital in just a few days for the National Geographic Explorers Festival. Her well-deserved trip to Washington D.C. comes after she became a top-15 finalist for her award with the Slingshot Challenge…

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Black Excellence: Diahann Carroll

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diahann_Carroll Diahann Carroll (/daɪˈæn/ dy-AN; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer, model, and activist. Carroll was the recipient of numerous nominations and awards for her stage and screen performances, including a Tony Award in 1962, Golden Globe Award in 1968, and…

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Black Excellence: Gass Iyacu and Emma Jackson

https://magazine.northwestern.edu/innovation/invention-expandable-bike-helmet-gass-iyacu-emma-jackson A More Inclusive Bike Helmet Gass Iyacu ’24 rode a scooter across Northwestern’s Evanston campus to get to class every day. Emma Jackson ’24 rode her bike. But neither regularly wore a helmet. Why?   “They just don’t fit!” says Iyacu, who wears his hair in various styles, such as…

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Black Excellence: Giannis Antetokounmpo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giannis_Antetokounmpo Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo[a] (né Adetokunbo;[b] born December 6, 1994) is a Greek and Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His size, speed, strength, and country of origin have earned him the nickname “Greek Freak”. He is widely regarded as one…

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Black Excellence: Hazel Scott

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Scott Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a Trinidadian jazz and classical pianist and singer. She was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. She used her influence to improve the representation of Black Americans in film.[1]

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Black Excellence: Ena Hartman

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/ena-hartman-7784 Ena Hartman is an unsung trailblazer of Hollywood whose smaller roles in 1960s media productions helped create a path for African Americans in film and television. Black actresses working in the 1970s benefited from the trail Hartman helped blaze.

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Black Excellence: RaMell Ross

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaMell_Ross RaMell Ross is an American filmmaker, photographer, academic, and writer best known for his 2018 documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening and the 2024 film adaptation of the novel The Nickel Boys (2019), the latter of which he directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Joslyn Barnes, for which…

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Black Excellence: Rhyuhn Green

https://www.rhyuhn.com/about Lauded by NPR as a “sartorially resplendent 18-year-old from Philadelphia [who] lives a double life as both an extraordinary pianist and a composer”, Rhyuhn Phallon Green (b.2006) began his musical studies at the age of 2. He is a student of Dean and Director David Ludwig at the Juilliard…

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Black Excellence: Albert S. Broussard

https://www.blackpast.org/author/broussardalbert Albert S. Broussard is professor of History at Texas A&M University, where he has taught since 1985. Professor Broussard has published six books, Expectations of Equality: A History of Black Westerners (2012), Black San Francisco: The Struggle for Racial Equality in the West, 1900-1954 (1993), African American Odyssey: The…

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Black Excellence: Machel Montano

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machel_Montano Machel Montano (born 24 November 1974)[2] is a Trinidadian soca recording artist and record producer. Known for his high energy, fast-paced, and often unpredictable on-stage performances, he is one of the genre’s most popular artists.[3][4] https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/g-s1-41268/machel-montano-tiny-desk-concert The first law of soca music according to Machel Montano is: “it’s dancing…

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Black Excellence: Jaye Davidson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaye_Davidson Jaye Davidson (born Alfred Amey; 21 March 1968) is an English model, fashion stylist, and retired actor. He made his acting debut as Dil in the thriller film The Crying Game (1992),[1][3] for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Following his breakthrough, he portrayed…

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Black Excellence: Gordon Parks

https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/biography Gordon Parks, one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, was a humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice. He left behind an exceptional body of work that documents American life and culture from the early 1940s into the 2000s, with a focus on race relations, poverty,…

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Black Excellence: O-T Fagbenle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-T_Fagbenle Olatunde Olateju Olaolorun “O-T” Fagbenle Listenⓘ (Yoruba: Ọlátúndé Ọlátẹ́jú Ọláọlọ́run Fágbénlé; born 22 January 1981)[1][2] is an English actor, writer, and director. He has appeared in several films, stage, and television productions. He is best known for his role as Lucas Bankole in The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–2025), for which…

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Black Excellence: Josh Johnson

https://www.joshjohnsoncomedy.com/about Josh Johnson is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He was just named as the newest correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program The Daily Show where he was previously a writer for the past six years. Johnson is also a former…

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Black Excellence: Sehin Teferra

https://www.womankind.org.uk/story/everything-i-do-is-to-try-to-address-or-to-try-to-contribute-to-a-world-thats-more-balanced/ Sehin Teferra is an Ethiopian activist and Director of Womankind partner Setaweet. She defines herself as a feminist and is keen on debunking myths around it.  Her #EverydayFeminism is focused on building allyship and solidarity. She believes men can also be feminists and their feminist awakening can begin when…

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Black Excellence: James Barnor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Barnor James Barnor Hon. FRPS, OV (born 6 June 1929)[2] is a Ghanaian photographer who has been based in London since the 1990s. His career spans six decades, and although for much of that period his work was not widely known, it has latterly been discovered by new audiences.

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Black Excellence: Greg Gumbel

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/27/nx-s1-5241134/greg-gumbel-sportscaster-dies Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will…

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Black Excellence: Shankleville, TX

https://shankleville.org Welcome to the Shankleville Historical Society Shankleville Community, Texas is a “freedmen’s community” founded by Jim and Winnie Shankle in Deep East Texas. This Historical Society seeks to preserve the heritage, document the history and propagate the legacy of the Shankleveille Community. Named for Jim and Winnie Shankle, known…

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Black Excellence: Khaby Lame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaby_Lame Khabane “Khaby” Lame (French: [kabi lamei], Italian: [ˈkaːbi ˈlamei]; born 9 March 2000) is a Senegalese-Italian influencer. He is known for his TikTok videos, in which he silently mocks overly complicated “life hack” videos. As of 2024, he is the most-followed user on TikTok.[3] In 2022, he was listed…

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Black Excellence: Paul Ninson

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/12/21/g-s1-30751/books-photos-library-africa-photography Big dreams: He’s the founder of a leading African photobook library Ghanaian photojournalist Paul Ninson was thrilled — and surprised. When he came to New York to study photographyfive years ago, he found a trove of images of life in Africa, past and present, in the archives of the…

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Black Excellence: Cheryl Tyler

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538197103/Trailblazer-The-Story-of-the-First-Black-Female-Secret-Service-Agent-to-Protect-the-President-and-Her-Fight-for-Justice Cheryl Tyler is a a Black woman who defied all odds and shattered barriers in her quest to protect the highest office in the land. This captivating memoir transports readers into Tyler’s world as she embarks on an extraordinary journey to become the first Black female agent assigned to…

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Black Excellence: Myeshia Mizuno

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/celebrity-family-feud-exec-producer-myeshia-mizuno-steve-harvey-1236062072 As a child of the 1970s, Myeshia Mizuno still remembers watching the Richard Dawson incarnation of “Family Feud” at home. Now, she’s the new showrunner on the Steve Harvey-hosted daytime version in syndication and the primetime “Celebrity Family Feud” on ABC — which returns July 9 for its 10th…

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Black Excellence: Barry Jenkins

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Jenkins Barry Jenkins (born November 19, 1979) is an American filmmaker. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film My Josephine (2003), he directed his first feature film Medicine for Melancholy (2008) for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature. He is also a…

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Black Excellence: Sehin Tewabe

https://sehintewabe.com/about Sehin Tewabe is an Ethiopian professional photographer based in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. She is a self taught photographer, with an Accounting degree, she grew up with an innate passion for photography. Raised in a big family, she was always surrounded by joyous moments that were ought to be saved…

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Black Excellence: Venita Doggett

https://memphiseducationfund.org/our-team/venita-doggett/ Venita Doggett Director of Advocacy Venita Doggett is an alumna of the University of Memphis, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration. A native Memphian, Venita has spent most of her career in the space of Memphis government and education politics –…

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Black Excellence: Big Boi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Boi Antwan André Patton (born February 1, 1975), known professionally as Big Boi, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Born in Savannah, Georgia and raised in Atlanta, he was one half of the Southern hip hop duo Outkast along with rapper André 3000, which the two formed in…

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Black Excellence: Mabel Fairbanks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Fairbanks Mabel Fairbanks (November 14, 1915 – September 29, 2001) was an American figure skater and coach. As an African American and Native American woman she paved the way for other minorities to compete in the sport of figure skating such as Tai Babilonia, Debi Thomas, and Naomi Lang. She…

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Black Excellence: Leo Sullivan and Ethelyn O. Stewart

https://afrotech.com/leo-sullivan-ethelyn-o-stewart Seasoned Hollywood animator, producer, and director Leo Sullivan — together with his wife, Ethelyn O. Stewart —  have committed their lives toward educating Black families. Recently the couple received Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Legacy Award for their outstanding achievement for their contributions in media, Black News previously reported. For the…

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Black Excellence: Stephanie Yeboah

https://stephanieyeboah.com/about Stephanie’s active and influential presence within the creator space began over 15 years ago with her blog. Her work is a testament to her commitment to the industry and status as one of its first original bloggers. Stephanie writes and creates content surrounding relevant and personal subjects, including plus-size…

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Black Excellence: Nikki Giovanni

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/09/nx-s1-5222858/nikki-giovanni-poet-obituary The renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died. Giovanni died on Monday, Dec. 9, following her third cancer diagnosis, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson. She was 81. “We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children…

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Black Excellence: Michael Kiwanuka

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/16/934758657/michael-kiwanuka-tiny-desk-home-concert Michael Kiwanuka: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kiwanuka Michael Samuel Kiwanuka (born 3 May 1987) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is currently signed to Polydor Records.[3] His debut album Home Again (2012) went gold in the United Kingdom, while his second album Love & Hate…

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Black Excellence: Tony D. Hansberry

https://theblackhistorychannel.com/2014/9th-grader-invents-new-surgical-procedure/ Tony D. Hansberry, II was a 9th grader at Carnell Cookman School of Medical Arts in Jacksonville, Florida when he invented a project that allows him to “reduce the time it takes to perform hysterectomies.” https://milwaukeecourieronline.com/index.php/2012/02/11/african-american-youth-invents-surgical-technique-at-age-14/

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Black Excellence: Zaytoven

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/698086054/zaytoven-tiny-desk-concert The Lord works in mysterious ways. It might sound cliché, but there’s really no better way to describe the circumstances that led to prolific producer Zaytoven’s impromptu Tiny Desk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaytoven Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), known professionally as Zaytoven, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2][3][non-primary…

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Black Excellence: Booker T. Jones

https://www.npr.org/2011/05/02/135840639/booker-t-jones-tiny-desk-concert I’m pretty sure this is the coolest thing we’ve ever done behind the Tiny Desk. There was a bit of furniture-moving and finagling, but when all the heavy lifting was done, there it was: A Hammond B3 organ and its sturdy wooden Leslie speaker cabinet sat waiting for its…

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Black Excellence: Belle da Costa Greene

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5159998/the-true-story-of-a-famed-librarian-and-the-secret-she-guarded-closely The true story of a famed librarian and the secret she guarded closely The name Belle da Costa Greene might not ring a bell, but New York’s historic Morgan Library and Museum is trying to change that. A new exhibit called “A Librarian’s Legacy” opened this month, just in…

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Black Excellence: O.W. Gurley

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.W._Gurley O. W. Gurley (December 25, 1867 – August 6, 1935) was once one of the wealthiest Black men and a founder of the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as “Black Wall Street”.[1][2] Ottaway W. Gurley was born in Huntsville, Alabama to John and Rosanna Gurley, formerly enslaved persons,…

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Black Excellence: Richard Bowie Spikes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Spikes Richard Bowie Spikes (October 2, 1878 – January 22, 1963) was an African-American inventor. The holder of a number of United States patents, his improvements on existing inventions include a beer tap, automobile directional signals, an automatic gear shift device based on automatic transmission for automobiles and other motor…

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Black Excellence: Mati Diop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mati_Diop Mati Diop (born 22 June 1982) is a French film director and actress. She won the Grand Prix at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival for her feature film debut, the supernatural romantic drama Atlantics, and the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival for her second feature…

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Black Excellence: Abdi Nageeye

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/03/nx-s1-5177334/nyc-marathon-2024-results After 4 attempts, Abdi Nageeye wins the NYC marathon Abdi Nageeye, 35, from the Netherlands, claimed victory in the men’s race of the New York City Marathon on Sunday with a time of 2:07:39. It was his fourth appearance in the Big Apple run, and his first win in…

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Black Excellence: Ella Jenkins

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/10/530876080/ella-jenkins-dead-at-100 Ella Jenkins, the first lady of children’s music, has died at 100 You may have grown up hearing one of Ella Jenkins’ signature tunes, like “You’ll Sing A Song and I’ll Sing A Song.” And you may have then played her music for your own children. Jenkins, who was…

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Black Excellence: Baby Rose

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/10/803620275/baby-rose-tiny-desk-concert “This is what real love sounds like.” From any other new artist, a Tiny Desk declaration like that might sound a tad bit presumptuous if not altogether premature. But when the voice behind those words is as seasoned and vintage as Baby Rose’s, everything it utters reverberates like the…

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Black Excellence: Amadi Azikiwe

http://www.amadiazikiwe.com/?page_id=2 Amadi Azikiwe, violist, violinist and conductor, has been heard in recital in major cities throughout the United States, such as New York, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Houston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., including an appearance at the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Azikiwe has also been a guest of…

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Black Excellence: Kelis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelis Kelis Rogers (/kəˈliːs/;[2] born August 21, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and chef.[3] She attended New York’s Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts,[4] where she played saxophone and was selected for the Girls Choir of Harlem.[5] Upon graduation, Rogers landed a role as…

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