Category: Black Excellence

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 1992.

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/05/654733071/big-boi-tiny-desk-concert

The energy in the room was buoyant and vibrant from the moment they walked in the door. OutKast star Big Boi, Sleepy Brown of the prolific Atlanta production collective Organized Noize, and their eight-member backing band have been working together for 20-plus years, and their chemistry is instantaneous and undeniable.

https://www.nikarawarren.com/bio-2

Vibraphonist, composer, arranger, and educator Nikara Warren is a true Brooklynite. Born and bred in the eclectic and electric enclave, her family, her friends, her band, and her musical pedigree are a microcosm of the county at large.

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 was inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, as the first person of African American and Native American descent, and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

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 last 60 years, the couple has created entertaining interactive content for over 500,000 Black families to become informed through Leo Sullivan Multimedia, as per the company website. Its sister companies include  AfroKids.TV, AfroKids.com, and TheAfroKidsFamily.com.AfroKids.com, and TheAfroKidsFamily.com. The mission of the multimedia outlet is to utilize visual arts to create a new future for children who are searching for a solution to their social and academic challenges. 

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Pierre Laguerre, founder and CEO of Fleeting. Laguerre was born in Haiti and came to the United States when he was 15. After emigrating to the United States, he spent his teen years living with his family in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. According to Laguerre, it was a tough neighborhood to grow up in where drug-dealing was prevalent.

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 fashion, body image, beauty, travel, and lifestyle, and provides witty, raw takes, perspectives, and commentary on pop culture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tazewell

Paul Tazewell is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, and opera and television. After training at New York University Tisch School of the Arts he started his career on Broadway. He went on to win a Tony Award and an Emmy Award as well as a nomination for an Academy Award.

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 across the writerly world,” said poet Kwame Alexander in the statement.