Category: Black Excellence

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

Emeline King (born December 16, 1957), is an American industrial designer, known for her automotive designs. In 1983, she was hired by Ford Motor Company, and became the first Black woman designer for the automobile manufacturer.^[1][2][3] King also works as a motivational speaker, musician, and author.^[4] She authored an autobiography, “What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can’t Design? Emeline King, She Did It” (2021, Claire Aldin Pub.).^[4][5]

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5092043/on-the-beltway-a-dc-jazz-festival-playlist-curated-by-artist-in-residence-corcoran-holt

On the Beltway, a DC Jazz Festival playlist curated by artist-in-residence Corcoran Holt

https://www.corcoranholt.com/bio

Corcoran Holt, a son of Washington, DC, began playing djembe and other West African percussion at the age of 4 as a member of Wose Dance Company under the tutelage of Baba Aidoo Holmes & Mahiri Edwards.

https://aaregistry.org/story/willie-mae-wong-musician-born

Willie Mae, also affectionately known as “Rabbit,” was one of the original members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. They were the first multi-racial all-female big band in America.  Wong had no visible musical skills when she was recruited to the group as a 15-year-old. She was out on the street playing stickball when they picked her up.

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

Tazewell Thompson is an American theatre director, the former artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse (2006–07) in Westport, Connecticut and the Syracuse Stage (1992–95) in New York state. Prior to that he was an assistant director at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. He is the Director of Opera Studies at Manhattan School of Music.^[1]

https://tfma.temple.edu/directory/kimmika-williams-witherspoon

Senior Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation in the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts at Temple University and a Full Professor specializing in Urban Theater and Community Engagement in the Theater Department in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. Immediate-past President of the Faculty Senate at Temple University.

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

Malcolm Kenyatta (born July 30, 1990) is an American politician from the North Philadelphia neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as the Pennsylvania State Representative for the 181st district since 2019.

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/02/607358481/gza-the-soul-rebels-tiny-desk-concert

GZA‘s performance at the Tiny Desk was a rare appearance for the legendary Wu-Tang Clan emcee, in part because he’s notoriously introverted, and because he brought along The Soul Rebels, an eight-piece New Orleans brass ensemble.

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

Nicholas Buamah (born 17 February 2011) is a Ghanaian-born writer based in Snellville, Georgia, United States.^[1][2] He became a bestselling author on Amazon with a piece written for a school assignment.^[3] He was honored with a proclamation from the Mayor and city council of Snellville, and honoured by the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C.^[4]

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/20/nx-s1-5073880/mountains-film-miami-little-haiti

Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood is on borrowed time. A film is documenting it all.

https://www.nepm.org/people/kaliis-smith

Kaliis Smith is a radio host and producer for NEPM’s The Fabulous 413. She was most recently host and producer at The River 93.9/WRSI where she appeared on Mornings with Monte for the Nerdwatch segment and hosted weekday evenings.

A guitarist, she’s in several local bands including Ex-Temper, The Brass, and Soul Magnets, and is the author of “Finger and Thumb.” “Sir Morien,” a children’s book co-written with New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, is due out in 2023. Kaliis is originally from Roxbury, and now lives in Springfield.