Black Excellence: Tigst Assefa
Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa set a new women’s world record at the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday, smashing the previous top time by more than two minutes.
Black Excellence: Leslie Jones
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/21/1200560901/snl-leslie-jones-memoir
Saturday Night Live alum Leslie Jones was a college freshman when a friend signed her up for the funniest person on campus contest. It was the first time she’d ever done stand-up, but Jones says grabbing the mic felt like putting on a shirt that fit perfectly.
Black Excellence: Major General Janeen Birckhead
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/24/1173815128/maryland-national-guard-janeen-birckhead-adjutant-general
When applying to colleges, Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead and her mother exhausted every option possible to cover her tuition. For Birckhead, a career in the military was never something that crossed her mind.
Little did she know her application for an ROTC scholarship at Hampton University in Virginia would set her on the path to becoming the leader she is today.
Black Excellence: Victoria Scott-Miller
https://www.victoriascottmiller.com/
Victoria Scott-Miller is a Raleigh-based author, documentarian and owner of the trailblazing, independent, globally recognized Liberation Station Bookstore, specializing in children’s literature.
Black Excellence: Kevin Beasley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Beasley
Kevin Beasley (born 1985 Lynchburg, Virginia) is an American artist working in sculpture, performance art, and sound installation. He is one of two winners of the 2023 Heinz Awards for the Arts.
Black Excellence: Charles Gayle
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/08/1198248630/charles-gayle-saxophonist-obit
Charles Gayle, the fierce saxophonist who created his own path, has died at 84
Black Excellence: W. Kamau Bell
https://www.wkamaubell.com/about
W. Kamau Bell is a stand-up comedian, director, producer, and dad. For seven seasons, he was the host and executive producer of the five-time Emmy Award-winning CNN docuseries United Shades of America.
Black Excellence: John Chiti
He’s a singer, a cop and the inspiration for a Netflix film about albinism in Africa
Black Excellence: General Charles Q. Brown Jr.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Q._Brown_Jr.
Charles Quinton Brown Jr. (born 1962) is a United States Air Force general who serves as the 22nd chief of staff of the Air Force. He was confirmed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 9/20/23.