Gregory Dimitri Gadson is a retired United States Army colonel, motivational speaker, actor, and business owner. Gadson was born on February 19, 1966, in Chesapeake, Virginia. He attended Indian River High School, where he was a standout football player. Gadson graduated in 1985 then attended … Read MoreGregory D. Gadson (1966- )
Earl Simmons was a rapper, songwriter, and actor, best known by his stage name DMX. Simmons was born on December 18, 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York. At the time of his birth, his mother Arnett Simmons was nineteen years old, and his father Joe … Read MoreDMX/Earl Simmons (1970-2021)
Robert Kyagulanyi “Bobi Wine” Ssentamu is a Ugandan politician, singer, actor, and businessman. Ssentamu was born on February 12, 1982, in Nkozi, Uganda, and grew up in the Kamwekya slums in the northeast part of Kampala, Uganda. He attended Kitante Hill Senior Secondary School, located … Read MoreRobert Kyagulanyi “Bobi Wine” Ssentamu (1982- )
Michael Santiago “Killer Mike” Render is a rapper, actor, and activist who was born on April 20, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. His unnamed father was a policeman, and his mother, Denise Render were a florist. Render was raised by his grandparents; he lived in the … Read MoreMichael Santiago “Killer Mike” Render (1975- )
Actor Justin “Jussie” Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, on June 21, 1982, to a biracial family. His father, Joel Smollett, is Jewish, and his mother, Janet Smollett, is African American. The couple have five other children: Jake, Jojo, Jocqui, Jurnee, and Jazz, but … Read MoreJustin “Jussie” Smollett (1982- )
Ronald Earle Glass was an American actor and director who was best known for his role as Detective Ron Harris on the long-running cop comedy television sitcom Barney Miller. Glass was born to Lethia and Crump Glass on July 10, 1945, in Evansville, Indiana. He … Read MoreRonald Earle Glass (1945-2016)
Actress and activist Denise Nicholas spent over thirty years as a television actor before embarking on a new career as a writer. While she appeared in several films, she made her greatest mark as a television actress, most notably in the hit shows Room 222 … Read MoreDenise Nicholas (1944- )
Salome Bey was an American-born, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and actress who, after emigrating to Toronto, became known as “Canada’s first lady of the blues.” Salome Wideman was born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 10, 1933, to Andrew and Victoria Wideman. Her father was a … Read MoreSalome Bey (1933-2020)
For over thirty years Sylvia Luz del Villard Güilbert gave global lectures and performances on the African influence in Puerto Rico (PR) as an activist, actress, artist, ballerina, choreographer, coloratura, dancer, declamadora, folklorist, lecturer, orator, painter, teacher, singer, and writer. Reared by Paula Moreno Herrera, … Read MoreSylvia del Villard (1927-1990)
Max Julien is an American actor, sculptor, and clothes designer. He was born January 1, 1945 in Washington D.C. Julien grew up in Palmer Park, Maryland, graduating from high school in 1963. Julian, a classically-trained actor began his career in New York in off-broadway plays … Read MoreMax Julien (1945- )
