Appraising Afro-American Legends (1)

Continued from Page 26 Wednesday February 8, 2012.

President Barack Obama.

This is another Afro-American citizen that has shaped the cause of world history. He was born to a white American mother, Ann Dunham, and a black Kenyan father, Barack Obama Sr. With the help of his grandmother, Barack Obama was admitted into Punabon School Hawaii’s top prep academy. From there, he moved to Columbia University. He became a community organiser for a small Chicago church-based group for three years, helping poor South Side residents cope with a wave of plant closings. He then attended Harvard Law School, and in 1990 became the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review. He turned down a prestigious judicial clerkship, choosing instead to practice civil-rights law, back in Chicago.

He also began teaching at the University of Chicago Law School, and married Michelle Robinson, a fellow attorney. Eventually, he was elected to the Illinois state senate, where his district included both Hyde ark and some of the poorest ghettos on the South Side are located.

In 2004, Obama was elected to the US Senate as a Democrat, representing Illinois. He gained national attention by giving a rousing and well-received keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. In 2008, he ran for president of the United States, the first African-American ever elected to that position.

His policy decisions have addressed a global financial crisis in the United States. His foreign policies are legendary. In Cuba, Obama was recently awarded the Nobel Peace prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between people.”

Obama’s approval rating is roughly equal to what Bill Clinton had during his presidency, higher than the 45 per cent that Ronald Reagan recorded in April, 1982 and more favourable than Democratic or Republicans currently in office.

William Edward Burghart Dubois (1868-1963). Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, W.E.B. Du Bois became the most respected and effective spokesperson for the full rights of African Americans in the decades before World War II.

A Harvard Ph.D graduate, Du Bois taught in several universities and authored more than twenty books including the Souls of Black Folk (1903), The World and Africa (1947). In Battle for peace (1952) and a trilogy Black Flame (1957). In 1909, he founded the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People and helped it to become the country’s single most influential organisation for African-American.

Dr. Du Bois emigrated to Africa in 1961, and became editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia Africana, an enormous publishing venture which has been planned by Kwame Nkrumah. Du Bois died in Ghana on August 27, 1963 at the age of 95.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Dr. Martin King Jr was born in January 1929. His father was the famous Reverend Martin Luther King Senior. Martin Luther King Jr had his Ph. D degree from Boston and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest man to have received the Noble Peace prize for his advocacy for love, peace and non violence.

He once led a mass protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world. The peaceful March he led in Washington D.C where he delivered his famous address, “I have a Dream” to over 250,000 remains legendary till date.

Martin Luther King Jr was arrested twenty times and assaulted at least four times for leading mass protests against human rights abuse.

He was however, assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Born in 1954, Oprah Winfrey revolutionises the talk show market with her unique and natural style. He is the host of the most watched daytime show on television, with over 22 million viewers daily.

Oprah Winfrey is the first African-American to own her own TV studio. She is also a businesswoman, actress, owner of a movie production company and a committed philanthropist.

Maya Angelous

Maya Angeleous is an African-American writer. She was born on April 4, 1928. His autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,  was nominated for a National Book Award and made her a symbol of pluck and pride for African-American Women.

In the 1950s, Angelou had been a dancer and stage actress. She was also active in the civil rights movement.

During the 1960s, she spent five years in Africa, working as a journalist and a teacher. Angelou returned to the United States and in 1969 published  I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

In 1972, she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her collection of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie. Since then, Angelou has continued to engage in teaching, writing, acting, producing, and recording. She won Grammy Awards for the spoken word in 1993, 1995 and 2002. She is also a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. At Bill Clinton’s request, Angelou wrote a poem pulse of Morning  for his 1993 inauguration as US President.

Denzel Washington

Born in 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York, Washington is a Movie Star. During his teenage years he was banned by his parents from watching movies.

When his parents separated, he went through a rebellious stage at the end of which several of his friends were sentenced to prison. He studied at Fordham University where he discovered acting and earned a degree in journalism.

Washington played in movies like Cry Freedom, for Queen and country, the might Quinn, Mississppi Mosala, Glory and several others.

Michael Jackson

American superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1959 and entertained audiences throughout his entire life.

He made record sales, culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time. He ventured into films, but had much better luck with elaborate music videos.

Michael Jackson’s passion and artistry as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman is unparalleled. Till date, he remained the most celebrated musician in the world. His rare talents and ingenuity ultimately prevailed over the extremely negative aspects of his troubled adult life. He however, died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50 of a drug-induced cardiac arrest.

Muhammed Ali

Three times world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammed Ali known for his Iyrical Charm and boasts as much, is remembered all over the world as perhaps the charismatic boxer of all times.

Being one of the most remarkable personalities of our time and one of the greatest sportsmen that ever walked the planet earth, Muhammed Ali was voted the best boxer of the 20th century.

One other great Afro-American sportsman in this category is Mike Tyson.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams was born in 1981 in Saninaw, Michigan. Her father, Richard Williams taught her and her elder sister, Venus how to play tennis. Her first great victory came in 1999 when at the age of 17 she defeated No. 1 Martina Hingis in the US Open final. Between 2002 and 2003, she held the No. 1 ranking for 57 consecutive weeks.

Serena Williams has won over 10 Grand Slam double titles (Australian Open in 2001, 2003, 2009; French Open in 1999; Wimbledon in 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009; US Open in 1999, 2009 and two Olympic gold medals in doubles (2000,2008) with her sister, Venus.

A pop culture icon with an interest in fashion, Serena runs a line of designer apparel called “Aneres” (her first name spelled backwards).

Serena Williams has won more than $30 million in career prize money, the highest so far by any female athlete in world’s history.

Michael Jordan

By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He is a phenomenal athlete with a unique combination of fundamental soundness, grace, speed, power, artistry, improvisational ability and an unquenchable competitive desire. Jordan single-handedly redefined the NBA superstar.

Ichoku writes from Port Harcourt

Anthony Ichoku