Who are these People ?
Indira Gandhi
Prime minister of India (1966-1977; 1980-1984), whose controversial political
career ended with her assassination by Sikh conspirators
Alex Haley
American biographer, scriptwriter, author who became famous with the publication
of the novel ROOTS, which traces his ancestry back to Africa and covers seven
American generations as they are taken slaves to the United States. and produced
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X, his first major work. It appeared in 1965 and
had immense effect on the black power movement in the United States. In 1977
Roots won the National Book Award and a special Pulitzer Prize.
Colin Powell
First black Natl. Security Advisor, 1987-88; first black chairman of Joint
Chiefs of Staff, 1989-93. Colin L. Powell was confirmed by the Senate and later
sworn in as Secretary of State on January 20, 2001.
Madame C.J. Walker
First Black woman millionaire. Inventions such as the metal heating comb and
hair straightening products.
Benazir Bhutto
On December 2, 1988 Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan,
becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islamic State.
Billie Holiday
One of the greatest jazz and blues singers of all time, also known as Lady
Day. Famous for drenching her bluesy jazz songs with the passion and suffering
that dogged her own personal life. She captivated audiences with hits such as
'God Bless the Child'.
Hattie McDaniel
She became the first African American to sing on network radio in the United
States. In 1931, she went to Hollywood to seek a film career and began as an
extra before capturing larger roles. When work was not available, she hired
herself out as a domestic, a cook, or a washerwoman. The Ambassador's Coconut
Grove was decked out for the Twelfth Annual Academy Awards Presentation Dinner
on February 29, 1940. Along with fellow cast member Olivia DeHavilland, Hi-hat-Hattie
had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress. By far the loudest ovation of
the evening went to Hattie McDaniel as she won the Oscar, and became the first
African American performer to win one. (It was also the last one for the next
25 years.)
Mae Jemison
Astronaut, first black woman launched into space, 1992.