African-American Icons

Perform the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. Wow the crowd with a spectacular Super Bowl halftime show. Win a Grammy. When you are legendary singer and performer Beyonce Knowles, this is just a regular month's work. Beyonce went from a child singer in her hometown of Houston, Texas, to one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. She has sold millions of records, made hit movies, and runs a clothing line. This superstar does it all. Author Michael A. Schuman chronicles the life of the amazing Beyonce.

Winfrey is smart, funny, compassionate, talented, and one of the richest and most powerful women in the world. Whether she was talking about her childhood experiences of abuse and rebellion, her lifelong struggle with weight, her favorite books, or her Angel Network of good deeds, the world was listening. How did Winfrey reach this pinnacle of success? Author Robin Westen has gathered the most compelling stories and quotes for this fun-to-read, information-packed biography.

One of the first singles from The Black Album, a famous Jay-Z record, rap "What More Can I Say"? But the real question is what more can this music legend do? From the platinum albums to the sold-out concerts to his Rocawear clothing brand, Jay-Z has done it all. He has sold some 50 million albums worldwide. He even has a sneaker named after him. From the Brooklyn projects to the corner office in Manhattan, Jay-Z made his own way, overcoming many obstacles. Author Jeff Burlingame explores the remarkably interesting life of this hip-hop icon.

Being thought of as 'a beautiful woman' has spared me nothing in life, says Halle Berry. With her extraordinary beauty, wealth, and an Academy Award for Best Actress, it seems as if Berry has it all. Yet her life has been anything but a fairytale. From the pain of an abusive father to the sting of racism from her peers, Berry emerged as a high achiever, beauty queen, and model. As an actor, her beauty often kept her from being considered for meaningful roles, and it took a while for her to achieve the success she deserved. In 2002, Berry's Academy Award–winning performance in the small-budget art film Monster's Ball made history, stirred controversy, and launched her into superstardom. Give your readers a powerful biography of this stellar talent.

Walter Dean Myers tells it like it is in his award-winning novels about urban teenagers with real problems. With humor and a keen ear for dialogue, Myers creates characters that speak directly to today's teens. As a young reader, Myers could not find books about African-American boys like himself. Drawing upon his own struggles and experiences, he has filled that literary gap with fascinating novels filled with realistic stories that appeal to readers of all backgrounds and cultures.

When Chris Rock steps on stage, he destroys the targets of his jokes. When he finishes his performance, the audience needs time to catch its breath. The laughter never stops. Chris Rock pulls no punches. He is brutally honest and no subject, politics, racism, pop culture, is safe from his humor. From humble beginnings in New York City to his superstar career as a stand-up comedian and actor, author Marty Gitlin unleashes the story of comic genius Chris Rock.

"And the contestant going home is...Jennifer Hudson." Standing on the American Idol stage, a shocked Hudson found out she had been voted off the famed singing competition, but unlike many Idol contestants whose musical dreams end on that stage, Jennifer Hudson was just getting started. Her rapid rise to superstardom saw her win an Academy Award and a Grammy Award in only a few years. Author John Micklos, Jr., explores the life of this multi-talented music idol.

Tyler Perry's path to success was anything but easy. His childhood was marred by constant abuse, physical and emotional. To escape from the pain, Perry found an outlet in writing, but the first play he wrote did not draw huge audiences. Even after years of failure, Perry never quit. He forged ahead, committed to getting his message out. And he sure did. Perry, now with many hit movies and television shows to his credit, is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Author Marty Gitlin explores the amazing life of this entertainment icon.

His voice blaring in the recording, Sean "Diddy" Combs says, "We won't stop." He repeats the motto in many of his famous songs, three words that Diddy lives by. When it comes to his rise to superstardom in hip-hop and his pursuit of dominance in the entertainment industry, Sean Combs has never stopped. The Harlem-born music mogul has achieved success as a producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, including the massive success of his Sean John clothing line. Author Jen Jones explores the meteoric rise of this entertainment icon.

Author Barbara Kramer explores the life and career of this talented writer. From her childhood in Loraine, Ohio, to her creative expressions of African-American culture, Morrison has always remembered her past. She has taught at several universities, as well as being the author of novels, short stories essays, and a play. Morrison invites readers to participate in her stories and enables them to enter into the characters' lives.