Alice Walker was an American author and poet. She became one of the most recognized novelists in history. Most of her writings portrayed the lives of the poor and oppressed African American women in the early 1900�s. She was born on February 9, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia. She was educated at Spelman College and Sarah Lawrence College. She was also very talented. Walker wrote most of her first volume of poetry during a single week in 1964. It was soon published and called Once. She won the American Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for her best- known novel, The Color Purple, which was written in 1982. The novel was later made into a motion picture in 1985. The Color Purple is one of the best black movies of all times and it is still read and watched today.
Alice Walker also wrote poems and novels about suicide, love, Africa, and civil rights. She was really active in the movement for civil and women�s rights. Therefore, she wanted to express what she was feeling on paper. Through poetry and other types of literature, Walker helped other African American people see what was happening in the world and how they could overcome it. This influenced many other African Americans to write literature. Alice Walker incorporated a few features of African American Vernacular English to give readers the impression that the speakers belong to the African American community. Although Walker was just writing literature, she made a dramatic change. Did you know that Alice Walker�s works influenced the Harlem Renaissance? How could something so small have be a cause for the start of the Renaissance? Alice Walker was a very influential person in those times and still may be today.
Willie Howard Mays Jr. was an African American baseball player. He was also known as Say Hey Kid. Willie Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama on May 6, 1931. He was considered one of the best baseball players in history. Mays played centerfield for the New York Giants in the Major League in 1951. In his first season, Mays lead the Giants to the National League pennant and won rookie of the year award. In addition, he played in the record- typing 24 All- Star games and participated in 4 World Series. Do you think that that is amazing? You have not heard all of it. Mays accumulated 12 Gold Gloves and was MVP twice (1954,1965.)
Unfortunately, in 1952, Willie Mays served in the United States army. He spent part of 1952and all of 1953 in the army. He later returned to the major league in 1954. Willie Mays won the National League Batting title with a .345 batting average. In 1964, he became the first African American to be named captain of a major league baseball team. In addition to that, he became the first player to hit 300 home run and 300 steals in a career. You think that is a lot? Well, he was also the first player to hit 600 home runs. At the end of his career, Willie Mays had a total of 3,282 hits and 660 homeruns. This has influenced millions of African Americans who wanted to become baseball players in that time. African Americans weren�t able to do a lot because if the color of their skin, but by Willie accomplishing all the things he did, African Americans thought they could do this, too.
African American achievers do not have to be people that were in the past; they can also be people in the present. Oprah Winfrey is a great example. She was born on January 29, 1954 in Kuscuisko, Mississippi. Her television show became the most popular talk show on television. Oprah Winfrey had a troubled childhood. She experienced neglect and sexual abuse. Therefore, she had to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 13. It was very good that Oprah got away from all the negativity because when she attended school in Tennessee, she became an excellent student. She was educated at Tennessee State University on a full scholarship. Oprah Winfrey became the first black person to anchor the news in Baltimore, Maryland. At first her show was named �A.M. Chicago,� but later on in 1985, the show was renamed �The Oprah Winfrey Show.�
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey formed HARPO Productions to produce her show and other projects. In 1985, Oprah Winfrey played Sophia in The Color Purple, which was written by Alice Walker. This role won her a 1986 Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar Award. She also appeared in Native Son in 1986. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey played a role in the movie called Beloved. Oprah Winfrey opened many doors for other African Americans. Due to her being the first black news anchor and television talk show host, blacks felt that they could do it, too.
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
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Alice Walker also wrote poems and novels about suicide, love, Africa, and civil rights. She was really active in the movement for civil and women�s rights. Therefore, she wanted to express what she was feeling on paper. Through poetry and other types of literature, Walker helped other African American people see what was happening in the world and how they could overcome it. This influenced many other African Americans to write literature. Alice Walker incorporated a few features of African American Vernacular English to give readers the impression that the speakers belong to the African American community. Although Walker was just writing literature, she made a dramatic change. Did you know that Alice Walker�s works influenced the Harlem Renaissance? How could something so small have be a cause for the start of the Renaissance? Alice Walker was a very influential person in those times and still may be today.
Willie Howard Mays Jr. was an African American baseball player. He was also known as Say Hey Kid. Willie Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama on May 6, 1931. He was considered one of the best baseball players in history. Mays played centerfield for the New York Giants in the Major League in 1951. In his first season, Mays lead the Giants to the National League pennant and won rookie of the year award. In addition, he played in the record- typing 24 All- Star games and participated in 4 World Series. Do you think that that is amazing? You have not heard all of it. Mays accumulated 12 Gold Gloves and was MVP twice (1954,1965.)
Unfortunately, in 1952, Willie Mays served in the United States army. He spent part of 1952and all of 1953 in the army. He later returned to the major league in 1954. Willie Mays won the National League Batting title with a .345 batting average. In 1964, he became the first African American to be named captain of a major league baseball team. In addition to that, he became the first player to hit 300 home run and 300 steals in a career. You think that is a lot? Well, he was also the first player to hit 600 home runs. At the end of his career, Willie Mays had a total of 3,282 hits and 660 homeruns. This has influenced millions of African Americans who wanted to become baseball players in that time. African Americans weren�t able to do a lot because if the color of their skin, but by Willie accomplishing all the things he did, African Americans thought they could do this, too.
African American achievers do not have to be people that were in the past; they can also be people in the present. Oprah Winfrey is a great example. She was born on January 29, 1954 in Kuscuisko, Mississippi. Her television show became the most popular talk show on television. Oprah Winfrey had a troubled childhood. She experienced neglect and sexual abuse. Therefore, she had to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 13. It was very good that Oprah got away from all the negativity because when she attended school in Tennessee, she became an excellent student. She was educated at Tennessee State University on a full scholarship. Oprah Winfrey became the first black person to anchor the news in Baltimore, Maryland. At first her show was named �A.M. Chicago,� but later on in 1985, the show was renamed �The Oprah Winfrey Show.�
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey formed HARPO Productions to produce her show and other projects. In 1985, Oprah Winfrey played Sophia in The Color Purple, which was written by Alice Walker. This role won her a 1986 Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar Award. She also appeared in Native Son in 1986. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey played a role in the movie called Beloved. Oprah Winfrey opened many doors for other African Americans. Due to her being the first black news anchor and television talk show host, blacks felt that they could do it, too.
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
Return to African American Achievers
Return to "Just Tea"
Unfortunately, in 1952, Willie Mays served in the United States army. He spent part of 1952and all of 1953 in the army. He later returned to the major league in 1954. Willie Mays won the National League Batting title with a .345 batting average. In 1964, he became the first African American to be named captain of a major league baseball team. In addition to that, he became the first player to hit 300 home run and 300 steals in a career. You think that is a lot? Well, he was also the first player to hit 600 home runs. At the end of his career, Willie Mays had a total of 3,282 hits and 660 homeruns. This has influenced millions of African Americans who wanted to become baseball players in that time. African Americans weren�t able to do a lot because if the color of their skin, but by Willie accomplishing all the things he did, African Americans thought they could do this, too.
African American achievers do not have to be people that were in the past; they can also be people in the present. Oprah Winfrey is a great example. She was born on January 29, 1954 in Kuscuisko, Mississippi. Her television show became the most popular talk show on television. Oprah Winfrey had a troubled childhood. She experienced neglect and sexual abuse. Therefore, she had to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 13. It was very good that Oprah got away from all the negativity because when she attended school in Tennessee, she became an excellent student. She was educated at Tennessee State University on a full scholarship. Oprah Winfrey became the first black person to anchor the news in Baltimore, Maryland. At first her show was named �A.M. Chicago,� but later on in 1985, the show was renamed �The Oprah Winfrey Show.�
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey formed HARPO Productions to produce her show and other projects. In 1985, Oprah Winfrey played Sophia in The Color Purple, which was written by Alice Walker. This role won her a 1986 Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar Award. She also appeared in Native Son in 1986. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey played a role in the movie called Beloved. Oprah Winfrey opened many doors for other African Americans. Due to her being the first black news anchor and television talk show host, blacks felt that they could do it, too.
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
Return to African American Achievers
Return to "Just Tea"
African American achievers do not have to be people that were in the past; they can also be people in the present. Oprah Winfrey is a great example. She was born on January 29, 1954 in Kuscuisko, Mississippi. Her television show became the most popular talk show on television. Oprah Winfrey had a troubled childhood. She experienced neglect and sexual abuse. Therefore, she had to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 13. It was very good that Oprah got away from all the negativity because when she attended school in Tennessee, she became an excellent student. She was educated at Tennessee State University on a full scholarship. Oprah Winfrey became the first black person to anchor the news in Baltimore, Maryland. At first her show was named �A.M. Chicago,� but later on in 1985, the show was renamed �The Oprah Winfrey Show.�
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey formed HARPO Productions to produce her show and other projects. In 1985, Oprah Winfrey played Sophia in The Color Purple, which was written by Alice Walker. This role won her a 1986 Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar Award. She also appeared in Native Son in 1986. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey played a role in the movie called Beloved. Oprah Winfrey opened many doors for other African Americans. Due to her being the first black news anchor and television talk show host, blacks felt that they could do it, too.
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
Return to African American Achievers
Return to "Just Tea"
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey formed HARPO Productions to produce her show and other projects. In 1985, Oprah Winfrey played Sophia in The Color Purple, which was written by Alice Walker. This role won her a 1986 Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor. In addition, she was nominated for an Oscar Award. She also appeared in Native Son in 1986. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey played a role in the movie called Beloved. Oprah Winfrey opened many doors for other African Americans. Due to her being the first black news anchor and television talk show host, blacks felt that they could do it, too.
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
Return to African American Achievers
Return to "Just Tea"
Many African Americans influenced others to assume their role. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Alice Walker expressed herself through her literature, and Oprah Winfrey was the first black woman to be a news anchor and host a talk show. Today we honor and appreciate the things that these African American achievers have accomplished. They were examples to others, so African Americans tried to accomplish what these figures have accomplished.
Return to African American Achievers
Return to "Just Tea"