Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: E. Lynn Harris
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features E. Lynn Harris, an American author, who in a series of novels drew on his personal familiarity with the gay community to chronicle the struggles faced by African-American men with sexual...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Alonzo J. Ransier
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alonzo J. Ransier, a black member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina during Reconstruction.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bill T. Jones
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bill T. Jones, an American choreographer and dancer who, with Arnie Zane, created the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Adah Isaacs Menken
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Adah Isaacs Menken, an American actress and poet widely celebrated for her daring act of appearing (seemingly) naked, strapped to a running horse.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Adelaide Hall
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Adelaide Hall, an American-born jazz improviser whose wordless rhythms ushered in what became known as scat singing.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Alan Page
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alan Page, an American gridiron football player who in 1971 became the first defensive player to win the Most Valuable Player award of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Albert King
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Albert King, an American blues musician who created a unique string-bending guitar style that influenced three generations of musicians.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Alice Dunbar Nelson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alice Dunbar Nelson, a novelist, poet, essayist, and critic associated with the early period of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and '30s.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Alicia Keys
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alicia Keys, an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress, who achieved enormous success in the early 2000s with her blend of R&B and soul music.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Allen Toussaint
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Allen Toussaint, a songwriter, pianist, and producer, Toussaint was responsible for national hits by Ernie K-Doe, Chris Kenner, Jessie Hill, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and the Showmen,...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Arnold Jacob Wolf
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Arnold Jacob Wolf, an American rabbi and activist born March 19, 1924, Chicago, Ill. .
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Barry Sanders
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Barry Sanders, an American professional gridiron football player. In his 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions (1989-98), Sanders led the National Football League (NFL) in rushing four times...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bell Hooks
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features bell hooks, an American scholar whose work examined the varied perceptions of black women and black women writers and the development of feminist identities.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Big Mama Thornton
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Big Mama Thornton, an American singer and songwriter who performed in the tradition of classic blues singers such as Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie. Her work inspired imitation by Elvis...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bill Dixon
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bill Dixon, an American jazz artist born Oct. 5, 1925, Nantucket, Mass.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Blind Lemon Jefferson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Blind Lemon Jefferson, an American country blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, one of the earliest black folk-blues singers to achieve popular success.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Blind Willie Johnson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Blind Willie Johnson, an African-American gospel singer who performed on Southern streets and was noted for the energy and power of his singing and for his ingenious guitar accompaniments.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bobby Mc Ferrin
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bobby McFerrin, an American musician noted for his tremendous vocal control and improvisational ability. He often sang a cappella, mixing folk songs, 1960s rock and soul tunes, and jazz...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bobby Short
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bobby Short, an American cabaret singer and piano player who in his personal and performance style came to represent a sophistication and elegance typical of an earlier era.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bob Hayes
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bob Hayes, an American sprinter who, although he was relatively slow out of the starting block and had an almost lumbering style of running, was a remarkably powerful sprinter with as much...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Brock Peters
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Brock Peters, an American actor who employed his powerful bass voice and strong presence in portrayals of a wide range of characters, notably in the role of Tom Robinson in To Kill a...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Bruce Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bruce Smith, an American professional gridiron football defensive end who holds the National Football League (NFL) career record for quarterback sacks (200).
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Buck Leonard
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Buck Leonard, an American baseball player who was considered one of the best first basemen in the Negro leagues. He was among the first Negro leaguers to receive election into the Baseball...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Byllye Avery
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Byllye Avery, an American health care activist whose efforts centred on bettering the welfare of low-income African American women through self-help groups and advocacy networks.