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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Mary Lou Williams
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Mary Lou Williams, a jazz pianist who performed with and composed for many of the great jazz artists of the 1940s and '50s. This site, rich in detail and breadth...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Larry Holmes
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Larry Holmes, an American heavyweight boxing champion of the late 1970s and early '80s who was known for his solid defense. This site, rich in detail and breadth...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Kenny Washington
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Kenny Washington, one of the first African American college gridiron football stars on the West Coast and one of two black players to reintegrate the National...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Joe Frazier
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Joe Frazier, an American world heavyweight boxing champion from February 16, 1970, when he knocked out Jimmy Ellis in five rounds in New York City, until January...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: George Foreman
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features George Foreman, an American boxer who twice was the world heavyweight champion (1973-74, 1994-95). When Foreman regained the heavyweight title at age 45, he was...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Jack the Rapper
Jack the Rapper (Jack Gibson) helped open the first African-American-owned radio station in the United States, WERD in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1949. Gibson learned about radio while working as a gofer for deejay Al Benson in Chicago. He...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Leon Spinks
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Leon Spinks, an American boxer who won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and was the world heavyweight champion in 1978. He and Michael Spinks became the first...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Martin Dihigo
This entry features Martin Dihigo, a professional baseball player who became a national hero in his native Cuba. In addition to playing in the Cuban League, Dihigo played in the leagues of the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Sun Ra
This entry features Sun Ra, a black American jazz composer and keyboard player who led a free jazz big band known for its innovative instrumentation and the theatricality of its performances.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Naomi Ruth Sims
This entry features Naomi Ruth Sims, an American model and business executive born March 30, 1949, Oxford, Miss.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Sir Garfield Sobers
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Sir Garfield Sobers, a West Indian cricketer, considered by many authorities the most gifted all-around player of all time. As a batsman, he established a record for Test (international)...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Sapphire
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Sapphire, an American author of fiction and poetry that features unsparing though often empowering depictions of the vicissitudes of African American and bisexual life.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Jam and Lewis
Jam and Lewis's emergence as major record producers was kick-started by Prince's pique. Keyboard player Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and bassist Terry Lewis played together in local Minneapolis bands while in high school, graduating to...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Guru
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Guru, an American rapper born July 17, 1962, Boston, Mass. .
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Huey Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Huey Smith, an American pianist, bandleader, songwriter, and vocalist, a principal figure in the 1950s rock and roll that became known as the New Orleans sound.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: J(ames) Bruce Llewellyn
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features J(ames) Bruce Llewellyn, an American entrepreneur born July 16, 1927, New York, N.Y.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Modern Jazz Quartet (Mjq)
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), an American musical ensemble noted for delicate percussion sonorities, innovations in jazz forms, and consistently high-performance standards sustained over a...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: j.j. Johnson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features J.J. Johnson, an American jazz composer and one of the genre's most influential trombonists.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Mo'nique
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Mo'Nique, an American actress, stand-up comedian, and talk-show host known for her bawdy humor and dramatic gravitas.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., an American trial lawyer who gained international prominence with his skillful and controversial defense of O.J. Simpson, a football player and celebrity who was...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Louis Gossett, Jr.
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Louis Gossett, Jr., an American stage, screen, and television actor. In 1983 Gossett received an Academy Award for best-supporting actor for his portrayal of tough-hearted drill sergeant...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Robert Mc Ferrin, Sr.
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Robert McFerrin, Sr., an American opera singer who became the first African-American male to solo at the Metropolitan Opera (Met) when he made his 1955 debut as Amonasro in Giuseppe...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Roy Jones, Jr.
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Roy Jones, Jr., an American boxer who became only the second light heavyweight champion to win a heavyweight title. For several years beginning in the late 1990s, he was widely considered...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Sammy Davis, Jr.
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Sammy Davis, Jr., an American singer, dancer, and entertainer.