Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Dinah Washington
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Dinah Washington, a black American blues singer noted for her excellent voice control and unique gospel-influenced delivery.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Don Byas
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Don Byas, a black American jazz tenor saxophonist whose improvising was an important step in the transition from the late swing to the early bop eras.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Donna Summer
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Donna Summer, an American singer-songwriter considered the "Queen of Disco" but also successful in rhythm and blues, dance music, and pop.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Dorothy West
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Dorothy West, an American writer who explored the aspirations and conflicts of middle-class African Americans in many of her works and was one of the last surviving members of the...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Earl Campbell
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Earl Campbell, an American gridiron football running back whose bruising style made him one of the most dominant rushers in the history of the sport despite his relatively short career.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Earl Hines
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Earl Hines, an American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer whose unique playing style made him one of the most influential musicians in jazz history.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Murphy
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Murphy, an American comedian and actor who was a dominant comedic voice in the United States during the 1980s. His comedy was largely personal and observational and at times raunchy...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Robinson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Robinson, an American collegiate gridiron football coach, who set a record (later surpassed) for most career wins (408). He spent his entire head-coach career at Grambling State...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Tolan
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Tolan, an American sprinter and the first black athlete to win two Olympic gold medals. In his track career, Tolan won 300 races, losing only 7.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Edmonia Lewis
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Edmonia Lewis, an American sculptor whose Neoclassical works exploring religious and classical themes won contemporary praise and received renewed interest in the late 20th century.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Edwin Moses
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Edwin Moses, an American hurdler who dominated the 400-metre hurdles event for a decade, winning gold medals in the race at the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eleanor Holmes Norton
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eleanor Holmes Norton, an American lawyer and politician who broke several gender and racial barriers during her career, in which she defended the rights of others for equal opportunity.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Elmore James
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Elmore James, an American blues singer-guitarist noted for the urgent intensity of his singing and guitar playing. He was a significant influence on the development of rock music.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Elvin Hayes
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Elvin Hayes, an American basketball player who was one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Elvin Jones
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Elvin Jones, an American jazz drummer and bandleader who established a forceful polyrhythmic approach to the traps set, combining different metres played independently by the hands and...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Emlen Tunnell
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Emlen Tunnell, an American gridiron football player who in 1967 became the first African American to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His career stretched from 1948 through...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Emmitt Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Emmitt Smith, an American gridiron football player, who in 2002 became the all-time leading rusher in National Football League (NFL) history. He retired after the 2004 season with 18,355...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eric Dickerson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eric Dickerson, an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the leading running backs in National Football League (NFL) history.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Erroll Garner
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Erroll Garner, a U.S. pianist and composer, one of the most virtuosic and popular pianists in jazz. Garner was influenced by Fats Waller and was entirely self-taught. He substituted for...
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Etta James
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Etta James, a popular American rhythm-and-blues entertainer who in time became a successful ballad singer.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Eunice Walker Johnson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eunice Walker Johnson, an American entrepreneur born April 4, 1916, Selma, Ala.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Faith Ringgold
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Faith Ringgold, an American artist and author who became famous for innovative, quilted narrations that communicate her political beliefs.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Fannie Barrier Williams
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Fannie Barrier Williams, an American social reformer, lecturer, club woman, and cofounder of the National League of Colored Women.
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Encyclopedia Britannica: Father Divine
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Father Divine, a prominent African-American religious leader of the 1930s. The Depression-era movement he founded, the Peace Mission, was originally dismissed as a cult, but it still...