Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole, At One Time, The Most Successful Post-World War II, Black Pop Singer, Was Born Nathanial Adams Cole - March 17, 1919, In Alabama,
Cole's Smooth Singing Style And Deep Voice Were Featured On Several Romantic Hits, Including: "Mona Lisa," "The Christmas Song," "Nature Boy," "Too Young" And His Signature Tune, "Unforgettable." The Jazz Pianist And Songwriter Began His Recording Career In The 1930's With The King Cole Trio.
In 1956 He Hosted The Nat King Cole Show On NBC, Becoming The First Black American To Host A Regular Network Television Program. The Show Lasted Only One Year, Due To Lack Of Sponsors. Commenting On The Lack Of Sponsorship His Show Received, Cole Quipped Shortly After Its Demise, "Madison Avenue Is Afraid Of The Dark."
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
The Nat King Cole Performs "Route 66"
Charles Fuller
On March 12, 1982, A Soldier's Play, A Work By Charles H. Fuller, Won The Pulitzer Prize For Drama. Fuller Is Only The Second Black Playwright To Win The Award.
A Soldier's Play Told The Story Of The Racially Charged Search By A Black Captain For The Murderer Of His Black Sergeant On A Louisiana Army Base In 1944.
Although The Play Enjoyed A Long Run, Fuller Has Said It Never Played On Broadway Because He Refused To Drop The Last Line: "You'll have to get used to Black people being in charge."
A Soldier's Play Was Made Into A 1984 Film, A Soldier's Story, For Which Fuller Himself Wrote The Screen Adaptation. His Screenplay Was Nominated For An Academy Award, A Golden Globe Award, And A Writers Guild Of America Award. It Won An Edgar Award.
Other Works By The Philadelphia Native Include: The Village: A Party, A.K.A. The Perfect Party (1968), The Sunflowers (1969) (A Group Of Plays), Untitled Play (1971), In My Many Names And Days (1972), In The Deepest Part Of Sleep (1974), Candidate (1974), First Love (1974) The Lay Out Letter (1975), The Brownsville Raid (1975) And Sparrow in Flight (1978).
In 1967 Charles Fuller Co-Founded The Afro-American Arts Theatre In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
A Scene From The Movie, "A Soldier's Story"
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Track And Field Star, Jackie Joyner Kersee Was Born March 3, 1962, In East St. Louis, Illinois.
Joyner-Kersee Attended UCLA, Where She Starred In Both Track And Basketball From 1980-1985. She was honored On February 21, 1998 As One Of The 15 Greatest Players In UCLA Women's Basketball.
One Of the Greatest Female Athletes In History, She Won A Silver Medal In The Heptathlon In The 1984 Olympics And Gold Medals In the 1988 and 1992 Games. She Also Won A Gold Medal In The Long Jump In 1988 And A Bronze At The 1992 Olympics.
Joyner-Kersee Is The Heptathlon World Record-Holder And American Record-Holder In The Long Jump. Joyner-Kersee Was The First Woman To Score Over 7,000 Points In A Heptathlon Event (During The 1986 Goodwill Games). In 1986, She Received The James E. Sullivan Award As the Top Amateur Heptathlete In The United States.
After Her Retirement, She Started The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation To Encourage Kids In her Underprivileged Hometown To Play Sports.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
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