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RuPaul

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26
Biography
 

Entertainer

b. November 17, 1960

“With hair, heels, and attitude, honey, I am through the roof.”

RuPaul is one of the world’s most famous drag queens. He is a successful actor, singer and television host.

Born RuPaul Andre Charles in San Diego, California, RuPaul learned about fashion from his mother and three sisters. His parents divorced when he was 7. At 16, he moved to Atlanta to live with his sister and brother-in-law.

In Atlanta, RuPaul studied acting, performed as a bar dancer and sang with a band. He gained national exposure with a cameo role dancing in the video for the B-52s’ “Love Shack.” In 1987, RuPaul moved to New York, where he became a popular entertainer in the Manhattan nightclub scene. He was crowned “Queen of Manhattan 1990.”

In 1993, RuPaul collaborated with Elton John on a remake of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” The following year, RuPaul had his first solo hit single, “Supermodel (You Better Work),” which topped the dance music charts. Three more dance hits followed: “Back to My Roots,” “A Shade Shady” and “House of Love.”

His appearances in “The Brady Bunch Movie” (1995) and Spike Lee’s “Crooklyn” (1995), along with the release of his autobiography “Lettin It All Hang Out” (1996), landed RuPaul a talk show on VH1. He described the “The RuPaul Show” as “the most creatively satisfying, fun-filled working experience I’ve ever had.” That same year, he became a spokesperson for M.A.C Cosmetics, making him the first drag queen supermodel. In six years, RuPaul helped raise over $22 million for the M.A.C AIDS Fund.

RuPaul had a role in “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995). In the late 1990’s, he co-hosted the morning show on WKTU-FM, a New York dance music station. He produced and starred in the film “Starrbooty” (2007), which he adapted into a nightclub act. He is the host and executive producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosts “RuPaul’s Drag U” on Logo.

In 1999, RuPaul was named Entertainer of The Year at the GLAAD Media Awards. In 2002, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Most Beautiful Transsexuals in the World Association.

Bibliography

Bibliography

"Rupaul Bio." RuPaul Blog.  4 June 2012. 
 
"RuPaul - Biography." IMDb.com. 30 May 2012. 
 
"RuPaul”  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 30 May 2012. 
 
"RuPaul Trivia & Quotes.” TV.com. 30 May 2012. 
 
Books
 
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2012
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Don Lemon

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21
Biography
 

News Anchor

b. March 1, 1966

“If I had seen more people like me who are out and proud, it wouldn’t have taken me 45 years to say it.”

Don Lemon is a primetime national news anchor. He received an Edward R. Murrow award, one of the most prestigious honors for broadcast journalists.

Lemon was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by a single mother. He attended Brooklyn College and earned a degree in broadcast journalism. While in college, he secured his first job as a news assistant at WNYW in New York City. After graduating, he worked as a reporter and weekend anchor at WCAU in Philadelphia. At KTVI in St. Louis, Lemon was an anchor and investigative reporter. He later anchored the news at WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama.

Lemon moved to network news as a correspondent for NBC’s “Today” and “NBC Nightly News.” He also was an anchor on weekend “Today” and on MSNBC. In 2003, he began co-anchoring the 5 p.m. newscast at WMAQ in Chicago. He received an Emmy Award for an investigative report on the Chicago real estate market.

In 2006, Lemon joined CNN. He anchors “CNN Newsroom” on primetime and serves as a correspondent for major news stories. He was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of the capture of the D.C. snipers. In 2009, Ebony magazine named him one of the 150 most influential African-Americans.

Lemon came out in an interview in The New York Times. In his autobiography, “Transparent” (2011), he discusses his sexual orientation. One of few openly gay national newscasters, Lemon was apprehensive about revealing the personal details of his life. “I’m talking about something that people might shun me for, ostracize me for,” he said. After the book’s release, he told PBS, “Now I’m free. No one can hold it against me. I am in charge of my own story.”

Lemon lives in Atlanta and teaches new media journalism.

Bibliography

Bibliography

Carter, Bill. "Don Lemon of CNN Knows Risk of Coming Out as Gay." Nytimes.com. 30 May 2012.
 
"CNN Programs - Anchors/Reporters - Don Lemon." CNN.com. 30 May 2012. 
 
"Don Lemon.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 30 May 2012. 
 
Websites
 
 
Books
 
 
Social Media
 
 
 
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2012
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Bessie Smith

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7
Biography

Singer

b. Unknown: July 1892 or April 15, 1894
d. September 26, 1937

"It's a long old road, but I know I'm gonna find the end." 
    
Details of Bessie Smith's childhood, including the year of her birth, vary. Both Smith's parents died before her ninth birthday. As a child, she and her brother performed as a musical duo on the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee to support themselves.

In 1912, Smith joined a traveling troupe. While with the troupe she met blues singer Ma Rainey, who became Smith's friend and mentor. Smith's extraordinary talent as a blues singer, coupled with her vivacious personality, quickly landed her a solo act in Atlanta, Georgia. She entered the Eastern Seaboard vaudeville circuit and over the next ten years her popularity soared.

In 1923, Smith was signed to Columbia Records. She quickly became the highest paid African American entertainer of her time, earning up to $2000 per week during the height of her career. Her first recording, "Down-Hearted Blues," catapulted her to national success.

Smith toured the country recording over 160 songs accompanied by some of the greatest jazz instrumentalists of her time, including Louis Armstrong. From slow blues to jazz standards, Bessie Smith consistently produced original work, demonstrating her broad range and versatility. Columbia Records upgraded her unrivaled status as "Queen of the Blues" to "Empress of the Blues."

Five years after signing with Columbia Records, Smith's career began to decline during the Great Depression. Her last recording, featuring Benny Goodman, took place in 1933.

Although she never received the same level of acclaim bestowed on her during her early career, Bessie Smith continued to perform in clubs up until her death. She died shortly after a car accident in 1937.

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2007
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E. Lynn Harris

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7
Biography

Author     

b. June 20, 1955
d. July 23, 2009

“I want people to know they don’t have to live their lives in a permanent ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ existence. Truth is a powerful tool.”

E. Lynn Harris is one of the nation’s most popular authors. Considered a literary pioneer, Harris introduced millions of readers to characters rarely seen in literature—black gay men who are affluent, complex and sometimes troubled. With 10 consecutive New York Times best sellers, he remains one of the most successful African-American novelists.

Harris was born Everette Lynn Jeter in Flint, Michigan, to unmarried parents. At age 3, Everette moved with his mother to Little Rock, Arkansas. Everette's surname was changed to Harris after his mother married Ben Harris. When Everette was 13, his mother divorced his stepfather, who had abused the boy for years.

Harris attended the University of Arkansas. In 1977, he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Harris was the school’s first black cheerleader.

After graduation, Harris worked as a sales executive for IBM, eventually settling in Atlanta. He remained in the closet for many years, which led to depression, heavy drinking and a suicide attempt in 1990. Writing helped him find the will to live.

His first novel, “Invisible Life” (1991), was self-published and quickly rose to the top of the Blackboard Bestseller List of African-American titles. Harris sold the books door-to-door from the trunk of his car to local beauty salons and bookstores. After the success of his first book, Doubleday signed Harris and became his long-term publishing company.

" 'Invisible Life' had to be the first book out of me,” Harris said. “It helped me deal with my own sexuality.”

Harris wrote more than a dozen novels and paved the way for the next generation of African-American novelists. His books are accessible to the masses and appeal to a diverse audience. Harris always made time for his fans, whom he said changed his life. He would answer up to 200 e-mails from readers every day.

Harris received numerous awards. His honors include three Blackboard Novel of the Year Awards, the James Baldwin Award for Literacy Excellence and three nominations for NAACP Image Awards.

Harris died from heart disease. “People loved him,” said Tina McElroy Ansa, a fellow author and friend. “A spirit of joy followed him through his life.”

Bibliography

 

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Bibliography

Bass, Patrik Henry. “Author E. Lynn Harris Dead at 54.” Essence Magazine. 24 July 2009.

Blake, John. "Author E. Lynn Harris Dead at 54.” CNN.com. 24 July 2009.

"E. Lynn Harris, Author." The African American Literature Book Club. 26 May 2010.

"E. Lynn Harris." Random House. 26 May 2010.

"E. Lynn Harris.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 26 May 2010.

"Harris, E. Lynn." glbtq.com. 26 May 2010.

Books by E. Lynn Harris

Invisible Life (1994)

Just As I Am (1995)

And This Too Shall Pass (1997)

If This World Were Mine (1998)

Abide with Me (2000)

Not a Day Goes By (2001)

Any Way the Wind Blows (2002)

A Love of My Own (2003)

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (2004)

I Say a Little Prayer (2007)

Just Too Good to Be True (2008)

Best African American Fiction: 2009 (2009)

Basketball Jones (2009)

Mama Dearest (2009)

In My Father’s House (2010)

Article by E. Lynn Harris

‘Hung’: Private Parts

Article about E. Lynn Harris

New York Times Obituary

Website

E. Lynn Harris Official Website

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