Jet Difference Makers 2011
Content
OURTRAILBLAZERS
JET celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with a look at trailblazers in our culture — from the past and the present — whose commitment to excellence allowed them — and all of us — to make inroads in every aspect of our world. For Black History Month — and all year long — we honor our veteran and rising Black history makers.
ACTRESS
ELISE
For Colored Girls, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, Woman Thou Art Loosed
KIMBERLY
"I like to believe that Ms. (Cicely) Tyson is one of Ms. (Butterfly) McQueen's little blossonris and that I am one of Ms. Tyson's little blossoms and that the work that I am doing today will shine sunshine on the little girls who are just beginning to bud their own talents and encourage them to spring forth in all their glory."
30
ACTRESS
RUBY
DEE
Do The Right Thing, A Raisin In The Sun
"It was important to me to help inspire youngsters through my work on the screen and off the screen. I think my proudest moment was when I discovered what acting was — it's a walk
through my consciousness. I was always that jungle street fighter with my two fists up and ready to take on anything or anyone."
MYJET247.COM 31
WILLIAMS
Mahogany, Lady Sings The Blues
"I suppose my impact — without sounaing pompous — I think I kind of brought a kind of romantic inriage, which was something that had never really happened
before, it was a result of doing those movies with Diana Ross. I guess what I always tried to do — approach my work as an actor, and also as a painter, beyond the question of race and color."
ACTOR
IDRIS
The Lotos, Daddy's Little GiHs
"I have worked with many •.actors of all races; AfricanAmerican actors have had the longest legacy, facing restraint and adversity. The first thing I
learned from working
here in America is >»ébout longevity and being able to sustain cultural integrity. ... I hope my career and the future of my career is a à beacon for young actors to follow. Actors of all genders and i races should < support each other."
^
MY
e47.COM ¡33j y/.u\jivt j j
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ATHLETE
TYUS
W . JMIA
Three-time Olympic gold medalist/Track
"I like to think that people can look at me and say, 'hey, I can do that, too.' I grew up in a small town in Georgia and there was very little for Black people to want to do. But after becoming a Tigerbelle (Tennessee State University track teamV it all changed. I could see tnat yvomen coulcTdo so many other things. All you have to do is do your best."
34
Olympic gold medalist/Track
"I think my biggest influence and the person I look up to most is probably Jackie Joyner-Kersee. It's not just her athletic accomplishments — she was an amazing athlete — but
it was when she was done, her passion was to give back to her community. That's part of the legacy I want to leave. I want to be remembered as a great athlete but also that I had passion for my community."
MY • T247.COM 35
FILMMAKER
SPIKE
ve been juely innced by râny in this 'ustry who re leaders,
Miracle At St. Anna, Do The Right Thing, School Daze
LEE
¡-takers
nonitional inkers, eople like )scar Miheauxand he Hudlin irothers are examples of
trailblazers I admire and study. I hope to make my mark by creating a diverse array of content that "eves both imercial viaility and cultural cclaim."
'ïàiiA
"We're just still continuing to do our body of work and build on our body of work and tell different and unique stories in different and unique ways. We've still gota lot of stories to tell."
MYJET247.COM 37
u
DIFFERENCE MAKER
WILSON
Founder/Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute
PHILL
"If we are going to survive, we are going to do it because we decide that we deserve to survive arid that we have to survive, and by any means necessary. That is particularly true around HIV and AIDS.... AIDS is a battle that is imminently winnable."
3B
DIFFERENCE MAKER
ELLISLAMKINS
CEO, Green For All
PHAEDRA
"We believe that lowincome communities, who
face significant environmental and economic challenges, deserve a fair chance at turning their despair into hope — a goal that can be achieved through
a clean energy economy. We work every day to support the growth of clean technology to create sustainable communities, while ensuring that the quality jobs created provide much-needed
career opportunities—
particularly for the most vulnerable."
My 247.COM 39
EDUC
MARVA
COLLINS
Founder, WeStside | Preparatory Èchool in I Chicago; Subject of TV i The Marva Collins Story; ; Founder, Marva Collins '. ' Seminars ,
"All of us as Black Americans must _ realize that we are as bright as anyone else in the world. I want our children to be able •^communicate ith people all over ie world. We must realize that poverty has nothing to do with the mind. It is about getting our children to think that they can. It's-r about exposure M the world."
EDUCATION
Founder of Chicago's Urban Prep Academy, where entire all-male graduating class was accepted into college
KING
"Any African-American figure who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement has contributed to my ability to do what I am doing at Urban
Prep today.... Fifty years ago (Rev. Martin Luther) King was talking about the importance of educating the whole student. I am empowered in 2011 to fight hard to continue the struggle for quality education."
MYJET247.COM 41
ARETHA OfSoul Queen
"Clara Ward and Albertina Walker were both tremendous gospel singers and influenced me... I think the generations of singers who have followed
m e learned how to be more creative vocally from me. I do hear my influences a lot... The singers are not trying to do me; they have just been influenced by me. It's delightful to hear."
4Z
MUSIC
ROBERT
L. JOHNSON
Founder ofBlack Entertainment Television; First Black majority owner of a professional sports franchise
BUSINESS
"I would like to think that the imprint I made on the business world was the founding of Black Entertainment Television and creating that as one of tne preeminent AîricanAmerican media companies in the country... and proving to the majority business community that African-Americans when given the I opportunity, can 5 create significant i economic value and E wealth."
BARAC
"It's faith that reminds me that, despite being just one very imperfect man,
.mm.
I can Still help whoever I can, however lean, ^ wherever I can, ^ for as lonq as I can, ancfthat somehow, God will buttress these eff
LITERATURE
EDWIDGE
DANTICAT
The Farming OfBones, Brother, I'm Dying, The Dewbreaker
"We will certainly continue writing, because, as the great Zora Neale Hurston wrote in Their Eyes Were Watching God,
'there is no agony like an untold story inside you.' We can make sure that we continue to have wonderful writers by reading them. That's one way we can nurture young talent, by reading more."
MyjET247.COM 45
ATHLETE
DONOVAi McNABB
NFL Pro Bowl Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
"Ithinkthefutui is beginning to ^ look brighter for African-American luartetbacks. Fror ie likes of MarUn
I ... they were given opportuofties and made the most of it. Today, with the likes of myself, Michael Vick, David Garrard ... and others, there are more opportunities given to African-American QBs. As long as we continue to have success, that should be all that matters. I'd like to think we have reached a point where skin color doesn't factor into the highest profile position in our sport." a
i
'
WM
ATHLETE
DOUG WILLIAMS
Former NFL Quarterback Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Historically... I'll probably always be remembered as the first AfricanAmerican auarterback to play in the
^'
^
Super Bowl. ... l think the inroads are to put away the myth that the nnental capacity of African-Americans could not withstand the challenge of playing the position of quarterback. I think once the Super Bowl was over... there was an infusion of African-American quarterbacks and that myth was gone."
MYJET247.COM 47
Copyright © Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
JET celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with a look at trailblazers in our culture — from the past and the present — whose commitment to excellence allowed them — and all of us — to make inroads in every aspect of our world. For Black History Month — and all year long — we honor our veteran and rising Black history makers.
ACTRESS
ELISE
For Colored Girls, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, Woman Thou Art Loosed
KIMBERLY
"I like to believe that Ms. (Cicely) Tyson is one of Ms. (Butterfly) McQueen's little blossonris and that I am one of Ms. Tyson's little blossoms and that the work that I am doing today will shine sunshine on the little girls who are just beginning to bud their own talents and encourage them to spring forth in all their glory."
30
ACTRESS
RUBY
DEE
Do The Right Thing, A Raisin In The Sun
"It was important to me to help inspire youngsters through my work on the screen and off the screen. I think my proudest moment was when I discovered what acting was — it's a walk
through my consciousness. I was always that jungle street fighter with my two fists up and ready to take on anything or anyone."
MYJET247.COM 31
WILLIAMS
Mahogany, Lady Sings The Blues
"I suppose my impact — without sounaing pompous — I think I kind of brought a kind of romantic inriage, which was something that had never really happened
before, it was a result of doing those movies with Diana Ross. I guess what I always tried to do — approach my work as an actor, and also as a painter, beyond the question of race and color."
ACTOR
IDRIS
The Lotos, Daddy's Little GiHs
"I have worked with many •.actors of all races; AfricanAmerican actors have had the longest legacy, facing restraint and adversity. The first thing I
learned from working
here in America is >»ébout longevity and being able to sustain cultural integrity. ... I hope my career and the future of my career is a à beacon for young actors to follow. Actors of all genders and i races should < support each other."
^
MY
e47.COM ¡33j y/.u\jivt j j
w
ATHLETE
TYUS
W . JMIA
Three-time Olympic gold medalist/Track
"I like to think that people can look at me and say, 'hey, I can do that, too.' I grew up in a small town in Georgia and there was very little for Black people to want to do. But after becoming a Tigerbelle (Tennessee State University track teamV it all changed. I could see tnat yvomen coulcTdo so many other things. All you have to do is do your best."
34
Olympic gold medalist/Track
"I think my biggest influence and the person I look up to most is probably Jackie Joyner-Kersee. It's not just her athletic accomplishments — she was an amazing athlete — but
it was when she was done, her passion was to give back to her community. That's part of the legacy I want to leave. I want to be remembered as a great athlete but also that I had passion for my community."
MY • T247.COM 35
FILMMAKER
SPIKE
ve been juely innced by râny in this 'ustry who re leaders,
Miracle At St. Anna, Do The Right Thing, School Daze
LEE
¡-takers
nonitional inkers, eople like )scar Miheauxand he Hudlin irothers are examples of
trailblazers I admire and study. I hope to make my mark by creating a diverse array of content that "eves both imercial viaility and cultural cclaim."
'ïàiiA
"We're just still continuing to do our body of work and build on our body of work and tell different and unique stories in different and unique ways. We've still gota lot of stories to tell."
MYJET247.COM 37
u
DIFFERENCE MAKER
WILSON
Founder/Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute
PHILL
"If we are going to survive, we are going to do it because we decide that we deserve to survive arid that we have to survive, and by any means necessary. That is particularly true around HIV and AIDS.... AIDS is a battle that is imminently winnable."
3B
DIFFERENCE MAKER
ELLISLAMKINS
CEO, Green For All
PHAEDRA
"We believe that lowincome communities, who
face significant environmental and economic challenges, deserve a fair chance at turning their despair into hope — a goal that can be achieved through
a clean energy economy. We work every day to support the growth of clean technology to create sustainable communities, while ensuring that the quality jobs created provide much-needed
career opportunities—
particularly for the most vulnerable."
My 247.COM 39
EDUC
MARVA
COLLINS
Founder, WeStside | Preparatory Èchool in I Chicago; Subject of TV i The Marva Collins Story; ; Founder, Marva Collins '. ' Seminars ,
"All of us as Black Americans must _ realize that we are as bright as anyone else in the world. I want our children to be able •^communicate ith people all over ie world. We must realize that poverty has nothing to do with the mind. It is about getting our children to think that they can. It's-r about exposure M the world."
EDUCATION
Founder of Chicago's Urban Prep Academy, where entire all-male graduating class was accepted into college
KING
"Any African-American figure who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement has contributed to my ability to do what I am doing at Urban
Prep today.... Fifty years ago (Rev. Martin Luther) King was talking about the importance of educating the whole student. I am empowered in 2011 to fight hard to continue the struggle for quality education."
MYJET247.COM 41
ARETHA OfSoul Queen
"Clara Ward and Albertina Walker were both tremendous gospel singers and influenced me... I think the generations of singers who have followed
m e learned how to be more creative vocally from me. I do hear my influences a lot... The singers are not trying to do me; they have just been influenced by me. It's delightful to hear."
4Z
MUSIC
ROBERT
L. JOHNSON
Founder ofBlack Entertainment Television; First Black majority owner of a professional sports franchise
BUSINESS
"I would like to think that the imprint I made on the business world was the founding of Black Entertainment Television and creating that as one of tne preeminent AîricanAmerican media companies in the country... and proving to the majority business community that African-Americans when given the I opportunity, can 5 create significant i economic value and E wealth."
BARAC
"It's faith that reminds me that, despite being just one very imperfect man,
.mm.
I can Still help whoever I can, however lean, ^ wherever I can, ^ for as lonq as I can, ancfthat somehow, God will buttress these eff
LITERATURE
EDWIDGE
DANTICAT
The Farming OfBones, Brother, I'm Dying, The Dewbreaker
"We will certainly continue writing, because, as the great Zora Neale Hurston wrote in Their Eyes Were Watching God,
'there is no agony like an untold story inside you.' We can make sure that we continue to have wonderful writers by reading them. That's one way we can nurture young talent, by reading more."
MyjET247.COM 45
ATHLETE
DONOVAi McNABB
NFL Pro Bowl Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
"Ithinkthefutui is beginning to ^ look brighter for African-American luartetbacks. Fror ie likes of MarUn
I ... they were given opportuofties and made the most of it. Today, with the likes of myself, Michael Vick, David Garrard ... and others, there are more opportunities given to African-American QBs. As long as we continue to have success, that should be all that matters. I'd like to think we have reached a point where skin color doesn't factor into the highest profile position in our sport." a
i
'
WM
ATHLETE
DOUG WILLIAMS
Former NFL Quarterback Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Historically... I'll probably always be remembered as the first AfricanAmerican auarterback to play in the
^'
^
Super Bowl. ... l think the inroads are to put away the myth that the nnental capacity of African-Americans could not withstand the challenge of playing the position of quarterback. I think once the Super Bowl was over... there was an infusion of African-American quarterbacks and that myth was gone."
MYJET247.COM 47
Copyright © Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
