The Hate U Give is a young adult novel by Angie Thomas. It follows events in the life of a black 16-year-old girl, Starr Carter, who is drawn to activism after she witnesses the police shooting of a childhood friend. Angie Thomas is an American author who was born, raised and continues to live… Continue reading The Hate U Give Book
Profile: Dizzy Gillespie
A jazz trumpeter and composer, Dizzy Gillespie played with Charlie Parker and developed the music known as "bebop." His best-known compositions include "Oop Bob Sh' Bam," "Groovin' High," "Salt Peanuts" and "A Night in Tunisia." Synopsis Born on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, Dizzy Gillespie, known for his "swollen" cheeks and signature (uniquely… Continue reading Profile: Dizzy Gillespie
Profile: Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a poet and award-winning author known for her acclaimed memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and her numerous poetry and essay collections. Who Was Maya Angelou? Marguerite Annie Johnson Angelou (April 4, 1928 to May 28, 2014), known as Maya Angelou, was an American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer,… Continue reading Profile: Maya Angelou
Profile: Palmer Hayden
Palmer Hayden was an African American painter whose work became known during the Harlem Renaissance. Born Peyton Cole Hedgeman in Wide Water, Virginia, he was a prolific artist of his era. He depicted African American life, painting in both oils and watercolors. As a young man, Hayden studied at the Cooper Union in New York… Continue reading Profile: Palmer Hayden
Profile: Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was a trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star and comedian. Considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history, he is known for songs like "Star Dust," "La Vie En Rose" and "What a Wonderful World." Who Was Louis Armstrong? Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo," "Pops" and, later, "Ambassador Satch," was born in… Continue reading Profile: Louis Armstrong
Profile: Arna Bontemps
Synopsis Arna Bontemps was an award-winning African American author and poet born on October 13, 1902, in Alexandria, Louisiana. Known for his books featuring black characters, he wrote many notable works, including God Sends Sunday (1931), Black Thunder (1936), Story of the Negro (1948) and Great Slave Narratives (1969). He died June 4, 1973, in Nashville,… Continue reading Profile: Arna Bontemps
Profile: Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas was an African-American painter and graphic artist who played a leading role in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Synopsis Aaron Douglas was an African-American painter and graphic artist who played a leading role in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. His first major commission, to illustrate Alain LeRoy Locke's book,… Continue reading Profile: Aaron Douglas
