Samuel L. Jackson - Written by Daniel Galarza

Samuel L. Jackson
 My name is Samuel L. Jackson. I was born in Washington, D.C on December 21, 1948. Though born in D.C, I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I grew up as an only child. I barely knew my father, and only met him twice before he died of alcoholism. I attended many segregated schools and graduated from Riverside High School in Chattanooga. My interest was marine biology, but when I joined a local acting group to earn extra points in class, I found an interest in acting, and switched my major. Before graduating in 1972, I co-founded the "Just Us Theater".
 
Before I graduated, I was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, I attended the funeral in Atlanta as one of the ushers. In 1969, me and a few other students, held members of the Morehouse College board of trustees hostage on campus, and demanded reform. In the end, the college agreed to change its policy, but I was charged and convicted with unlawful confinement (a second- degree felony). I was suspended for my criminal record and actions for two years. 

I made my first feature film debut in the independent movie, Together for Days (1972). I moved to New York City in 1976, and spent the next decade doing stage plays. At this point I developed alcohol and cocaine addictions. I was also mentored by Morgan Freeman. Later, my drug addiction worsened. My family put me into a New York rehab clinic. After successfully completing rehab, I was given a role in the movie, Jungle Fever, as a crack cocaine addict. A situation which I described as cathartic. The film was so acclaimed that in the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, a "Supporting Actor" award was created just for me. I then went on to act in a few comedies, a drama, and my first starring role in the movie, Amos and Andrew. After that I acted in the movie, Jurassic Park.

After this I was cast for the movie, Pulp Fiction, as the character Jules Winnfield. A role which had been specifically created for me. 

I received many awards for movies that I did afterwards. I was Mace Windu in the Star Wars movies, (the purple lightsaber was my idea), and Frozone in the animated film, The Incredibles. I've even had roles in television series, a video game, and audiobooks. I've done the voice for the main character in the anime series, Afro Samurai. I've also done the voice for Gin Rummy in several episodes of The Boondocks. And I was the voice of the main antagonist of the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

I have made a commitment to act as Nick Fury in all the upcoming Avenger movies. I like to do roles that are exciting to watch. I am a major comic book and anime fan. I also enjoy collecting action figures of characters I have portrayed in films and other media I have done. I was married in 1980 to LaTanya Richardson, and had a daughter in 1982, who's name is Zoe. I like to play golf, and there is even a clause in my contracts that state that I can play golf during production. I campaigned for then Illinois Senator, Barack Obama in Texarkana, Texas. I said during the campaign," Barack Obama represents everything I was told I could be growing up. I am a child of segregation. When I grew up and people told me I could be president, I knew it was a lie. But now we have a representative... the American Dream is a reality. Anyone can grow up to be a president."

Chuck Berry - Written by Matthew Gaydos

Chuck Berry’s Message to the Next Generation


Hi, I’m Charles Edward Anderson Berry or otherwise known as Chuck Berry.
People consider me one of the pioneers of rock and roll. I was born and raised in St.
Louis, Missouri. There I discovered blues in my teens. I began to work to not only to
support my wife and child, but my parents also. But in the beginning of the 50’s I began
to play at clubs with a band for extra income. There I refined my showmanship and my
rhythm style. I was greatly influenced by my good friend, Ira Harris. But I then began to
be noticed because I started fusing R&B with country music. At first I was ridiculed and
called a “black hillbilly” but I didn’t care.


I started getting really good at playing music and I wanted to take it to the next
level. In 1955 I met Muddy Waters who suggested I see Chess Records and boy were
they impressed! There I recorded “Maybelline”, my first hit single. I then grew more and
more famous until I became a sensation. My message to you young people is that you can
start a revolution just by being yourself. That’s how I did it. I didn’t care about what
people said and look what I did. Famous musicians such as John Lennon and Angus
Young consider me their idols and all I did was do what I love. I even broke racial
barriers with my music and united people. I hope that this generation will unite and
forget racial differences to get amazing things done.

African American History - Bill Cosby: Written by Andres Corredor

Hello everyone, I am Bill Cosby.  Some of you may heard my voice in the cartoons Fat Albert and Little Bill. I was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in July 12 1937. My Father was in the Navy and away from home for months at a time so I would deliver groceries and shine shoes to help mom pay the bills.

    When I was little enjoyed the Comedian Sid Caesar and I was regarded as a comedian as a child. When I was in high school I was in the track and football team captains. Also, I played basketball and baseball during my teen years. I tried to keep up in my school work rather than I dropped out and join the Navy like my dad. Later on, I earned my high school diploma in correspondence school and enroll myself in Temple University on an athletic scholarship.

    I took a job at a neighborhood café as the bartender and I filled in for comedian who didn’t show up for there act and later on I was doing stand up comedy in other nightclubs. I told News Weekly that I’m trying to reach all the people. I left Temple Collage in 1962 to pursue my career as a comedian. In 1964, I received a Grammy honor as Best Comedian Album.   From there, I got into television where I became well-known as one of television famous father figures in the Bill Cosby show.    Other things that I did were cartoon voices for Fat Albert and Little Bill.  I also appeared in the Electric Company because of my commitment to education.  I believe education is the key to everyone’s future which is why I graduated in 1972 from Temple with a Ph.D. in education.  

So kids keep your dreams alive by studying.

Breaking The Ice

Hello, My name is Willie O’ree, you probably don’t recognize my name. But to hockey fans I’m a pretty big deal.
I was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. I grew up around hockey because that, and baseball, were the only sports in my small town. I had a chance in having a baseball career but, I focused more on hockey. Then I finally got my break. The Quebec Aces signed me not knowing about a secret of mine. I was 95% blind in my right eye. I was hit by a deflected puck and my retina shattered.
The Quebec Aces were a minor league team for the Boston Bruins. I spent some time in the Bruins camp before I was sent back to the minors. That winter, the Bruins ran out of right wingers due to injuries. My number was called. On January 18, 1958, in Montreal, I took the ice with the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player to make it to the NHL. I was expecting a little more publicity. The press handled it like it was just another story. I didn't care that much about publicity for myself, but it could have been important for other blacks with hopes in hockey. It would have shown that a black could make it.
My happiest moment in the NHL came in 1961 in a game at the Boston Garden on New Year's night. We were playing the Montreal Canadians. It was late in the third period. I received a pass and was carving around the Montreal defense. I took a low shot, keeping the puck along the ice, and it slid into the corner. It was the winning goal. The fans gave me a two-minute standing ovation. It was a great feeling.
I still contribute to the game today. For the past 10 years, I’ve been the director of the NHL’s Diversity program. I hold clinics introducing minority children to the game I love.
Me getting into the NHL was a great example of overcoming adversity. Especially if you take in the fact that there was only 6 NHL teams back then. My message to all is never give in. Keep your head up and give 110% to your goal.

BLIND, BUT GIFTED BY SUSANA VAZQUEZ

BLIND, BUT GIFTED

Hello there! My name is Ray Charles, but I am also known as “genius” and “father of soul”. Although some of you may not know who I am, I am one of the great musicians who introduced, and began soul music. Since I was a child, I faced a difficult life and had tremendously hard experiences that I had to learn to deal with but it is also because of these experiences that I became strong. 

I was born into a poor, christian family in a community on the western side of Greenville, Florida. As I was growing up, I began to loose my sight due to glaucoma, just after my little brother died. By the time I was seven years old, I was completely blind. I developed a strong interest and talent for music when I attended the Florida School of the Deaf and the Blind, where I studied several instruments like piano, saxophone, and clarinet - I had more of a passion for piano.

 My mother died  when I was fifteen, and my father died when I was seventeen. I was young, poor, and blind but had a unique, and extraordinary gift. Now, I was on my own and had to begin working. I had my talent, and my passion beside me, so I took advantage of that and began to play piano for bands, and started to save money to begin my career. By 1949, I was living in seattle and formed a maxim trio with which I had my first R&B hit, “Confession Blues”. 

I had a break through period with Atlantic Records in the 1950’s with my first singles that included “Drown in My Own Tears”, “It Should Have Been Me”, “I Got a Woman”, “Hit the Road Jack”, “Georgia on My Mind”, and others, which were all a combination of blues, gospel, and jazz. In 1962, I created new popular country albums which were the release of  genius + soul = jazz.

I was arrested in 1965 for possession of Heroin, which I had been addicted to for almost twenty years. This did not completely end my career but it did interfere with it. In the 1980’s, I had my final appearances in television, some movies, and in 1989, I had my first major pop hit in over twenty years with with "I'll Be Good toYou".

Ray charles died on June 10, 2004. He was an inspiration to many, including me. We can learn from him in many ways to not give up, and believe in ourselves because many of us are let down by our faults. Even though Ray was a blind man, the passion that he had, his faith, and his perseverance, is what lead him to becoming an incredible pianist and music composer and performer. 

My life-Harriet Tubman

There are things that people care about very much. To you, it might be an i-pod or a cellphone, but to me, it was helping the slaves during the Civil War. You've probably heard of the Underground Railroad before, and didn't pay much attention. Well, my name is Harriet Tubman, and I led the slaves through the Underground Railroad.

  It was a difficult journey, considering I had a head wound when I was beaten by several of my masters. You can learn a lot of things from my 13 journeys to and from the Underground Railroad, but the most important was perseverance. There was a point in time when most of the slaves had given up on me, and liberty. They said they couldn't go on any longer. I told them "liberty, or death. If I could not have one, I'd have the other". They finally had trust in me. A strong leader always needs perseverance, and courage, or else they aren't a strong leader now are they? 

  I sacrificed a great deal when I led the slaves to the railroad. I sacrificed my family, friends, husband, and even my own health just to get them there. I tried to keep everyone on the same page when it came to going to the railroad. When my journey was over, I was glad I sacrificed it all. It all payed up for the freedom of the slaves. That was what I wanted to show to the world. 

 I hope that our new generation will have the qualities of perseverance, and strength. You should finish what you have begun. You shouldn't give up when you haven't even started the challenge. Through all of life's challenges, and problems, if you can't go through them peacefully, then why go through them at all? This is my greatest hope for the next generation, and those following them as well.

The Potato Chip Legend

Hello, I am George Crum. Many of you have probably never heard of me, but my invention is very well known. What was my invention, you ask? I am the inventor of one of the world’s mot famous snack, the potato chip.

To start off, I was born in 1822 in Saratoga Lake, New York. My father was African American while my mother was Native American and a member of the Huron tribe. My original name was George Speck, but I adopted the name “Crum” because it was the name my father used in his career as a jockey. As a young man I worked as a guide in the Adirondack Mountains and as an Indian trader. Eventually I realized I possessed a talent for cooking.

By the summer of 1853, I had already begun my career as a chef at Saratoga Springs' elegant Moon Lake Lodge resort. Here, French-fried potatoes were very popular on the menu. One day, my sister Kate who worked with me as a prep cook, became agitated when a customer sent my French-fried potatoes back to the kitchen complaining that they were cut too thick. First of all, I am considered to be somewhat of an ill tempered and sometimes a sarcastic man. When I heard what had happened, I reacted by slicing the potatoes as thin as possible, fried them in grease, added an abundant amount of salt, and then sent the hard, crunchy brown chips back to the customer.

Surprisingly, my chips were a hit. Although I was hoping to annoy the extremely fussy customer, my chips had the opposite affect. The customer was very happy. In fact, other guests began asking for them as well. Not long after, my "Saratoga Chips" became one of resort's most popular treats. Therefore, a new snack was born!

In 1860, I decided to open my very own restaurant, "Crumbs House" which was near Saratoga Lake. One of the things about my restaurant that appealed to my customers was my potato chips. I placed a basket filled with potato chips on every table.

I never patented or tried to sell my potato chips around the world. Regardless, my potato chips were soon on their way to becoming an international sensation all because of numerous ambitious snack food managers around the country. My delicious snack was eventually manufactured and sold in bags which provided thousands of jobs all across the nation.

The story of how I invented potato chips basically is about not giving up. At times in life, there will be people trying to stop you from doing what you enjoy doing the most. In my case I was being criticized for my fries being too thick. Instead of giving up, I fixed the problem by making the fries very thin. Don’t let someone get in the way of doing what you love. Whether it’s painting, sports, or cooking, just because someone criticizes you for whatever reason, you shouldn’t let them get in the way doing whatever it is you like doing the most.

I risked my job to stop the fussy customer. I could have been fired for purposely trying to annoy the customer by making the fries exaggeratingly thin and crispy. Luckily, he was satisfied. I hope I have inspired your generation to follow my example to never give up. Don’t let others put you down. No matter what the circumstances are, always continue trying to do what you love.