Outstanding Black Americans

Paper Summary:

The following paper examines how a number of black Americans lived through tumultuous times and faced brutal racism, however despite the hardships they all went through they are success stories. The writer focuses on their history, how some came out of impoverished backgrounds and others from modest income families. This paper briefly looks at the successes and failures of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods , Bill Cosby, Sarah King and Michael Jordan, their inner strength of spirit, and the way in which over the years they have transformed themselves as they worked towards making their dreams a reality.

From the Paper:

"Of course, there was the memory of Martin Luther King. The flamboyant Jesse Jackson was often on news programs. Oprah Winfrey was the one black person who not only gained entry into millions of living rooms but also was welcomed warmly. For years Black Americans gained recognition for their ability in baseball, basketball, football and tennis. But it was Oprah who changed the viewpoints of millions of Americans who identified with the compassionate woman. She not only became a household name, but a woman whom viewers held in high esteem regardless of their race. Her political agenda transcended party lines. She wanted to make a difference for black people, and to make this world a better place. She is respected for her ethical and moral approach to the issues of today. "Her style reached out and connected with what every woman was thinking because she asked the questions and said the things that they understood." (Mair 78) There weren't a lot of black people on Chicago television in 1985, but Oprah's show A.M. Chicago was a big hit."

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