1951– Politician Boateng, Paul, photograph. Naashon Zalk/Bloomberg News/Landov. Paul Yaw Boateng twice made political history in Britain: in 1987, he became one of the first black Britons elected to the House of Commons. Fifteen years later, Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Boateng an undersecretary at the Treasury, making him the first black ever to hold a cabinet position in Britain. H…
1965– Professional basketball player, coach By far the shortest player in the history of the National Basketball League, Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues became a fan favorite over his 16-season career from 1987 to 2001. Bogues's life and his exploits on the court were showcases for the possibilities of pure determination, for he overcame the damaging effects of poverty and sough…
Born 1947, in St. Louis, MO; (stepEducation: Webster College (now Webster University), B.A. (cum laude), 1969; attended University of Missouri-Columbia, 1970–71. Politics: "Independent." Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: "Reading (of course!), playing piano, computer stuff." Betty G. Birney Agent—c/o Author Mail, Atheneum, 1230 Avenue of…
Born 1945, in Meadville, PA; Education: Grove City College, B.A., 1967. Hobbies and other interests: Music, outdoor pursuits. Writer of fiction and nonfiction books, playwright, and writing teacher. Missouri Southern State College, teacher of playwriting, 1989–93, 1997–; Trinidad State Junior College, teacher of writing-for-publication course, 1995. Military service: U.S. Army, serge…
Born 1948, in Crosshill, Carrick, Scotland. Education: Studied engineering. Agent—c/o Croig Police Close, 82 High St., Kirkudbright DG6 4JL, Scotland. Journalist and author. Freelance writer, 1994–. Children's poet-in-residence, Taigh Chearsabhagh on North Uist March, 2001. Markings (poetry magazine, co-publisher; Galloway Children's Festival, founder and director. Sco…
1951— Blues guitarist Bibb, Eric, photograph. Jo Hale/Getty Images. One of the most imaginative modern musicians working within the blues tradition, Eric Bibb is also one of the least recognized in proportion to his talent, at least in his home country of the United States. Bibb is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with deep roots in American music, roots that come from his family …
Born 1957, in Portland, OR; companion of Patricia E. Mullan. Education: Attended Williams College, 1975–77; University of California at Berkeley, B.A., 1979. Hobbies and other interests: Cycling, mountaineering, kayaking, skiing, hiking, literacy programs. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Lucy Jane Bledsoe Writer. Martin Luther King Junior …
1943— Organization executive, entrepreneur As founder and president of Annapolis, Maryland's Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Leonard Blackshear shepherded the creation and development of one of the most distinctive monuments of African-American history in the United States. The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, visited annually by crowds estimated to be in excess of one million peo…
1937— Executive Robert D. (Bob) Blackwell, Sr. could very well have settled into an early retirement at the end of his first career. As a consulting director at computer giant IBM, Blackwell was one of the highest ranking African Americans in the information technology (IT) business. Born into a family of domestics barely a generation out of slavery, Blackwell had excelled beyond all expect…
Born 1945, in Chicago, IL; Education: Northwestern University, B.A., 1967; Northeastern Illinois University, M.A., 1975. Politics: "Local." Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Trying to grow dahlias. High school English and history teacher, 1967-75, 1982-90; Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, writing instructor, 1975-82; photo researcher, 1985—; researcher a…
Surname originally Bluestone; born 1931, in New York, NY; Education: Brooklyn College (now Brooklyn College of the City University of New York), B.A.; Bank Street College of Education, M.A. Politics: Democrat. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Millbrook Press, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Writer. Former teacher in public schools in New York, NY; former teac…
Rubén Blades: 1948—: Salsa singer, actor, activist. Rubén Blades has three very distinct careers that rarely, if ever, meet. As a Grammy Award-winning musician and salsa singer, Blades has released Buscando America, Escenas, Mundo, and Siembra, one of Latin music's most popular albums. As a popular Hollywood actor, he has appeared in such films as The Milagro Beanfi…
David Blaine: 1973—: Magician and daredevil. Part magician, part street performer, and perhaps part mystic, David Blaine emerged as one of the entertainment world's most intriguing figures in the late 1990s. Blaine grabbed public attention with a series of amazing televised feats, including spending three days encased in a block of ice. He became known for approaching ordinary in…
1976— Writer Blair, Jayson, photograph. New York Times/Getty Images. Jayson Blair became embroiled in one of the most devastating scandals in American journalism when his employer, the esteemed New York Times, revealed that he had plagiarized several news stories from other sources, or filed stories from the field while actually holed up in his New York City apartment. Blair became o…
Julio Bocca: 1967—: Ballet dancer. Since his spectacular win at the 1985 International Ballet Competition, Julio Bocca has established himself as one of the twentieth century's most renowned dancers. "There's something about his very person that attracts you," a ballet director told Dance Magazine, "not only his great technique and talent, but he dance…
Born 1951; Education: Attended Boston University, 1969; attended California College of Arts and Crafts, 1972. Agent—Barbara S. Kouts Literary Agency, P.O. Box 560, Bellport, NY 11713. Children's book author. Booklist Top Ten First Novels for Youth inclusion, School Library Journal Best Books designation, and National Book Award for Young People's Literature, all 2005, all for …
Born 1939; Education: State University of New York College at Fredonia, B.S. (education); also attended State University of New York College at Potsdam, Syracuse University, and College of Saint Rose. Politics: Democrat. Religion: "Atheist." Hobbies and other interests: Kayaking, reading, gardening. Office—Fenton 250, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063. English teacher at a pu…
Leonardo Boff: 1938—: Theologian. Brazilian Leonardo Boff served as a Franciscan priest from 1964 until 1992, when he resigned after several years of differences with the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. A prolific writer, Boff espoused liberation theology, which called for Christians to take up the cause of the poor and oppressed, and to bring about liberation, not just on a spiritual …
Born 1943, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Boston University, 1961–62, and École des Beaux Arts, 1963–64; University of Wisconsin—Madison, B.S., 1965; University of California, Santa Barbara, M.A., 1966; studied animation at School of Visual Arts. Hobbies and other interests: Dancing, travel, politics, Buddhism. Barbara Bottner (photograph reproduced by permission …
Ingrid Betancourt: 1961—: Politician. On February 23, 2002, a group of Colombian revolutionaries called the Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and her chief of staff, Clara Rojas. While the event received worldwide press coverage, reaction from the Colombian government was more subdued. Political officials had been abducted before, and a n…
Big Punisher: 1971-2000: Rapper. Puerto Rican rapper Big Punisher, also known as Big Pun, was the first Latin-American hip-hop star. He brought Latino rap—popular before only in his South Bronx neigh-borhood—into the hip-hop mainstream, which has typically been dominated by African-American artists. His first hit single, "I'm Not a Player," set the stage for …
Born 1950, in Trenton, NJ; married Pamela Edward Bloor Dixon (a teacher), August 4, 1984; Education: Fordham University, B.A., 1973. Novelist and editor. English teacher in Florida public high schools, 1983-86; Harcourt Brace School Publishers, Orlando, FL, senior editor, beginning 1986. Named among Books in the Middle Outstanding Titles of 1997, named on Voice of Youth Advocates and Horn B…
Fernando Botero: 1932—: Artist. Considered one of the leading figures in contemporary Latin American art, Fernando Botero has become best known for robust figures whose immense size dominate the canvas. Botero has drawn upon Colombian folklore and history, especially that of his native Antioquia, for inspiration. In the 1990s, Botero paintings began commanding figures as high as $1 mill…
Born 1951, in New York, NY; Education: City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College, B.A., 1972; Drexel University, M.L.S, 1975. Hobbies and other interests: "Butterfly and bird watching, gardening, biking, dog walking and dog talking. The best things in life are free!" International Reading Association, Newark, DE, librarian, 1975-76; Weston Woods Studios, Westport, CT, editor…
Born 1936, in Boston MA; Education: Cornell University, B.A., 1958. Writer. Former concert pianist and writer for an advertising agency. The Nature Conservancy, Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy (board of advisors), American Anthropological Association. The Fire Plume: Legends of the American Indians, illustrated by Alan E. Cober, Dial (New York, NY), 1969. The Ring in the Prairie: A Shawnee Legend,…
Born 1945, in Bethesda, MD; Education: Mount Holyoke College, B.A., 1966; College of Librarianship (Aberystwyth, Dyfed, Wales), Dip.Lib., 1972. Oxford University Press, London, England, member of promotional staff, 1967-68; Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln, MA, assistant children's librarian, 1969-71; Gardner Public Library, Gardner, MA, director, 1973-75; Massachusetts Audubon Society, Linc…
1970- Disc jockey Beverly Bond was born to DJ. Though her looks propelled her down fashion runways, it was music that set her heart flying. "Eventually the music chose me and I had to become a DJ," Bond told Contemporary Black Biography (CBB). Since setting up her turntables in 2000, Bond has captivated jet-setters, style-breakers, and baggy-panted beat makers with her ingenious mixe…
Notable Book for Young Adults citation, Children's Book Council of Australia, 2002, for Find Me a River, and 2003, for Rock Dancer; Davitt Awards commendation, young adult crime category, for Nick Riley's Ninth Life. Bronwyn Blake Paddy Mccan, Waver and Changer and Cornerstone, both for Lothian (South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). …
Born in Trinidad. Education: Attended School of Visual Arts. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Holiday House, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017 Illustrator. Teacher of art to middle-and high-school students. Fish for the Grand Lady, Holiday House (New York, NY), 2005. Kinda Walvoord Girard, Young Frederick Douglass: The Slave Who Learned to Read, Albert Whitman (Morton Grove, IL), 1994. Joanne Hypp…
Born 1941, in Huntington, WV; Education: Flint Junior College, A.A., 1961; Central Michigan University, B.A., 1964; Michigan State University, M.A., 1966, Ph.D., 1970. Office—Department of Education, Oakland University, 501 O'Dowd Hall, Rochester, MI 48309-4401. Elementary school teacher at public schools in Flint, MI, 1961-65; Michigan State University, East Lansing, assistant inst…
Education: Attended college. Office—6 Journey #250, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Agent—Vince Kamin, 400 W. Erie, Chicago, IL 60610. Illustrator, beginning c. mid-1970s, including advertising/editorial, children's books and greeting cards. Art teacher at youth camps and for other groups. Good Night, Little One, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 1999. The Flyaway Kite, WaterBr…
Born 1964, in Waterloo, IA; Education: University of Northern Iowa, B.A., 1987; Hawkeye Institute of Technology, emergency medical technician certification, 1988. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian Reformed. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, exercise, spending time with husband and children. Author. St. John/St. Nicholas School, Evansdale, IA, preschool teacher, 1988-91, has also worked a…
Agent—Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003. Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY, associate in publications division and member of faculty, 1958-70; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, lecturer in juvenile literature at School of Education, 1972-80. Volunteer reviewer of children's books for Connecticut Association of Mental Health, 1954-56. John Newbery Med…
Born 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Education: University of Western Ontario, B.Sc., 1974; attended Carleton University. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Kids Can Press, 29 Birch Ave., Toronto, Ontario M4V 1E2, Canada. Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, staff occupational therapist, 1975-76; Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reporter, 1977-78, 1980-81; freelance writer, 1981—. Wr…
Born 1962, in Salem, OR; Education: Willamette University, B.S., 1985, M.A.T., 1991; Oregon State University, M.S., 1988; doctoral study in science and mathematics education. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, shin-shin toitsu aikido. Office—Department of Biology, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, OR 97321. Educator and author. Temporary and substitute teac…
1940— Sociologist, principal lecturer Albert Black's parents taught him about hard work and responsibility when he was very young, and he took their lessons to heart. He not only worked throughout his childhood to help support his family, but he worked persistently to gain a higher education when it often seemed impossible that he would succeed. When he finally did earn his doctorate…
Born 1929, in Glarus, Switzerland; Education: Studied in Switzerland at progymnasium, 1943–46, Seminar Wettingen, 1946–51, and University of Zurich, 1958–61; also studied in London, England, 1956. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Henry Holt & Co. Children's Books, 115 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011. Educator and writer. Teacher in Kallern, Switzerland, 1951–54,…
Agent—c/o Author Mail, Scholastic, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. New York Women in Film (president, 1981-82). The Rainbow Kid, Avon (New York, NY), 1983. Turtle Time, Avon (New York, NY), 1985. Puppy Love, Avon (New York, NY), 1986. Crazy Christmas, Bantam (New York, NY), 1988. Valentine Blues, Skylark, 1990. Ten True Animal Rescues, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998. I Want a Pony, Schol…
Born 1951, in Durham, NC; Education: Attended University of Kentucky, 1969-72; Western Kentucky University, B.A. (mass communications), 1974, B.A. (elementary education), 1977. Hobbies and other interests: Skiing, hiking, canoeing, camping, mountain climbing. Agent—Jean V. Naggar, 216 East 75th St., New York, NY 10021. Writer. Ocean Lake School, Lincoln City, OR, teacher, 1977-83; Washingto…
1820-18771815-1854 Abolitionist leaders Mary and Henry Bibb were partners in marriage who worked together at the height of the abolitionist movement, moving to Canada after the passage of the American Fugitive Slave Law in 1850 and setting up a crucial endpoint of the Underground Railroad near Windsor, just across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan. They are often remembered for their work t…
1948— U.S. Senate Chaplain, Chief Navy Chaplain In June of 2003 Rear Admiral Barry C. Black was appointed the 62nd Chaplain to the United States Senate. His nomination by then-President Bill Clinton and the Secretary of the Navy during Black's tenure as Chief of Navy Chaplains was acknowledgement of a long and illustrious military career and indeed a special relationship with God. Th…
Born 1964, in NY; Education: Attended Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; University of the Arts, B.F.A. (illustration); Syracuse University, M.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins Children's, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Cartoonist and illustrator. New Yorker, New York, NY, cartoonist and cover artist. Society of Illustrators. Award of E…
Born 1971-75; attended Art Students League of New York. Children's book author and illustrator. New York Society of Illustrators. Nebraska Golden Sower Award, and New Jersey Jerry Award, both for Riptide by Frances WArd Weller; Washington State Children's Choice award, Irma S. and James H. Black Award, Vermont Red Clover Award, and Indiana Young Hoosier Award, all for Akiak; Southwes…
Born 1962. Agent—c/o Author Mail, DK Publishing Inc., 95 Madison Ave., 10th Fl., New York, NY 10016. Children's book author. Incredible Wild West, Dorling Kindersley (London, England), 1995. Incredible Universe, Dorling Kindersley (London, England), 1995. Fire Truck: And Other Emergency Machines, Dorling Kindersley (Boston, MA), 1996, published as Fire Engine, Dorling Kindersley (Lon…
Born 1962, in Hollywood, CA; Education: University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1986. Politics: Democrat. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Lydia Wills Artists Agency, 230 West 55th St., Suite 29D, New York, NY 10019. Writer. Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Writers Guild of America, Phi Beta Kappa. Weetzie Bat, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1989. Witch Baby, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1…
Born 1963, in Exeter, NH; Education: Gordon College, B.A.; New York University, M.A. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian. Newspaper reporter and freelance journalist and writer, 1987–; chair of local school committee, beginning 1993. One Day, Two Dragons, illustrated by Janet Street, Clarkson Potter (New York, NY), 1991. Good Night, Teddy Bear, Chapters, 1992. Let's Go! Teddy Bea…
Nationality: American. Born: Statesville, North Carolina, 1932. Education: Woman's College, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1950-53; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1954. Career: Journalist, Statesville Daily Record, 1950-51; Chapel Hill Weekly and News Leader, 1953-54; Sanford Daily Herald, 1956-57. Editorial staff, N.C. Democrat, 1961; editor, Sanford News Leader, 1962. Lecturer of…
Born 1956, in Geelong, Australia; Education: Attended Rusden State College, 1975-78; Australian Film and Television School, diploma of art (film and television), 1981; Adelaide University, M.A. (creative writing), work toward Ph.D. Politics: "The politics of tolerance and reason." Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dutton, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. Australian Br…
Nationality: British. Born: Rachel Mary Pakenham, Oxford, 1942; daughter of the writers Lord Longford and Elizabeth Longford; sister of the writer Antonia Fraser. Education: University of London, B.A. (honors) in English 1963. Career: Freelance writer; reviewer for Financial Times and Evening Standard, both London, and New York Times; columnist, Sunday Telegraph, London. Agent: David Higham Associ…
Nationality: Irish. Born: Dublin, 1940. Education: Holy Child Convent, Killiney, County Dublin; University College, Dublin, B.A. in education. Career: History and French teacher, Pembroke School, Dublin, 1961-68. Since 1968 columnist, Irish Times, Dublin. Agent: Christine Green, 2 Barbon Close, London WC1N 3JX, England. I write novels and stories set within my own experience of time and place, but…
Nationality: Canadian (emigrated from Trinidad in 1973). Born: Devindra Bissoondath, Trinidad, West Indies, 1955. Education: York University, Toronto, B.A. in French 1977. Career: Teacher of English and French, Inlingua School of Languages, Toronto, 1977-80; teacher of English and French, Language Workshop, Toronto, 1980-85. Awards: McClelland and Stewart award for fiction, 1986, and National Maga…
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Fargo, North Dakota, United States, 1940; became Canadian citizen, 1973. Education: Denison University, Granville, Ohio, 1957-61, A.B. 1961; University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1962-64, M.F.A. 1964. Career: Acting instructor, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1964-65; teaching fellow, University of Iowa, 1965-66; lecturer, 1966-67, assistant professor, 1967-69, associate …
Nationality: Canadian. Born: Port Burwell, Ontario, 1918. Education: Port Burwell public and high schools. Career: Reporter, St. Thomas Times-Journal, Ontario, 1940-43; reporter and editor, Toronto Daily Star and Weekly Star, 1943-46; staff writer and editor, Maclean's Magazine, Toronto, 1947-55. Since 1955 freelance writer. Director and former president (1965-67), Federation of Ontario Nat…
Nationality: Irish. Born: Finglas, Ireland, 1959. Education: Attended Beneavin College Secondary School. Career: Founder and editor, Raven Arts Press, Finglas, Ireland, 1979-92; executive editor, New Island Books, 1992—. Awards: A. E. Memorial Prize, 1986; Macaulay Fellowship, 1987; Samuel Beckett Award; Stewart Parker BBC Award; Edinburgh Fringe First Award; A. Z. Whitehead Prize. Agent: A…
Born 1939, in St. Clair Shores, MI; Education: Sterling College, B.A., 1961; Princeton Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1965. Elementary school teacher in Meriden, KS, 1961–62; Chi Alpha Student Center, Berkeley, CA, assistant director, 1965–67; ordained interdenominational minister, 1966; Inter-Church Team Ministries, Newhall, CA, director of student conferences and seminars, 1967 …
1897–1977 Pioneering Certified Public Accountant, radio station owner Radio hall of fame inductee Jesse B. Blayton Sr. became the first black radio station owner and operator in the United States when he bought Atlanta radio station WERD in 1949. The station pioneered radio programming for the black community, deliberately cultivating what it called "Negro appeal" by playing r…
Born 1926, in Newbury, Berkshire, England; Ethnicity: "White." Education: Attended Presentation College, 1934-40. Hobbies and other interests: "Food, wine, theater, photography and things French." Agent—Stephen Durbridge, The Agency, 24-32 Pottery Lane, Holland Park, London W11 4LZ, England. Michael Bond British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), Reading, England, …
Born 1969, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Education: University of Waterloo, B.A. (English; with honors), 1992. Dan Bortolotti Agent—Don Sedgwick, Transatlantic Literary Agency, 1603 Italy Cross Rd., Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia, Canada B0J 2P0. Writer and journalist. Science in Society Book Award shortlist, both 2003, both for Exploring Saturn and Panda Rescue. Exploring Saturn, Firef…
Born 1955; father a biology teacher and science writer, mother a scientist. Education: University of Nottingham, B.Sc. (with honors), 1976; University of Canterbury, Ph.D. (plant science), 1989. Nic Bishop Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin, 222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, research fellow, 1977–80; University of Canterbu…
Female. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Clarion Books, 215 Park Ave., New York, NY 10003. Journalist, nutritionist, and children's book writer. Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (Houston chapter). The Chocolate-covered Cookie Tantrum, illustrated by Harvey Stevenson, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 1996. Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair, illustrations by Mary G…
Born 1948, in Danville, IL; Education: University of Illinois, B.S. (with honors), 1970, M.S., 1979. Politics: "Independent." Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening, fishing, hiking, travel. Home and office—First Light Photography, P.O. Box 593, Urbana, IL 61801. Photographer, librarian, and writer. Parkland College Library, Champaign, IL, librarian,…
