Culture

From caller ID to the Super Soaker to peanut butter.

Alexander Miles was an African American inventor and businessman, best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. He was awarded U.S. Patent 371,207 on October 11, 1887.

George Washington Carver was an African American scientist and educator. Carver is famous for many inventions including a number of uses for the peanut.

Painter Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist who was married to Diego Rivera and is still admired as a feminist icon.

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico.

Langston Hughes was an African American writer whose poems, columns, novels and plays made him a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

The Black Heiress Who Lost Her Mother's Fortune

Known as the "King of Motown," Smokey Robinson founded the R&B group The Miracles, which delivered 37 Top 40 hits for Motown Records.

Stevie Wonder is an American musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the 20th century with hits like "My Cherie Amour," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition."

Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant was born as Rhonda Eva Harris in Brooklyn, New York on September 13, 1953. In 1983, after being ordained as a Yoruba priestess, she renamed herself Iyanla, meaning “great mother.” Vanzant is now a famous relationship coach, author...

Singer and actress Diana Ross was part of the 1960s pop/soul trio the Supremes before embarking on a successful solo career, also starring in such films as 'Lady Sings the Blues' and 'The Wiz.'

Texas choir director Pamela Dawson has been named as the recipient of the 2023 Grammy Music Educator Award. Jamie Wax visited DeSoto High School to talk to Dawson and the students who love her about her honor.

She tops the late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti, who won 31 Grammys between 1963 and 1998.

Labelle was an American all-female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s.

One of the most powerful soul singers of all time, Dee Dee Warwick was born Delia Warrick on September 25, 1945, in Newark Heights, New Jersey, into a musical family with its roots steeped in gospel music.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer and actress. Widely referred to as "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide.