Black History Month's Person Of The Day: Halle Berry

[PurpleArmy]

Today's Black History Month's Person of the Day is;

Halle Berry (1968- )
Actress, model.


http://www.repubblica.it/gallerie/online/oscar2002/halle/9_g.jpghttp://www.stuff.co.nz/images/273397.jpg

Born August 14, 1968, in Cleveland, Ohio. The youngest daughter born to Jerome and Judith Berry, an interracial couple. Halle, and her older sister Heidi, spent the first few years of their childhood living in an inner-city neighborhood. In the early 1970s, Jerome Berry abandoned his wife and children, after which Judith moved her family to the predominantly white Cleveland suburb of Bedford.

Berry attended a nearly all-white public school, and as a result was subjected to discrimination at an early age. Her early bouts with racism greatly influenced her desire to excel. Throughout high school, the determined teen participated in a dizzying array of extracurricular activities, holding positions of newspaper editor, class president, and head cheerleader.

A natural performer, Berry earned a handful of beauty pageant titles during the early 1980s, including Miss Teen Ohio and Miss Teen America. She was eventually awarded first runner-up in the 1985 Miss U.S.A. competition. For a short time she attended Cleveland’s Cuyahoga Community College, where she studied broadcast journalism. However, Berry abandoned her idea of a career in news reporting before receiving her degree. Choosing to wholeheartedly devote her time to a career in entertainment, Berry moved to Chicago then New York City, where she found work as a catalog model.

As the ‘80s turned into the ‘90s, the aspiring actress began a career in television with a role on the short-lived sitcom Living Dolls (1989), followed by a year-long run on the CBS prime-time drama Knot’s Landing, in 1991. Berry’s first big-screen break came later that year when she was cast as Samuel L. Jackson’s drug-addicted girlfriend in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever. More substantial supporting roles followed, including that of a stripper in the action-thriller The Last Boy Scout (1991), starring Bruce Willis; and as the woman who finally wins Eddie Murphy’s heart in the romantic comedy Boomerang (1992).

With a few films under her belt, Berry accepted more offbeat roles, making cameos in the rockumentary CB4 (1993), which traced the rise and fall of the titled rap group. 1994’s live-action version of The Flintstones featured Berry as a Stone Age seductress.

Berry offered a no-holds-barred performance as a rehabilitated crack addict seeking to regain custody of her son in Losing Isaiah (1995). In the midst of a bitter custody battle with adoptive parents played by Jessica Lange and David Strathairn, Berry was noted for her believable portrayal in the unglamorous role. Later that year, Berry overcame Hollywood’s racial barriers when she was cast as the first African-American to play the Queen of Sheeba in Showtime’s movie Solomon & Sheeba.

Berry’s other credits included two 1996 crime thrillers — The Rich Man’s Wife, and Executive Decision, which marked her first leading role in a feature. She took a turn as one of three wives laying claim to Frankie Lyman’s estate in the 1998 biographical drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and played a liberal urban youth in the political satire Bulworth (1998), opposite Hollywood veteran Warren Beatty.

n 1999, Berry released her most passionate project to date, coproducing and starring in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, an HBO biopic. Berry was noted for her striking resemblance to the late Dandridge, and for her engaging depiction of the actress’ struggle to succeed in the racially biased industry of 1950s Hollywood. Berry earned both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie for her role.

Berry was featured in X-Men (2000), the big-budget screen adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comic. In the highly anticipated summer release Berry’s character, Storm, teamed with fellow mutant heroes played by Anna Paquin and Patrick Stewart. In the summer of 2001, she costarred with John Travolta in the disappointing action movie Swordfish, the publicity for which largely focused around Berry's topless scene.

Berry garnered the most positive critical notice of her film career in late 2001, for her performance as the wife of a death row prisoner (Sean "Puffy" Combs) who becomes romantically involved with a racist prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) in the dark drama Monster's Ball. The role earned Berry a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama and the Academy Award for Leading Actress. In her emotional acceptance speech, Berry acknowledged the honor of becoming the first African American actress to win the Oscar for her lead role by thanking all the performers who came before her.

In 2002, Berry starred in the hit Bond adventure Die Another Day. The actress is set to star in and produce the drama October Squall and to star as Gotham's favorite sex kitten in Warner Bros.' long-planned Catwoman. In addition, Berry will be starring in the TV adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's classic 1937 novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God and lending her voice for the CGI cartoon project Robots slated for 2005.

In February of 2000, Berry was involved in a hit-and-run accident that erupted into a tabloid scandal. After enduring a minor head injury, she claimed that she did not remember leaving the scene. As a result of her actions, she was put on probation and fined $13,500. The driver of the other vehicle recently filed a civil suit against Berry, and both are currently awaiting a court hearing.

For a short time, Berry was involved in a stormy relationship with Jungle Fever costar Wesley Snipes before she married Atlanta Braves outfielder David Justice, in 1993. Three years later, Berry filed for a divorce, which was finalized in 1997. After the divorce, Berry became secretly engaged to Eric Benét, a jazz musician, in August of 1999. The couple married in February 2001, and announced their separation two years later. Berry officially filed for divorce in April 2004.

[Obie Wan]

...born to Jerome and Judith Berry, an interracial couple.
Which means she's half white - so why do you label her black? Is it not just as accurate to say that she's white? If you must label her at all, that is.

Berry attended a nearly all-white public school, and as a result was subjected to discrimination at an early age. Her early bouts with racism greatly influenced her desire to excel. Throughout high school, the determined teen participated in a dizzying array of extracurricular activities, holding positions of newspaper editor, class president, and head cheerleader.
Newspaper editor, class president, and head cheerleader - all by popular vote, no doubt. Yep, that sounds like racial discrimination to me.

[tiger36]

OK ...why do you think she was discrimanated in a all white school. not because she looked white.not to be funny.It's because of her characteristics of a black person.Obviously she doesnt mind that to be the preference. She is HISTORICALY known to be the First BLACK ACTRESS to win a OSCAR .:afro:

[Seeker]

She is HISTORICALY known to be the First BLACK ACTRESS to win a OSCAR .:afro:

So what?
She is not Black.
She just uses the fact that she is half Black when it suits her.

As for the "predominately white" school she went to...well yes, by definition it is.
But it is around 20% minority, which is higher than Massillon.
Also, it is 5.8% Multiracial, which means one out of every 20 kids is mixed.


This whole "poor Halle Berry is Black and had to fight her way up" is a pile of crap just being used to justify herself as the "first" Black actress to win the academy award.

She should be ashamed of herself, and Blacks should resent her for it.

Some day a Black woman will win, but this selfish biatch has already stolen the honor away from her.



Please find a Black person to honor today.

[SuperBran]

OK ...why do you think she was discrimanated in a all white school. not because she looked white.not to be funny.It's because of her characteristics of a black person.

i think that what obie wan was pointing out is the fact that the article states that she faced discrimination at school, yet was head cheerleader, editor, and class president......things that people are voted for.


and she's historically known for being hot as well.

[tiger36]

Yes she is....HISTORICALY SPEAKING of course.:thumbsup:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/Shady_Chris/HalleBerry.jpg

Heres to HALLE BERRY. I'm black an in NO WAY I dont mind her to be considered black.This should NEVER be an ISSUE anyway.If she says she's black she's black. I guess it takes certain types of people to BE NEGATIVE . Especially on BLACK HISTORY.

[tiger36]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f375/tasha4978/MY%20Space%20Pics/halle18.jpg

[TigerLily]

OK ...why do you think she was discrimanated in a all white school. not because she looked white.not to be funny.It's because of her characteristics of a black person.Obviously she doesnt mind that to be the preference. She is HISTORICALY known to be the First BLACK ACTRESS to win a OSCAR .:afro:

She really isn’t the “first” black actress to win an Oscar -- just the first leading lady.

Hattie McDaniel, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gone With the Wind (1939).

Irene Cara, Best Music, Original Song for "Flashdance...What a Feeling" from Flashdance (1983).

Whoopi Goldberg, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ghost (1990).

Halle Berry, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Monster's Ball (2001).


And, now add Jennifer Hudson that list…

[tiger36]

Biography for
Halle Berry
Birth name
Halle Maria Berry


Height
5' 7" (1.70 m)


Mini biography
Halle Berry was born on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA to African American father Jerome Berry, a former hospital attendant, and Caucasian mother Judith Berry, a retired psychiatric nurse. Halle also has an older sister named Heidi. Halle first came into the spotlight at 17 years old when she won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, representing the state of Ohio in 1985 and a year later in 1986 when she was the first runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant. After participating in the pageant, Halle became a model. It eventually led to her first weekly TV series, 1989's "Living Dolls" (1989), where she soon gained a reputation for her on set tenacity, preferring to "live" her roles and remaining in character even when the cameras stopped rolling. It paid off though when she reportedly refused to bathe for several days before starting work on her role as a crack addict in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever (1991) because the role provided her big screen breakthrough. The following year, she was cast as Eddie Murphy's love interest in Boomerang (1992), one of the few times that Murphy was evenly matched on screen. In 1994, Berry gained a youthful following for her performance as sexy secretary Sharon Stone in The Flintstones (1994). She next had a highly publicized costarring role with Jessica Lange in the adoption drama Losing Isaiah (1995). Though the movie received mixed reviews, Berry didn't let that slow her down, and continued down her path to superstardom. In 1998, she received critical success when she starred as a street smart young woman who takes up with a struggling politician in Warren Beatty's Bulworth (1998). The following year she won even greater acclaim for her role as actress Dorothy Dandridge in made-for-cable's Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV), for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series. In 2000, she received box office success in X-Men (2000) in which she played Storm, a mutant who has the ability to control the weather.

IMDb mini-biography by: TrendEkiD@aol.com


Spouse
Eric Benét (24 January 2001 - 3 January 2005) (divorced)
David Justice (31 December 1992 - 24 June 1997) (divorced)


Trivia
Is a spokeswoman for Revlon cosmetics.

She was placed on three years probation and ordered to pay $13,500 in fines and penalties after pleading no contest on May 10, 2000 to a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a traffic accident. The judge also ordered the actress to perform 200 hours of community service and to make restitution as determined by the outcome of civil litigation arising from the February accident when she was driving a rented Chevrolet Blazer and ran a red light and crashed into another car on Sunset Boulevard. She left the scene of the accident before authorities arrived, suffered a gash to her head that required 20 stitches to close, and the woman (Hetal Raythatha) driving the other vehicle broke her wrist. Halle reported the accident to a police officer at the hospital where she sought treatment.

Is type 1 diabetic.

Her parents, Judith & Jerome Berry, divorced when she was 4 years old. She was then raised by her mom. When researching for her role of Dorothy Dandridge, she discovered that she and Dorothy were both born in the same Cleveland, Ohio hospital.

One of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People." [1998]

Miss USA; first runner-up to Christy Fichtner who was on the first season of "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?" (2004). [1986]

Miss Ohio USA. [1986]

Miss Teen All American. [1985]

Attended Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio.

Turned down the role of Annie in Speed (1994/I).

Is named after the grand old Halle Building in Cleveland, Ohio, which originally housed the Halle Brothers department store. The building is now an office building and the fictional setting for the Winfred-Louder department store on "The Drew Carey Show" (1995).

In high school, was an honor society member, editor of the school paper, and class president. Was also crowned prom queen.

Born at 9:03 p.m EDT

Lost some hearing in one of her ears due to a physical encounter with a boyfriend in the early 90s.

Attended Heskett Middle School in Bedford, Ohio.

First African American actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
Has a step-daughter named India.

Sister Heidi b. 1964; is estranged from Halle.

April 10, 2002 - She received an injury on the set of _Die Another Day (2002)_ . Halle was injured on location in Cadiz, Spain while shooting an action sequence that involved Pierce Brosnan firing on a helicopter being flown by Rick Yune.

Portrayed Dorothy Dandridge in the made for television film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV). Dorothy Dandridge was the first African- American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and coincidentally Halle Berry is the first to have won in that category.

Was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine in 2002.

Graduate of Bedford High School, Bedford, Ohio

First black American in the Miss World Competition. She didn't win a prize but her dress did.

She is the only official "Bond Girl" to win an Academy Award. Although Kim Basinger (Best Supporting Actress, L.A. Confidential (1997)) was a "Bond Girl", Never Say Never Again (1983) is not included in the list of 20 official James Bond films.

Her dress for the 2002 Oscars ceremony was voted the most popular from the first 75 years.

Ranked #96 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List.

Named one of the 50 most beautiful people in People Magazine in 2003. She has now appeared on this list seven times.

Voted the 10th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.

Starred in four movies with Hugh Jackman: X-Men (2000), Swordfish (2001) and X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand.

May 2003 - Broke her arm on the set of Gothika (2003), filming in Montreal.

Measurements: 36C-22-37 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Was a Bearcats cheerleader at Bedford High School.

Became engaged to singer Eric Benét on 14 August 1999. Benet has a daughter, India (b. 1991).

Half British on her mother's side.

The first actress to star and portray two different comic book characters for two different comic book companies: "Storm" for Marvel's X-Men (2000) and X2 (2003), and "Catwoman" for D.C Comics's Catwoman (2004).

She is currently the highest paid black actress in Hollywood. [2004]

Named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" in People Magazine in 2004. She has now appeared on this list eight times, tying with Julia Roberts for the most appearances.

Voted as #7 on the "Top 100 Sexiest Women 2004" in FHM [DK].

Named one of the Top 10 authentic beauties in 2004. She was in the seventh rank in that list.

Played a character called "Sharon Stone" in The Flintstones (1994). Ten years later she appeared with the real Sharon Stone in Catwoman (2004).

Wisely turned down the female lead in box office disaster Gigli (2003), which birthed the relationship of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.

Smashed her head into set lights on the set of Catwoman (2004). She wasn't seriously injured.

Adopted a cat (that was originally an extra for Catwoman (2004)) named Playto, to help herself learn about cats. However, she renamed the cat Playdough, because Playto was too serious a name for her.

Her first $1 million salary for a film was for Executive Decision (1996) - a part which she earlier refused.... until she was offered $1 million.

Voted #7 on VH1's "100 Hottest Hotties."

Ranked #15 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).

The age difference between herself and Rosamund Pike in Die Another Day (2002) - 12 years and 5 months - is the greatest age difference between two Bond girls in one film since Alison Doody and Grace Jones - a difference of 18 years - in A View to a Kill (1985).

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2004 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggessted in the Worst Actress category for her performance in the film Gothika (2003), she failed to receive a nomination however. The very next year though, she got a nomination for Worst Actress in the film Catwoman (2004).

On Febuary 26, 2005, she showed up in person to accept the Razzie award for Worst Actress for her role as Catwoman (2004) and became the first actress to do so. Accepting the award, Berry smiled and said "Thank you and I hope to God I never see you guys again."

One of only three actresses, along with Faye Dunaway and Liza Minnelli, to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress (Dunaway shared her award with Bo Derek).

Frequently hailed as one of Hollywood's best dressed stars.

Was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" by People Magazine in 2005

Voted #1 on BET's "All Shades of Fine: The 25 Hottest Women of the Past 25 Years" (2005)

Her favorite actresses are Dorothy Dandridge, Jodie Foster and Whoopi Goldberg.

Named #41 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.

Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals' 2006 Woman of the Year

Was born in Cleveland but grew up in Bedford, Ohio. She still has family there.

Named #5 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Was featured as #7 in Maxim Magazine's "Hot 100 of 2002" supplement. (2002)

Mother is from Liverpool, England.

First actress to star in a "Bond-film" following an Oscar win

Adopted Eric Benét's daughter India

Named #6 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Well known for "living" her roles, she refused to bathe for two weeks in preparation for a role as a crack addict in Jungle Fever (1991).



Personal quotes
On Dorothy Dandridge: "...You have to find a way to be sad on every day, in every scene, in every moment. And always try to hide the sadness. And (then) you'll get the essence of who she was."

"This moment is so much bigger than me, This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll... It's for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett Smith, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox... and it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance, because the door tonight has been opened." - During her Oscar acceptance speech.
On choosing both serious and popcorn-movie roles: "There's art and there's commerce. You have to find a way to mesh the two. It's important to do the little movies just for the love of the art. But it's those big movies that take you around the world and make you globally famous."

"I'll never get married again, and I always hate to say never to anything, but I will never marry again."

"I was black growing up in an all-white neighborhood, so I felt like I just didn't fit in. Like I wasn't as good as everybody else, or as smart, or whatever."

"Blackness is a state of mind and I identify with the black community. Mainly, because I realized, early on, when I walk into a room, people see a black woman, they don't see a white women. So out of that reason alone, I identify more with the black community."

"I spent a lot of time with a crown on my head."

"The worst thing a man can ever do is kiss me on the first date."

"I don't see a white woman. I see a black woman, even though my mother is white [her father Jerome is black]. Knowing that has made my life easier, I think."
I want to be the next Spike Lee. I want to help other black folks to get into Hollywood and be successful in Hollywood.

"What is my real purpose here? I've looked at what I do. I make believe and make movies. I entertain people and get paid for it. Sometimes it seems like such a shallow existence. How insignificant in the scheme of life."

"When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner. And I hope to God I never see these people again." - on accepting her Razzie Award for Worst Actress

"I never wanted to be a model. My modeling career was nothing but a stepping stone to my acting career and that's all I ever saw it as. A pointless rock in the river that has to be stepped on in order to get to the meaningful oasis of acting."

"I guess you could say I have bad taste in men. But I no longer feel the need to be someone's wife."



Salary
Catwoman (2004) $14,000,000
Gothika (2003) $6,000,000
Die Another Day (2002) $4,000,000
Monster's Ball (2001) $600,000
Swordfish (2001) $2,500,000
Executive Decision (1996) $1,000,000



This should quiet some of the NEGATIVITY.
I'm not doubting the leading role oscar.

[PurpleArmy]

She really isn’t the “first” black actress to win an Oscar -- just the first leading lady.

Hattie McDaniel, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gone With the Wind (1939).

Irene Cara, Best Music, Original Song for "Flashdance...What a Feeling" from Flashdance (1983).

Whoopi Goldberg, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ghost (1990).

Halle Berry, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Monster's Ball (2001).


And, now add Jennifer Hudson that list…

Halle Berry was the first black woman to win an Oscar for BEST ACTRESS....Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to win an Oscar ever, but it was for Best SUPPORTING Actress.

Also, Irene Cara is also bi-racial, so if Halle Berry isn't "really black", according to some people, then Cara isn't either.

And I beg to differ about bi-racial people being not really black. Every bi-racial person I know considers themselves to be black instead of white.

[SuperBran]

"This moment is so much bigger than me........and it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance, because the door tonight has been opened." - During her Oscar acceptance speech.

so she thinks that she's the first black woman to win best actress b/c of racism?

"I was black growing up in an all-white neighborhood, so I felt like I just didn't fit in. Like I wasn't as good as everybody else, or as smart, or whatever."

so she's saying that SHE didn't FEEL like she fit in.

"Blackness is a state of mind and I identify with the black community. Mainly, because I realized, early on, when I walk into a room, people see a black woman, they don't see a white women. So out of that reason alone, I identify more with the black community."

"I don't see a white woman. I see a black woman, even though my mother is white [her father Jerome is black]. Knowing that has made my life easier, I think."

too bad she doesn't identify with BOTH communities. i have a friend who's biracial and she identifies with both and is proud of both. ;

[Obie Wan]

Also, Irene Cara is also bi-racial, so if Halle Berry isn't "really black", according to some people, then Cara isn't either.
There are lots of bi-racial people who aren't black. Do you think Tiger Woods is black?

And I beg to differ about bi-racial people being not really black. Every bi-racial person I know considers themselves to be black instead of white.
Considering yourself to be something doesn't make it so - particularly when it's not an issue that's open to self-determination.

[tiger36]

I'm happy for your friend. Too bad in some places in this world your looked upon as black or white when you enter a room. If you have had it done to you,black or white you know what I mean.

[Seeker]

I'm happy for your friend. Too bad in some places in this world your looked upon as black or white when you enter a room. If you have had it done to you,black or white you know what I mean.

That is irrelevant.

Halle Berry is not Black, she's mixed, and that is the beginning and end of it.

Black History Month should be featuring the Black people that history teachers in the United States have overlooked or not focused on, NOT some middle-class mixed race beauty queen from Cleveland that has not been overlooked, and in fact is a household name.

Plus...SHE IS NOT BLACK...no matter what she considers herself to be.

[MTown]

Black History Month should be featuring the Black people that history teachers in the United States have overlooked or not focused on...

Exactly! Aren't there more important people to focus on than Halle Berry? I mean seriously, in the grand scheme of things, aren't there more important events to consider than Halle Berry winning an academy award? How is that a landmark event for black people?

[tiger36]

I'm Black and I say SHE'S BLACK..TRUST me I KNOW BLACK PEOPLE.:poke:
RELAX SEEKER :bomb:

US BLACK PEOPLE dont have a problem with it.Why should you?

[DragonTigerNemesis]

Halle Berry was the first black woman to win an Oscar for BEST ACTRESS....Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to win an Oscar ever, but it was for Best SUPPORTING Actress.

Why do you persist in making an obviously false statement even though it just makes your posts look more stupid?
HALLE BERRY IS NOT BLACK.
HALLE BERRY HAS NOT SUFFERRED ANYTHING THAT EVEN LOOKS LIKE DISCRIMINATION. LOOK AT HER HIGH SCHOOL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
HALLE BERRY ONLY TROTS OUT BEING BLACK TO SUIT HER NEEDS AT THE TIME---LIKE TO CLAIM TO BE THE FIRST AT SOMETHING.


Also, Irene Cara is also bi-racial, so if Halle Berry isn't "really black", according to some people, then Cara isn't either.

OK, Irene Cara is not Black. We have no argument there.


And I beg to differ about bi-racial people being not really black. Every bi-racial person I know considers themselves to be black instead of white.

That has most certainly not been my experience!
(If your daughter feels that way, then maybe you should not have moved her into a racist community.)

Many kids from all cultures and races hang out at our home. Every last one of them feels that they are what and who they are and are PROUD of it.
Some are White.
Some are Black
Some are Asian.
Some are Italian, Venezuelan, Filipino, Native American---
And all kinds of combinations of each.

And for the record, every last Black and Mixed kid I spoke to was PISSED that Halle Berry decided to claim that title as the first Black Leading Lady to win an Oscar.

Now, I have a question for you---Why have some of the people you have been putting up here been scumbags that no one should ever want their kids or their fellow Black people to either admire or look up to?
Richard Pryor and Muhammad Ali are two people that we should erase from history, not lift up.



:kungfu:

[The Voice]

So.. lets get real here.. PB and/or 36.. I for one would really appreciate a salute to THE REAL black leadership of the world.. Those men and women that truly have accomplished something wonderful.. I don't know who they are, and I am sure there are many.. .... well PB .. well .. 36.. who are they ?
Perhaps instead of coming on here looking for a fight.. please open your minds and inform me.. I really do want to know...thank you

tv

[SuperBran]

i agree that halle berry is a horrible choice, considering so many who are more worthy....such as:

Maya Angelou
Crispus Attucks
Benjamin Banneker
James "Cool Papa" Bell
Cab Calloway
Miles Davis
Thurgood Marshall
Herman Russell Branson
George Washington Carver
Daniel Hale Williams
Garrett Augustus Morgan
W. E. B. Dubois
Frederick Douglass
Dred Scott
Harriet Tubman
Zora Neale Hurston


but, no......it's halle berry.

[PurpleArmy]

My daughter is bi-racial and considers herself to be black. Her father (who is black) considers her to be black as well, as does the rest of his family, all of whom are black or bi-racial.

[PurpleArmy]

i agree that halle berry is a horrible choice, considering so many who are more worthy....such as:

Maya Angelou
Crispus Attucks
Benjamin Banneker
James "Cool Papa" Bell
Cab Calloway
Miles Davis
Thurgood Marshall
Herman Russell Branson
George Washington Carver
Daniel Hale Williams
Garrett Augustus Morgan
W. E. B. Dubois
Frederick Douglass
Dred Scott
Harriet Tubman
Zora Neale Hurston


but, no......it's halle berry.


I chose Halle Berry as the Oscars were on Sunday and she was the first black woman to ever win a Best Actress Oscar.

[DragonTigerNemesis]

I chose Halle Berry as the Oscars were on Sunday and she was the first black woman to ever win a Best Actress Oscar.

That's a pretty lame reason to chose her.
Like it says above---she is a household name already.

And besides that---she's not Black.

:kungfu:

[DragonTigerNemesis]

My daughter is bi-racial and considers herself to be black. Her father (who is black) considers her to be black as well, as does the rest of his family, all of whom are black or bi-racial.


You need to read what you just wrote.

"My daughter is bi-racial."
All the stuff you wrote after that is just a bunch of BS.

The fact is---as YOU YOURSELF stated---she is bi-racial.

I think I'm handsome, my mom thought I was handsome, my daughters thought I was handsome when they were little, my wife thought I was handsome when she married me---and at closing time quite a few ladies thought I was more than handsome enough---

But you know what? I'm only half-way to handsome.
It don't freakin' matter what any of my friends, relatives or I think.

It is what it is.

Get over it.

Your daughter is bi-racial, she is not Black.
Teach her to be proud of what she is, not what a bunch of relatives want to consider her to be.

:kungfu:

[Kamd50]

I have no problem at all with giving recognition to black Americans who have made a contribution to society, this country, and the world; and have made this world a better place to live in. What I don't like is claiming celebrities who are rich, attractive, glamourous and popular "black person of the day or w/e. There are so many many many others who are truely deserving of this recognition and are people that we SHOULD all learn about and from. These people are the ones who are true "heroes" to all races. I will give you just a few examples:

DR BEN CARSON - Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins
Dr. Ben Carson has dedicated his life to inspiring others to excel by using their God-given talents. He was born in Detroit, Michigan where his childhood journey was filled with poverty. He struggled with poor grades and a violent temper. After his mother, who only had a third-grade education, challenged him to strive for excellence, Ben rose from the bottom to the top of his class. His achievements earned him academic scholarships to college and medical school.
Today, Dr. Carson is director of pediatric neurosurgery at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland. He is world-renowned for leading a medical team that separated West German conjoined twins in 1987, as well as leading a team of South African doctors in the first successful separation of vertically conjoined twins in 1997. He has refined the techniques for hemispherectomy, a radical brain surgery to stop intractable seizures, and has developed, along with the Hopkins plastic surgery division, a craniofacial program to help children who need combined neurosurgical and plastic surgical reconstruction. ....................


MAE JEMISON- First Black Female Astronaut, First Black Woman in Space
Born the youngest of three children, Mae C. Jemison is the child of Charlie and Dorothy Jemison, a maintenance worker and schoolteacher from Chicago Illinois. She graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1973. She continued her education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in 1977, while also fulfilling the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies. She attended medical school and received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell University in 1981. While in medical school she traveled to Cuba, Kenya and Thailand, providing primary medical care to people living there.
Dr. Jemison served in the Peace Corps, from January 1983 to June 1985. She was stationed in Sierra Leone and Liberia, West Africa as the area Peace Corps medical officer. There she supervised the pharmacy, laboratory and medical staff. She provided medical care, wrote self-care manuals, developed and implemented guidelines for health and safety issues. She also had contact with and worked in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on research for various vaccines.

Dr. Jemison successfully completed her astronaut training program in August 1988, becoming the fifth black astronaut and the first black female astronaut in NASA history. In August 1992, SPACELAB J was a successful joint U.S. and Japanese science mission, making Mae Jemison the first black woman in space. The cooperative mission conducted experiments in materials processing and life sciences.................

MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES F. BOLDEN, Jr., currently serves as the Commanding General, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. He assumed his current assignment on August 9, 2000.
Born in Columbia, S.C., Major General Bolden received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 and later earned a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1977.

As pilot of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990, Major General Bolden and crew successfully deployed the Hubble Space Telescope while orbiting the earth from a record setting altitude of 400 miles.

Accepting a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps following graduation from the Naval Academy, he underwent flight training at Pensacola, Fla., Meridian, Miss., and Kingsville, Texas, before being designated a naval aviator in May 1970. Between June 1972 and June 1973 he flew more than 100 combat missions into North and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the A-6A Intruder while assigned to VMA (AW)-533 at Nam Phong, Thailand.

Served as commander of STS-60, the 1994 flight of a six member crew on the Space Shuttle Discovery. This landmark eight day mission was the first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle mission, involving the participation of a Russian Cosmonaut as a mission specialist.....................

DORIS MILLER (Dorie Miller), USN First African-American hero of World War II

(1919-1943).Doris Miller, known as "Dorie" to shipmates and friends, was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919, to Henrietta and Conery Miller. He had three brothers, one of which served in the Army during World War II. While attending Moore High School in Waco, he was a fullback on the football team. He worked on his father's farm before enlisting in the U.S Navy. Following training at the Naval Training Station, Norfolk, Virginia, Miller was assigned to the ammunition ship USS Pyro (AE-1) where he served as a Mess Attendant, and on 2 January 1940 was transferred to USS West Virginia (BB-48), where he became the ship's heavyweight boxing champion. On 3 August, and was serving in that battleship when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Miller had arisen at 6 a.m., and was collecting laundry when the alarm for general quarters sounded. He headed for his battle station, the antiaircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went on deck. Because of his physical prowess, he was assigned to carry wounded fellow Sailors to places of greater safety. Then an officer ordered him to the bridge to aid the mortally wounded Captain of the ship. He subsequently manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship.

Miller described firing the machine gun during the battle, a weapon which he had not been trained to operate: "It wasn't hard. I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us."

During the attack, Japanese aircraft dropped two armored piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship and launched five 18-inch aircraft torpedoes into her port side. Heavily damaged by the ensuing explosions, and suffering from severe flooding below decks, the crew abandoned ship while West Virginia slowly settled to the harbor bottom. Of the 1,541 men on West Virginia during the attack, 130 were killed and 52 wounded.
Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on 1 April 1942, and on 27 May 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral (then Admiral) Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) for his extraordinary courage in battle.

Assigned to the newly constructed USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) in the spring of 1943, Miller was on board that escort carrier during Operation Galvanic, the seizure of Makin and Tarawa Atolls in the Gilbert Islands. At 5:10 a.m. on 24 November, a single torpedo from Japanese submarine I-175 struck the escort carrier near the stern. The aircraft bomb magazine detonated a few moments later, sinking the warship within minutes. Listed as missing following the loss of that escort carrier, Miller was officially presumed dead 25 November 1944Only 272 Sailors survived the sinking of Liscome Bay, while 646 died.

In addition to the Navy Cross, Miller was entitled to the Purple Heart Medal; the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

Commissioned on 30 June 1973, USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-class frigate, was named in honor of Doris Miller...............

The list goes on and on and on! This only a very small sampling of people who should be honored and respected. If you want Black History Month to really mean something, and do the black race justice; do some research and get it right!

Here is just one great website for getting educated about the subject:
http://www.topblacks.com/about-founder.htm

[Seeker]

Thank you Kamd50.
I knew there had to be some better choices.


Seldom, if ever have I closed a thread based on my personal feelings.
(At least since Obie Wan taught me that it is wrong and that I should try to never do it again.)

However, in this case I'm seriously tempted to do so.

Please find another person to post for today.
Please make it someone to admire, not another Richard Pryor.

Please make it someone that has often been overlooked or not stressed in the schools.

And make it someone who is Black, not someone who wants to be Black, thinks of themselves as Black or is considered by their relatives and some Black people to be Black.

Thanks!

[monte81]

Thank you Kamd50.
I knew there had to be some better choices.


Seldom, if ever have I closed a thread based on my personal feelings.
(At least since Obie Wan taught me that it is wrong and that I should try to never do it again.)

However, in this case I'm seriously tempted to do so.

Please find another person to post for today.
Please make it someone to admire, not another Richard Pryor.

Please make it someone that has often been overlooked or not stressed in the schools.

And make it someone who is Black, not someone who wants to be Black, thinks of themselves as Black or is considered by their relatives and some Black people to be Black.

Thanks!

Seeker,

Well I will give you another one:

James LaMont McGuire (Monte)
Born in Massillon, Ohio to Deborah McGuire and Randy Early on December, 4, 1970. James never really knew his father because he lives in California. James grew up in poverty but worked his butt off to graduate in 1989 from WHS as a bad @ss who played for the best damn team in the land.
Went on to play college football at UC but quit to be a landscaper in Canton
BA in Business from Malone College
8 year military veteran who was medically discharged from the Army after blowing both knees playing on the "All Army" Bball team.
Raising 3 children and working everyday to enhance the lives of US military veterans and helping America's underprivlaged children gain respect and dignity!!!

LOL!!!!! There now---can we stop the fighting and have some fun and respect each other!!!

I am the best black person I know besides my idol---- Jason Stafford who helped me become a great person, friend, and football player!!!

[DAWGH8R]

AMEN !!

I too, googled some famous BLACK people this month, just to make sure that their "claim to fame" as a race certainly offered better choices than:

Adulterers
Drug addicts
Womenizers
Sports figures
Actors/Actresses

I found many interesting people, and was intrigued by all of the inventions that have helped mankind throughout the years. Also, scientists, astronauts, civic leaders, politicians, clergymen, etc, etc, etc.

Maybe next year, we can have a daily poll, with a list of famous/great blacks, and PolarBear can give us the bio on the winner.

I am always interested in history, and this gives us all a chance to learn about lesser taught about people of color in history.

I have no problem with a person of the day, but make them worthy !!

[DAWGH8R]

Seeker,

Well I will give you another one:

James LaMont McGuire (Monte)
Born in Massillon, Ohio .................

You can't use him, he thinks he's white !! LOL !!:hug:

[Kamd50]

Seeker,

Well I will give you another one:

James LaMont McGuire (Monte)
Born in Massillon, Ohio to Deborah McGuire and Randy Early on December, 4, 1970. James never really knew his father because he lives in California. James grew up in poverty but worked his butt off to graduate in 1989 from WHS as a bad @ss who played for the best damn team in the land.
Went on to play college football at UC but quit to be a landscaper in Canton
BA in Business from Malone College
8 year military veteran who was medically discharged from the Army after blowing both knees playing on the "All Army" Bball team.
Raising 3 children and working everyday to enhance the lives of US military veterans and helping America's underprivlaged children gain respect and dignity!!!

LOL!!!!! There now---can we stop the fighting and have some fun and respect each other!!!

I am the best black person I know besides my idol---- Jason Stafford who helped me become a great person, friend, and football player!!!

LOL, I love you Monte and am so glad that you started posting on MP! You always keep it interesting:wink: And by the way, I respect you much more than I do Halle Berry or any other Hollywood celeb for your efforts to make a positive contribution to our society and of course, that undying enthusiasm that you have:thumbsup:

[monte81]

You can't use him, he thinks he's white !! LOL !!:hug:

Just because my favorite rocker is Billy Idol just means I went to Longfellow with a bunch of white people!!!!LOL!!!:tounge: And Tigercoach is my other idol!!!

[Kamd50]

Billy Idol and TigerCoach! hahaha, now there's a good combination:laughing: Sorry TC, that just really struck me as funny for some reason:wink:

[The Voice]

Massillon Public Library recently had a presentation that featured local accomplishments from blacks in Massillon's history.. ..Did you know that the traffic light was invented by a black man.. (don't remember his name.. does anyone else?)

tv

[DAWGH8R]

Just because my favorite rocker is Billy Idol just means I went to Longfellow with a bunch of white people!!!!LOL!!!:tounge: And Tigercoach is my other idol!!!


If you EVER attended one of the Boy's Club dances in the late 70's, you would know that TigerCoach is the WHITEST guy in Stark County !! My Nike's have more soul and rhythm than he does !!:hyper:

[PurpleArmy]

http://massillonproud.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3422

There you go. I found a blacker, Black History Month's Person of the Day for everyone who disagreed with Halle Berry being chosen. :ohplease:

[monte81]

If you EVER attended one of the Boy's Club dances in the late 70's, you would know that TigerCoach is the WHITEST guy in Stark County !! My Nike's have more soul and rhythm than he does !!:hyper:

He coached me for 2 years---I know his footwork needs some help!!

[obie0130]

you should be glad, PA. you stirred the pot, just like you wanted to do.

[CarlE]

Just because my favorite rocker is Billy Idol just means I went to Longfellow with a bunch of white people!!!!LOL!!!:tounge: And Tigercoach is my other idol!!!

Oh Lord this is getting hilarious. Just the thought of TigerCoach being someone's idol is WAY more criminal than anything posted prior to this. My oh my folks. And then reminiscing about his dancing ability (cough, cough) just cracks me up. I think at the first tailgate next year we should have a "Dancing with a White Rhythmless Star" contest hosted by Whitey TigerCoach. Too damn funny, guys.

[TigerCook]

I don't care if she's white, black, purple , or yellow...can we have another picture of her in a bikini...she's smokin!!!

[Kamd50]

Lol, hilarious stuff! Where are you TC to defend yourself?:laughing:

[CarlE]

Lol, hilarious stuff! Where are you TC to defend yourself?:laughing:

Cyber-Ma there IS no defense for this one, I promise you.

[PurpleArmy]

I don't care if she's white, black, purple , or yellow...can we have another picture of her in a bikini...she's smokin!!!

Here you go. Enjoy. :laughing:

http://thefilmasylum.com/albums/Halle-Berry/aag.jpg