Summer Of Drama


Living Heroes

    Faye Wattleton
    Since 1995, Wattleton has served as the co-founder and president of the Center for the Advancement of Women, a non-partisan think-tank that conducts women-focused national opinion research. But before that she made history as the first black woman and the youngest president ever elected to Planned Parenthood, a position she held for 14 years. The St. Louis native helped the organization become the seventh largest charity in the United States. Wattleton earned her master of science degree from Columbia University and now is a trustee of the university.

    Scott Wintrow, Getty Images

    Russell Simmons
    Since founding the first major record label to prominently feature hip-hop artists, Def Jam Recordings, in 1984, this Queens native followed up that success in the music business with other successful entrepreneurial efforts such as Phat Farm clothing line and HBO's 'Def Comedy Jam' and 'Def Poetry on Broadway.' These days, the Goodwill Ambassador and father of two has committed his life to philanthropic efforts. In addition to penning a New York Times best seller, 'Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success,' the yoga enthusiast has also dedicated his energy to the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which fosters political activism among the hip-hop generation, as well as the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

    Evan Agostini, Getty Images for TFF

    Oprah Winfrey
    Reportedly the richest black woman in the world, she's also arguably the most powerful and influential businesswoman around. But Oprah Winfrey is giving back now more than ever -- so much so that her philanthropic efforts could leave just as much of impact as her multiple Emmy Award-winning eponymous daytime talk show. The Mississippi native has raised more than $51 million for her Oprah's Angel Network charity, which serves underprivileged people around the world and $21 million for Hurricane Katrina victims. In 2007, she made headlines for establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg, but she's also been helping to educate the future generations of African Americans under the radar. In 1989, she established the Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarship Fund at Morehouse College, which has since provided scholarships to 250 Morehouse students from around the country. To date, she's contributed $12 million to the black college and says her goal is to put 1,000 Morehouse men through school. Just last month, she also donated $1 million to her friend and former Essence magazine editrix Susan Taylor's mentoring program, National CARES Mentoring Movement.

    Per-Anders Pettersson, Getty Images

    Bill & Camille Cosby
    Even on his hit sitcom, 'The Cosby Show,' iconic comedian/actor, Bill Cosby stressed the importance of education and stayed true to his beliefs by incorporating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) into the series. Though he's been critical, as of late, of what he sees as misguided priorities where education in the African American community is concerned, both Bill and his wife Camille are avid supporters and financial backers of black colleges. Bill, an alum of Temple University, and Camille, an alum of Amherst College, have given back to their alma maters, as well as donating millions of dollars to Fisk, Central State University, Florida A&M, Shaw, Meharry Medical College and Bethune-Cookman College. The couple made history by donating $20 million to Spelman College, making it the largest gift in the history of black institutions. Those funds allowed for the creation of the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center, which houses the school's fine arts, social sciences and humanities departments, as well as a library and archival program of international African Women's Research & Resource Center.

    Scott Wintrow, Getty Images

    Earvin "Magic" Johnson
    This former NBA Lakers player won five championships and three MVP awards before retiring in 1991, shortly after announcing he had HIV. But, for the better part of the past 15 years, he's been a leader in the business world, using his celebrity to foster partnerships with some of the most well-known brands in America. Now, Johnson's considered the top athlete for corporate endorsements, and he continues to provide access to these products and services to impoverished communities. Seeing the need for a source of entertainment in inner-city areas of Los Angeles, Johnson joined forces with Sony Entertainment to create the Magic Johnson Movie Theaters, with subsequent locations in Atlanta and New York. He has since partnered with Aetna on health care initiatives, Best Buy, Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday's and 24 Hour Fitness.

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    Waris Dirie
    The Somalia native was forcibly circumcised at the age of five. The traumatic experience stayed with her through her life and motivated Durie to dedicate her life to education on female circumcision. After Dirie ran away from her homeland famed photographer Terence Donovan discovered her in London, which led to her face appearing on the cover of the 1987 Pirelli calendar. She left the fashion industry after 10 years to work as a United Nations Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. Waris, 44, who has since published a three-part series of autobiographies, 'Desert Flower,' 'Desert Dawn,' and 'Desert Children,' now is a citizen of Australia and lives in Vienna with her son, Sharmarke Abdullahi.

    Sean Gallup, Getty Images

    Tom Joyner
    His nationally syndicated 'Tom Joyner Morning Show' is heard by over 10 million radio listeners, but this Tuskegee, Ala., native is so proud of his education at Tuskegee Institute that he's using that influence to positively impact the lives of students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) all over the country. Through his Tom Joyner Foundation, HBCU students who might otherwise drop out of school due to financial difficulties are awarded scholarships. To date, he's raised over $55 million, a great deal from his annual star-studded Fantastic Voyage cruise with Royal Caribbean. He recently launched a new scholarship program, the Full Ride Scholarship, which will be awarded to a high school senior accepted into an HBCU in the fall of 2009.

    Ron T. Ennis, MCT

    Susan Taylor
    In 2007, Taylor left her post as editorial director of Essence magazine to focus on her mentoring initiative, Essence Cares. Previously editor-in-chief of the best-selling black women's magazine, the Harlem native is one of the most influential African Americans in the country via her books and public speaking engagements. The former Negro Ensemble Company actress has now renamed Essence Cares, the National CARES Mentoring Movement. And, she has high hopes of pairing one mentor with every at-risk child in America, one city at a time. With big-named pals like Oprah Winfrey pitching in $1 million donations to the organization, she's sure to continue inspiring young people across the nation.

    Evan Agostin, ImageDirect / Getty Images

    Meet Dr. Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr.
    At just 33 years old, he became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In 1987, Carson made medical history with an operation to separate a pair of conjoined twins, becoming the first surgeon to successfully save both twins. He has done two additional operations since then, including one that lasted 28 hours. In 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush for his work as a surgeon and for improving the lives of America's youth. Just like Carson, there are other Black people demonstrating true acts of heroism in their kind acts to others. Take a look.

    John Hopkins University

    Sheryl Lee Ralph
    This original 'Dreamgirls' cast member found fame on Broadway, television and film, yet chose to commit herself to increasing awareness on HIV/AIDS outside of the big spotlight. Since founding The Diva Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to this cause and in memory of her friends that passed away from the deadly virus, the "Jamerican" diva used her talent and celebrity to enlist the help of her superstar friends for an annual fundraising concert, "Divas Simply Singing." Everyone from Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Ledisi, RuPaul, Fergie, Jennifer Lewis, Patti LaBelle and Nancy Wilson have graced the stage at the event since 1990. Ralph followed that success with 'Sometimes I Cry,' a one-woman play inspired by real-life stories of women coping with HIV/AIDS. In 2005, the National HIV/AIDS Partnership honored Ralph with their Red Ribbon Leadership Award at the United Nations.

    Michael Tran, FilmMagic