The 58 most intriguing Blacks of 2003

You know the name, and you, like millions of other Americans, have wondered about the person behind the name.

Why did he do that?

How did she overcome tragedy?

What will they do next?

These and other questions, some of them political, some of them personal, have been asked at different times about some of the 58 men and women (entertainers, politicians, corporate leaders, sports stars) who made EBONY'S annual list of the most intriguing Black Americans--intriguing in the dictionary sense of arousing interest or curiosity because of unusual, new, fascinating qualities.

Some of the 58 reached new heights, some were the centers of national firestorms and controversies. All made 2003--EBONY'S 58th anniversary--a year to remember.

Beyonce

BEYONCE is the woman who every young woman wants to be--and who every young man wants to have on his arm. With a youthful, shapely body, abundant talent and name recognition that resonates around the world, Beyonce is intriguing, to say the least. And like a handful of other stars, no last name is necessary.

Having recently celebrated her 22nd birthday, the dynamic young woman is a whirlwind of energy and talent, and it seems that she is everywhere doing everything all the time.

She is living the dream life she has been preparing for since she was a child. First, she led the group Destiny's Child to Grammy Awards and four hit albums that sold more than 33 million copies around the world. Then she vaulted to solo success with a hot new platinum-plus album, Dangerously In Love. As if all of that were not enough, she also is co-starring in the movie The Fighting Temptations with Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

Kobe Bryant

In the years that Kobe Bryant has been in the spotlight, he has sculpted a seemingly squeaky-clean image, a do-the-right-thing persona that has prompted many onlookers to say he is one of the most unlikely persons to commit a crime, especially one that could put him behind bars for a life sentence.

But after he was charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman, his upcoming trial has captured the world's attention, with millions of spectators--amateurs and professionals alike--analyzing his every move, and some stalwart fans have even begun to reassess the man who has led the Los Angeles Lakers to three-straight championships.

Although Bryant has steadfastly maintained his innocence, saying what went on at that Eagle, Colo., resort was "consensual sex," the intrigue factor has been heightened because this is a case that has all of the hot buttons--sex, race, money and celebrity. As if those elements weren't enough, things ratcheted up a bit after Kobe told the world he committed adultery, then went out and bought a $4 million ring for his wife Vanessa.

In addition to the courtroom drama, there's also the question of how active Kobe will be with his Lakers teammates this year, or if he will eventually decide to sit out the season, thinking that he will be too much of a distraction while he fights the felony charge.

Millions are in a wait-and-see mode as the legal proceedings move forward. But in the meantime, some observers are wondering out loud, "Who is the real Kobe Bryant?" Is he really the man who exhibits a persona that's an advertiser's dream, or is there another side that most of us never expected?

Colin Powell

At the beginning of one of the biggest international crises since World War II, an African-American was the focal point. And a lightning rod. A man of war, who served as the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, now a man of peace, serving as the first Black Secretary of State, he tried to reason with all sides. In the process, he has been attacked by both sides. But he has established an international persona that has won respect.

Now everyone wants to know whether Colin Powell will continue to serve in the Bush Administration. Many Brothers and Sisters have asked why he's there in the first place. In fact, there was so much speculation about whether he was going to resign, that he's joked about it at department staff meetings. It is a safe bet that, whatever decision he makes, his wife Alma will have a lot to say about it, as some believe she did when he decided against a run for the presidency. We get hints that he has reservations about some policy issues he must advocate.

He is, above all else, a man of conviction, a man of principle, as well as a person with superb political instinct who has survived so many battles to rise to the top. The Secretary has a way of keeping things in balance--humility and greatness all at the same time. Embattled, but unbowed. A sense of humor even with his grave ministerial portfolio. That just might explain the intrigue behind one of the most popular people ever measured by the Gallup organization. Call it "Colin Power." Powell got an 83 percent approval rating, more than 20 points higher than the president, in early summer polling. And his popularity seems to translate well, into many languages, understood by many people.