The 50 most intriguing blacks of 2004

THEY are CEOs, leaders in the church, Olympic champions. They are Grammy winners, Tony Award winners, Academy Award winners--and winners in general. Aside from their incredible talents and appeal, they have a unique persona, a persona that raises the level of curiosity among onlookers who agree that the personalities featured on these pages are representative of the most intriguing African-Americans of 2004.

USHER

To say that Usher came into his own this year is an understatement. While the 25-year-old heartthrob was busy breaking virtually every R&B record with his new CD Confessions, he was also busy breaking up--in a very public way--with girlfriend Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas of the group TLC.

The two parted ways amid accusations of infidelity. Some said the breakup was the inspiration behind many of the songs on the Confessions CD, something Usher adamantly denied.

Having been in the public spotlight since he was a little boy, Usher's fans have watched him grow up from a cute crooner singing sugarcoated soul songs to a grown man singing about lovemaking, love lost end found, and the love of finding the right party.

The Chattanooga, Tenn., native now smokes cigars, hangs out at the hottest clubs, and is tight with the likes of rappers Lil' Jon and Ludacris. He owns his own house in Atlanta, complete with a fully stocked bar in the basement and a fully loaded Hummer outside.

Usher's on a mission to restore the face of R&B with a hip-hop urban style of music that pulls from great artists like Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson a and Donnie Hathaway. Along the way, he wants to have fun, big fun. If you think you knew Usher Raymond IV, think again.

JANET Jackson

Super Bowl Sunday 2004 will be remembered as the day that Janet Jackson forever changed live television. The pop star's breast-baring incident during a half-time performance with Justin Timberlake continues to reverberate throughout the entertainment industry. The Federal Communications Commission has tightened rules and increased fines for broadcasters. Media conglomerates have been sued and fined. Live entertainment television broadcasts now are tightly monitored and aired with a 5-second delay. All because of a two-second incident during which Jackson's right breast was bared. Jackson hasn't talked about the incident much since EBONY'S exclusive interview shortly afterwards. She said then: "It was not intentional. It was a costume accident." The album she later released, Damita Jo, has sold millions of copies but far below expected sales for the artist Janet is no stranger to controversy in her life and that of her brother Michael, whom to support during his legal battle. And Janet continues to date she continues super producer Jermaine Dupri.

KOBE Bryant

KOBE NEVER IMAGINED that what he did and did not do on that night in a hotel room in Eagle, Colorado, would spark an international debate about consensual sex, date rape, interracial romance and "two justice systems." But the moment the news hit the airwaves--Kobe Bryant, 26-year-old superstar guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, accused of raping a 19-year-old White woman--the NBA's most famous golden boy found himself swept up in a media maelstrom. Kobe supporters publicly stood by him for an entire year as he fought to do his job on the basketball court, clear his name, atone to his family and fans and hold on to the multimillion-dollar endorsement deals. Kobe detractors all but predicted that he would lose his wife, his freedom and his endorsement deals, but the young NBA superstar, not for the first time in his life, came up with a three-point shot that swooshed through the legal nets just before the buzzer sounded. At the last moment, the accuser decided not to press the legal charges and the rape charge was dismissed. But this was not, by any means, the end of Kobe's ordeal. The accuser vowed to pursue a civil suit.

Kenneth I. CHENAULT

WHEN "A FIRST NEGRO" OR AN "ONLY NEGRO" does what he does so well that people stop calling him the first Negro or the only Negro, he enters a new orbit and makes news because he no longer makes news. Kenneth I. Chenault, the chairman and CEO of American Express, has entered that rarefied orbit, and because of his successes people who don't know what color he is, and who don't care, are refusing to leave home without him. Insiders say Chenault's success at the top of the American corporate structure is based on a mastery of American Express corporate culture and a quiet, tough, compelling charm that transcends colors and boxes. A close friend said: "I have watched him at work and at play, and I want you to know that he is always connected to the community."

BEYONCE

Beyonce Knowles, a do-it-all diva who recognizes no boundary to her ambition and accomplishments, continues to make heads spin, tongues wag and eyes sparkle with her many faces, facets, fashions and talents. A singer, record producer and "songwriter of the year," her fluid dance moves have launched the "Beyonce dance," which she credits to Africa. She also is making a name for herself as an actress and will co-star with Steve Martin in The Pink Panther remake next year; again she showcases her comedic side, as she did in the hit movie Austin Powers: Goldmember. On another front, she is returning to her Destiny's Child roots, rejoining Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams to release a new recording and plan a tour. And as if that wasn't enough to keep the 23-year-old beauty busy, she and her mother, fashion stylist/designer Tina Knowles, recently announced the fall 2005 launch of Beyonce's own fashion line, The House of Dereon, named after Beyonce's grandmother, Agnes Dereon, a skilled seamstress. The theme for the line is "Couture. Kick. Soul." Topping off Beyonce's young, exciting and busy life is a hot romance with rap mogul Jay-Z. After almost two years of appearing arm-in-arm but remaining tight-lipped about the relationship, the two lovebirds now acknowledge something wonderful is happening. "We're fine. We're happy," she says.

OPRAH Winfrey

Fabulous and more fit than ever at 50, Oprah had what has to be considered--even for a billionaire--a tremendous year. Earlier this year, she was feted at star-studded birthday parties in Chicago and on the West Coast; this summer she signed a deal to keep her syndicated talk show on the air through 2011, which will mark the 25th year of distribution for the show. Oprah's also continued her philanthropic efforts, donating $1 million to the Underground Railroad Museum. Her personal life seems to be going well, too. She sold her Indiana farm and she and her longtime beau, Stedman Graham, are still an item. Add to that the resurrection of Oprah's Book Club, her bailout of a California restaurant that was about to close, her headline-making stint as a juror on a recent Chicago murder trial and you have an unparalleled, typical Oprah Year. Yet, despite the headlines and the constant whir of the cameras, we're no closer to knowing what really makes her tick. It's as if the world is waiting for her to tell us her secrets. Will she change her mind about marriage? Will she announce new philanthropic ventures in America and Africa? Will she finally finish the book? Whatever the answers, the real-life Oprah drama, which in many ways is more compelling than the made-for-TV Oprah show, will continue.

Nelson MANDELA

HE HEADS NO GOVERNMENT, DIRECTS NO CHURCH, LEADS NO MOVEMENT. He's not a TV star or a rock star or a billionaire. But Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, is arguably the most revered person in the world. Supercelebrities from Oprah to Robert DeNiro to Beyonce to Bono sing his praises, and kings, queens and presidents beat a path to his South African door. What's Mandela secret? Why do so many famous and non-famous people, Black, White and Brown, want to be like him when they grow up? The short answer is that he is the last authentic miracle-maker. The story of how he came out of a prison, alter doing 27 years of hard time as a political prisoner, and brought down the infamous apartheid system has become one of the priceless legends of the human race. And when people tell the story, they marvel over the fact that he came out of prison bigger as a person than his jailers and that his charm and faith in mankind have grown with the years. Since retiring from active politics in 1999, "Madiba," as he is called in South Africa, has helped negotiate an end to the fighting in Burundi and has led the worldwide crusade against AIDS. In 2004, flanked by his wife Graca Machel, he quietly celebrated his 86th birthday, the undefeated champion of struggle and hope.

Alicia KEYS

THERE WAS A NEW UNWRITTEN, UNSUNG DIARY, and a new Alicia Keys in 2004. While her sophomore effort, The Diary of Alicia Keys, continued to thrill, non-musical signs pointed to the emergence of n more mature and sensuous young woman, whose signature tomboy demeanor (baggy jeans, braids and bandana) has all but evaporated. Now she's wearing glamorous gowns and bouncy curls. Now she's being linked romantically to musicians like Usher. Now the public is wondering about the directions of the maturing star. Has she found true love? Is she dating any of the big-name celebrities she has been linked to? And is she going into a new musical phase? Whatever is going on behind the music, Alicia is not telling. The only thing she says enigmatically is, "I feel like there's nothing more important than having love in your life." And having more diaries to write.

ANDRE 3000

Daring to be different pays off. Voted "The World's Best-Dressed Man" and "Sexiest Male Vegetarian," Andre 3000, the eccentric half of the Grammy Award-winning rap duo OutKast, gambled on the unconventional and won--proving that he does not follow the trends, he makes them. Sometimes referred to as a reincarnation of Sammy Davis Jr., the 29-year-old Atlanta native has made his own mark as an artist, clothing designer, director and actor. In 2004, he and the group OutKast walked away with five Grammy Awards, including one for Album of the Year for Speakerboxx/The Love Below. In 2004, Dre, the father of a son, Seven, with neo-classical soul singer Erykah Badu, made a major political statement as one of the leaders of the national campaign to get out the vote. In November, he will vote for the first time. Though female fans wait anxiously for the eligible bachelor's romantic pick, he seems content to settle on stardom--for now.

Queen LATIFAH

QUEEN LATIFAH HAS CARVED OUT A SOLID NICHE in the competitive entertainment industry. She is a story-in-progress about a girl-from-the-'hood rapper who transforms her rough imago into that of a glamorous movie star and media mogal. In fact, she is a one-woman entertainment conglomerate--rapper, singer, actress, record-label president, author, movie producer, cover girl and entrepreneur. Latifah's Oscar-nominated Mama Morton character in 2003"s Chicago and star/producer role with Bring Down the House with Steve Martin seem to have kicked her star into another galaxy. In the coming months, she will star or appear in seven movies, including Beauty Shop, Bad Girls, My Wife as a Gangster, Taxi and The Cookout Her Flavor Unit Entertainment also is producing or co-producing several of these films and others in which Latifah will not star, including My People My People and Just Right(with Disney). Yet, Latifah has not deserted her recording roots. On her new CD, however, she sings ballads rather than raps. The Queen is full of surprises, drive and ideas. And realism. She admits she is far from perfect, and admirers often wonder about her personal life: Is her longtime friend Shakim Compete more than just her business partner? Another fascinating point is that in recent months it was reported that the Queen had breast-reduction surgery. Yet, she is proud of her full figure and encourages other women to stay healthy and love their bodies.

P. DIDDY

Vote or die." With those three words, Sean (P. Diddy) Combs threw his hat into the political ring--well sort of. He didn't run for office, Instead, he led a very successful voter registration drive, making politics cool to the millions of young people who have traditionally been apathetic during election years.

What makes his efforts so intriguing is that he never says whether he is a Democrat or Republican, only that he is an American, concerned about the future to the country. Through his non-partisan group Citizen Change, which is similar to Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Action Summit Network, Combs has reached out to both parties in an attempt to bring the 42 million voters between 18 and 30 into the election process. "We have the power to make things cool, hot and sexy--from the clothes we wear, to the cars we drive, to the bling we buy," Combs says. "Now we're going to make voting cool. We are the true leaders of today."

When pressed by another reporter at another press Conference on his qualifications to lead a voter's registration group, Combs said: "I don't have a long history of voting. But I do have long history of making things hot and relevant."

WILL Smith

HE WENT FROM THE SMALL SCREEN TO THE BIG SCREEN AND BACK AGAIN. But this time, instead of a teenage-rapper-turned-television star feeling his way through the acting world, Will Smith is now calling the shots. In his first series television appearance since he ended a historic run on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith, along with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, is producing a new comedy series, All of Us. The couple have made appearances on the show--which is loosely based on their family life as have their children. What continues to make Smith one of the most intriguing stars in Hollywood is his continued sense of pride in who he is, and where he came from. When asked by a group of mostly White reporters why he tapped Duane Martin for the lead role in All of Us, Smith replied, "The one thing that we always said is, 'Look, we're in Hollywood, we've got to do like White people do--give each other jobs.'" As he rakes in multimillion-dollar paydays, Smith has also continued to keep a light heart and humble spirit.

JADA Pinkeff Smith

This year, 2004, has arguably been the Year of Jada. It was the year the Hollywood star, mom and wife burst out of mental and/or physical boxes placed on her seemingly unlimited talents. Who is Jada Pinkett Smith? In her own words, she is a "have-what-I-want-one-way-or-another woman." And what does she want? Everything. Fresh off a big box-office run as an action star in The Matrix sequels, Pinkett Smith again graced the big screen in a starring role with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx in the film Collateral. While still holding up her family roles as wife to actor/singer Will Smith and mum to Jaden, 6, Willow, 3, and Trey, 11, from Will's first marriage, she embarked on a fresh venture this year, recording a CD, going out on tour and leading her own band, Wicked Wisdom. As if all of this isn't enough to guarantee long days and longer nights, the seemingly indefatigable star wrote and published a children's book, We Girls Hold Up the World, about the power of girls. On the small screen, she and Will's sitcom, All of Us, began its second season this fall to solid reviews. You go, girl!

HALLE Berry

HALLE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. Since 2000, she has appeared on this list four times, selected not by the editors but by events, including her Oscar triumph and her breakthrough roles in the Bond series and other films. But this year, us in every other year, she was pre-selected by a question raised by her role in a real-life drama that is, in a way, more interesting than her movie roles: Can a stunningly beautiful woman, the fantasy ideal of billions of men, find real love end happiness despite--or even because of--her beauty, fame, and money? In 2004, Halle gave an uncertain answer, announcing the breakup of her marriage, and saying that she was giving up on the idea of marriage and the love-forever-after thing (EBONY August 2004). But her fans are betting that this is not THE END of the real-life script or the movie.

Phylicia RASHAD

PHYLICIA RASHAD HAS A TONY NOW. Rashad, who will forever be adored and (sometimes feared) for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable, matriarch of the Huxtable family on The Cosby Show, made history this year for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun, which earned o Tony Award and made her the first African-American actress to win a Tony for best performance by a leading actress in a play. This breakthrough role not only made theatrical history; it also changed the image of Rashad, a beautiful woman who had been largely out of the spotlight since her divorce. Now she's open to all kinds of material and a new life and returned to Broadway to reprise the role of Ester, a 285-year-old spiritual guide who assists slaves in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Which raises the unthinkable question: Can a new Claire Huxtable be far behind?

Bishop T. D. Jakes

Everything he touches turns to Spirit or, some worldly commentator say, to gold. A triple-threat preacher who sell millions of books end CDs, and fills 100,000-seat stadiums, Bishop T. D. Jakes is one of the distinguishing religious phenomena of our times. Time magazine said he is "Oprah-in-a-pulpit," a White Southern Baptist preacher said he is "the new Billy Graham," a sociologist said he is a "postmodern, postdenominational, high-tech pastor." Jakes presides over the 26,000-member Potter's House Church in Dallas, but his ministry is national and increasingly international. Having created a passionate female following preaching on the theme, "Woman, Thou art Loosed," Jakes turned his attention in 2004 to the task of loosing and empowering Brothers. The Bishop dreams big and lives big. He and his wife Serita live in a $1.7 million mansion, and he flies and lives first-class, apologizing neither for his lifestyle nor his aspirations. He says, to the consternation of some, that Jesus had to be a rich man in order to support his extensive ministry and that religion should empower instead of impoverishing.

Bill COSBY

IT STARTED WITH A SPEECH commemorating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, but by the end of Bill Cosby's impromptu dialog, he had detonated a national debate. Preaching a message of self-responsibility, Cosby struck a nerve with Blacks and Whites alike when he took poor Blacks to task for parental failures that he says have led to high dropout rates, crime and other social ills, including speaking incorrect English. "I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit," he said during his speech. "Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol? And where is the father?" Cosby's comments took many by surprise, prompting many to speculate as to the reason for his harsh remarks. Some blamed Cosby for publicly airing Black America's dirty laundry. Others blamed him for blaming the victims and ignoring racism. Still others praised the comedian for helping move the dialog among Blacks to a new level. But he was unrepentant, saying that he was talking to the movers and shakers, and plans to continue preaching his tough love message.

BRANDY

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS BRANDY has been on a roller-coaster ride, and the thrills are still coming in waves. No sooner had the 25-year-old single mom released a new recording, former beau and producer Robert

Smith, father of Brandy's toddler Sy'rai, announced that he and Brandy were never married. Say what? Reaction was similar to the response in early 2002 when it was announced that Brandy and Smith had secretly married the previous summer. Even if the whole marriage story was an effort to preserve the former child star's reputation, as Smith was quoted as saying, most fans didn't seem to care. It appears that Brandy has moved on as well. Seldom is she seen without NBA's Phoenix Suns guard Quentin Richardson at her side, and she is sporting his million-dollar, 10.5-karat diamond ring. The two plan to marry in summer 2005 and are customizing a spacious house in the Phoenix area. In addition, the star of the hit sitcom Moesha (now in syndication) and her mother/manager Sonja Norwood are developing a new television project (starring Brandy) that will premiere on Fox next fall. These days, Brandy is all smiles with an adorable toddler, a handsome beau and the platinum-selling Afrodisiac CD.

KANYE West

Kanye West, the 27-year-old Chicago native, scored big in 2004 with his debut CD, The College Dropout. He even won a BET Award for Best New Artist and toured with Usher this summer. But it's not necessarily the awards that are driving West now. It's Jesus. West has brought his struggle of living a secular life and still trying to walk with God to the mainstream with "Jesus Walks," a controversial single currently rocking radio and winning fans. "I'll try my hardest to always voice what I think [fans are] going through while they're listening to my music, "West told EBONY. "That's all my music is. "And that's who West is. Ever since he started making beats on Chicago's South Side, he's always been willing to try something new, to express an opinion, to sample something others thought was suspect. 2005 is supposed to be a defining year for West, who enjoys fashion in his spare time. And while he's not been publicly linked to any romance, he told EBONY earlier this year that he had a steady girlfriend. What's next? West has people lining up to work with him and he's at work on a second album. It'll be interesting to see where West's walk takes him in '05.

Dave CHAPPELLE

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN Richard Pryor and Chris Rock lies the comedic genius of Dave Chappelle, who can best be described as outrageous, insightful and incendiary. Chappelle, Comedy Central's new $50 million man, has the biggest audience on the channel and appears to contradict everything that is said about him. And his doe-eyed, laid-back, "I-can't-believe-that-I-just-said-that-either" demeanor is perhaps the polar opposite of the man who lies within. The son of William Chappelle, a retired voice teacher, and Seon Chappelle, a Unitarian minister and college professor, he says he is committed to his comedy and to creative freedom. Although some critics have questioned his choice of material and have asked is he going too far with characters, he says that he is using comedy to entertain and to raise unexplored questions.

JAY-Z

Few entertainers retire at the peak of their career. But that's just what Jay-Z, one of the most successful rappers ever, did this year. In the process, he created a buzz almost as deafening as the one he created when he started dating singer/actress Beyonce Knowles.

Having made a fortune during the last eight years from his music and clothing line, Jay-Z (whose real name is Shown Carter) said that he has accomplished everything in the music industry, and plans to walk away from the promise of millions after one last concert tour. Born in the rough-and-tumble Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, N.Y., he hasn't indicated what he may do next, although there have been rumors he is being courted by Island Def Jam to take charge of Def Jam Records.

Whatever the 33-year-old New York native decides to do with the rest of his life, it's a good bet that he will continue to spend time with Beyonce. Whether it's New York City or an exotic Caribbean island, the two appear to be inseparable. He's too cool. She's too pretty. Together, they have become one of the entertainment industry's hottest couples.

SHAQUILLE O'Neal

AT 7-FOOT-1 AND 340 POUNDS, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL is usually the center of attention, and all eye--almost unblinkingly--will be on him during this basketball season to see how he adjusts to a new team, a new coach and a new city. It's a new beginning for the former MVP who packed his bags, left Los Angeles and is now the main man in Miami. But, at 32, can he meet the expectations of Miami Heat fans, who are counting on him to lead the team to a title, the way he did three times with the Lakers? And even though he is still perhaps the most dominating force in the NBA, there are repeated questions about his surgically repaired big toe, his conditioning and his continued effectiveness. Those questions, O'Neal says, should be of little concern, especially since he spent much of the summer putting in strenuous workouts. Aside from the questions about Shaq's durability and competitiveness, curious NBA fans are anxiously waiting for December 25, and not because it's Christmas Day. That's the first time O'Neal will return to Los Angeles to face his old teammates and continue what apparently was a tumultuous, running battle with Kobe Bryant. The sometimes-public rift between the two apparently led to Shaq being traded to Miami, and the "Diesel" wants to make a point that the Lakers made a mistake by shipping him out.

DENZEL Washington

This is the Big 5-0 year for Denzel Washington. The two-time Oscar Winner, and Hollywood Icon, turns 50 in December but he is still the baddest Brother on the film block. And unlike some 50-year-old performers, he's as busy as ever. On the heels of directing Antwone Fisher, one of last year's most acclaimed movies, Washington turned in riveting performances in two of the most noteworthy films of 2004, The Manchurian Candidate and Man on Fire. The actor-director, who is happily married to Pauletta Pearson, and the father of their four children, including a college-age football star, still evokes ooohs and ahhhs from women of all ages who say he is still the sexiest and coolest leading man around.

STAR Jones

WHEN STAR JONES FIRST FACED THE CAMERAS as a legal expert during the O.J. Simpson trial, she was virtually unknown outside of the legal community. But these days she is everywhere doing everything a star should do. What really put Star on the media map is her much-talked-about engagement to Al Scales Reynolds, the Ivy League-educated, Wall Street banker who dropped to one knee in February at the NBA All-Star game and, in front of millions of TV viewers and 20,000 fans, asked Star to be his wife. The wedding is scheduled for the end of November. In the meantime, it is obvious that Star is revving up for the nuptials by slimming down. And she has made it clear that she will not be deterred by rumors of Reynolds' past, as reported in several newspapers. In a statement last spring, she said: "My fiance and I have discussed all relevant parts of our personal histories. We are satisfied that we know everything we need to know about each other's pasts and are looking forward to our future together."

MOS DEF

Not many carl claim to be a revolutionary hip-hop artist, a Hollywood hunk, a Broadway star and an Emmy-nominated actor. It is an uncommon mix of opposing worlds, cultures and attitudes, and yet, the New York native and hip-hop phenomenon known as Mos Def, short for Most Definitely, does it seamlessly. Born Dante Brez, the 5'10" multitalented entertainer earned a 2004 Emmy nomination this year for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role in the HBO production, Something the Lord Made. Yet, despite his acting credits in Monster's Ball alongside Halle Berry, the box-office hit Italian Job, Broadway's Top Dog/Underdog and Brown Sugar, for which he earned an NAACP Image Award nomination, Mos Def stays true to his hip-hop roots with this year's release of his highly anticipated sophomore album, The New Danger. Though rumors whirl about his romantic interests, including stories about his appearance in Alicia Keys' music video, You Don't Know My Name, the former member of the rap duo Black Star prefers to keep his personal life out of the public eye. Considered one of the industry's most insightful artists, Mos Def will host another season of Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam this season, while maintaining his allegiance to originality, style and a path of his own. "I like to widen the definition of what Black music is and shake off the alternative label that people tend to throw on artists who are just doing whatever comes naturally."

WHITNEY Houston

SHE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE LIMELIGHT AS MUCH, but Whitney Houston is still on the minds end in the hearts of millions. Rather than savoring images of the golden-voice singer performing, many now have lasting images of Whitney in court to support husband Bobby Brown. People-watchers also are fascinated and dismayed by the fact that it took Whitney such a long time to seek treatment for her admitted drug problems, and that there were many false starts. Word now is that she has completed treatment and is on her way to a fall recovery. It also seems that her mentor, BMG music honcho Clive Davis, has again token Whitney under his wings. She is preparing to record a new CD to be released next year. In the meantime, people are fascinated by the ongoing Whitney Houston drama, and many hope that the real-life pop princess will regain sound footing in her career and her personal life and reclaim her crown.

ALPHONSE Fletcher Jr.

Alphonse Fletcher Jr., a leading Wall Street money manager and the founder and president of Fletcher Asset Management, made headlines in 2004 when he announced that he would give $50 million to institutions and individuals working to improve race relations and to close the class divide between African-Americans who have benefited from the Civil Rights Movement and those who have not. This was one of the largest individual gifts ever made by an African-American. "We've got to get working," said Fletcher, 38, who was president of his graduating class at Harvard. "The clock is ticking." Why did he make the gift? Harvard University scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. said Fletcher is keenly aware that his success epitomizes all that Brown v. Board of Education and the civil rights movement made possible for African-Americans. "He hasn't forgotten the people that Brown and affirmative action left behind." Fletcher says he plans to model part of his gift after the Guggenheim awards, with fellowships of $50,000 to be awarded over a number of years to scholars, writers, artists and those who contributed to the goals of Brown v. Board.

PRINCE

Whether you love his music or not, you have to admire the way the artist formerly and currently known as Prince expresses his creativity and independence. With the help of a savvy young Black entertainment attorney, he negotiated his way out of the contract with Warner Bros., reclaimed his name and released his material himself, mostly on his popular Web site. Earlier this year, Prince signed a deal with Columbia to distribute his latest masterpiece, Musicology, which has sold millions of copies and stayed at the top of Billboard's music chart for months. From the moment Prince emerged on the music scene back in the mid-1980s, he has been associated with beautiful women: from Vanity to Apollonia to Sheila E to Sheena Easton, among others. In the mid '90s, he married and later divorced dancer Mayte. For three years, he has been married to Manuela Testolini, yet another beautiful young woman. But Manny, as he affectionately calls her, is not only his partner in music and helpmate at his Paisley Park studio business center; she is also his spiritual partner. While Prince has always incorporated religious references in his lyrics and music, these days he is spiritually enriched as a Jehovah's Witness. "I call myself a musician and a child of God," he says. "Others call me what they want to call me."

JILL SCOTT

IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE JILL SCOTT. She's like the urban girl next door, your cousin, niece, sisterfriend, daughter. Like her songs, she's earthy and soulful and jazzy, and she is proud of her full figure, brown skin and natural hair, And she can sing and compose music, write and perform poetry. Her 2000 Who is Jill Scott? platinum debut still lingers as a breath of fresh air over a stale environ, and her four-year hiatus left fans lamenting "Where is Jill Scott?" She was getting married and nesting in n new home with new hubby Lyzel Williams; she was writing poetry for e book. appearing on TV's Girlfriends and Showtime's Cave Dwellers, launching her Blues Babe Foundation--just taking time to enjoy life. Fans are delighted that she has re-emerged with another wonderful recording. Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B chart and No, 3 on Billboard's Top 200 list. On the streets, in cars commuting, at workstations, people ere humming and singing her catchy, upbeat "Golden," which she cells an anthem for life. "I wont listeners to feel something when they experience this album." says Jill.

Russell SIMMONS

IN 2004, RUSSELL SIMMONS, who has been called the President of Hip-Hop, continued his national campaign to make Americans of all races understand the social, economic end cultural implications of the Rap movement. Toward that end, he traveled from city to city, organizing poetry sessions and Hip-Hop entravaganzas, preaching the word of the Hip-Hop gospel. Not only disc jockeys but Broadway and the world of literature took notice, praising his Hip-Hop poetry initiatives. At the same time, he continued to press the economic envelope, expanding his growing business empire, organizing new Phat farm outlets and new credit card businesses. What does he want? The answer, he says, in so many words, is a New Deal for toppers on the economic, political and cultural fronts.

ZANE

She is 37 years old, married and the mother of four children ranging in age from 1 to 21, and she has sold more X-rated books than any other recent author. Black Issues Book Review said the woman known as Zane "is to urban erotica what J. K. Rowling is to children's fiction." A mystery in broad open daylight, the owner of a flourishing bookstore in downtown Baltimore and a book publishing company based in Bowie, Md., Zane poses for pictures but refuses to tell her name. According to an interview in Black Issues (September-October 2004), her own husband has not read The Sex Chronicles, "one of her steamiest novels ... because he, like many men, has a hard time accepting his wife's sexual fantasies." What does the suburban mother say? She says there's more to her than sex. The daughter of a professor-minister and a retired schoolteacher says she started out writing children's stories and that "erotica kind of chose me. I had never read erotica, but I love to write and I have an imagination, so I would come up with wild-crazy stories, and then add sex." The wild-crazy stories and the wild-crazy sex have made her a Legend and a wealthy woman, and her newest book, Afterburn, published this month and launched at a book-signing at the Congressional Black Caucus weekend, will add to the wealth and the mystery.

Joanna HAYES

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS. U.S. hurdler Joanna Hayes screaming as she crossed the finish line and collapsing to her knees on the track after becoming only the second American women over to win the gold medal in the 100-meter high hurdles. Twenty years after Benita Fitzgerald won the same race in Los Angeles In 1984, Hayes ran a personal best and Olympic Record of 12.37 and finished comfortably ahead of the field. U.S. sprinter Melissa Morrison finished third. "Going in, I felt I was going to run 12.37. I Just did what I told myself I was going to do," Hayes said after the race. "I'm not saying I can't be beaten, but tonight I'm the best hurdler in the world." The 27-year-old from Los Angels had come back from failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2000 and two years of injuries to claim her prize. That Hayes--a former long jumper--was e virtual unknown made her victory all the more compelling. She finished second at the U.S. Trials to teammate Gail Devers, who has never won an Olympic medal in the event, despite being one of the greatest hurdlers of all time. Hayes dedicated her semifinal race to Devers because the veteran fell in the qualifying rounds and did not make it to the final. The daughter of a well-known homeless advocate. Hayes was a champion hurdler at UCLA in both the 100- end 400- meter hurdles.

Justin GATLIN

He was fast. How fast? Fastest-person-in-the-world fast. On a historic night on the world's biggest stage, Justin Gatlin wan the Olympic Games' fastest-ever 100-meter dash and placed his name among the pantheon of champion runners such as Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene as the fastest man in the shortest Olympic race. 9.85 seconds. That's how long it took to go from underdog to Olympic champion. And these were not "one-Mississippi" seconds. These were electronically timed, a-bad-start-can-ruin-you, tale-of-the-tape seconds in a race where five men broke the 10-second barrier and a photo finish saw Gatlin's torso lean into the finish ahead of Portugal's Francis Obikwelu and 2000 Olympic champion Maurice Greene. This was supposed to be Greene's race (Greene had said so.) If not Greene, then flamboyant U.S. sprinter Shaun Crawford--Gatlin's training partner in North Carolina--or one of the Jamaican runners. No one was talking about the quiet 22-year-old who grew up jumping fire hydrants in Brooklyn, N.Y. No one was talking about the NCAA champion from the University of Tennessee, who almost chose art school over a track scholarship. Now, they're talking about him--calling him a welcome relief from the self-proclamation of some athletes.

Bishop SARAH FRANCES DAVIS

IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF A DREAM FOR THE RIGHT REV. SARAH FRANCES DAVIS. She'd been a trailblazer throughout her professional life and ministry, most recently serving as the first female pastor of the 115-year-old Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Antonio, Texas--a post she held for seven years. And now Rev. Davis--who earned a doctor of ministry from Southern Methodist University--was out in front again, as the third woman in the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to be elected bishop--the highest leadership rank. Rev. Carolyn Tyler Guidry of Los Angeles, elected during the same meeting was the second woman AME bishop. Bishops Davis and Guidry appear to have shattered the glen ceiling that was cracked four years ego with the election of Vashti McKenzie as the first woman bishop. In her new post, Rev. Davis will serve as the presiding prelate over the 18th Episcopal District, situated in Southern Africa and comprising Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Mozambique. Rev. Davis is married to Claytie Davis Jr., a retired manager of Southwestern Bell.

Bishop CAROLYN E. TYLER GUIDRY

Four years ago, the Rev. Carolyn Tyler Guidry celebrated as the Rev. Vashti McKenzie was elected the first female bishop in the history of the AME church. This past July, it was her turn. A Los Angeles resident, Rev. Tyler Guidry became the second woman elected to serve as a bishop in the denomination's history. Her task is to oversee 94 churches with about 10,000 members in a Caribbean and European region that includes Jamaica, Haiti and England. Tyler Guidry has had a long and successful ministry within the AME church. In 1994, she became the first female presiding elder in the Fifth Episcopal District. She and her husband, Don Guidry, will live in Jamaica to preside over a district where several countries face poverty and some churches face low membership and poor finances. "I'm not sure yet how God is going to use me over these next eight years [of her term]," Rev. Tyler Guidry told an interviewer. "But I'm excited about it, and I'm available."

Simmie KNOX

WHENEVER THERE'S A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH--especially one of historic proportions--there's the usual curiosity about the person who's been thrust into the spotlight. Such is the case of Simmie Knox, who, with one portrait, has inspired thousands of artists and created new hope for what can be accomplished with oil and canvas. The 68-year-old Knox, who does his work in a garage studio at his Silver Spring, Md., home, etched his place in history when he became the first Black artist to paint an official presidential portrait after being commissioned to paint former President Bill Clinton. Clinton's response? "I like it! I like it! I like it!" After the unveiling at a White House ceremony, thousands of the uninformed were (and some still are) trying to figure out who this man is who came out of "nowhere" to paint the portrait of a former president. But Knox's "nowhere" is a 25-year career that includes portraits of Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby, Hank Aaron and Alex Haley. Additionally, he became the first African-American commissioned to paint an official portrait of a Supreme Court Justice when, in 1989, he did the portrait of Justice Thurgood Marshall. (He later painted Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.)

Scoville JENKINS

At 17, Atlanta's Scoville Jenkins became the first African-American to win the U.S. Tennis Association's Boys 18s singles championship, cementing his stature as what one commentator called the "next U.S. tennis great." His prize? A wild card entry into the U.S. Open against defending champion Andy Roddick--the No. 2-ranked player in the world and an audience on one of the game's grandest stages. Nobody expected him to win, and he didn't. But he got a taste of the big time and will almost certainly be back. With a proven track record in juniors at Grand Slams throughout the year, and big-time national exposure, the comparisons have already begun for Jenkins, a home-schooled senior coached by Torrey Hawkins. And while Sco', as he's called, turned professional in May and has shown and fulfilled lots of promise, the big question along with those comparisons is can he overcome the jinx that has kept other Black male tennis players, such as MaliVai Washington and James Blake, from repeating or even matching the success of the late Arthur Ashe? Can he win a major? Time will tell. As for his historic achievement? "I'll always be the first," Jenkins told an interviewer. "If there are other African-American winners, I'll still be the first."

LOVIE Smith

IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, one of the most prestigious positions is coach of the Chicago Bears, and--with his own style and professionalism--Lovie Smith, the first Black coach of the Bears, has confidently stepped into an arena where he is distinguishing himself from the likes of legendary coaches George (Papa Bear) Halas and Mike Ditka. Not intimidated by history--personal or professional--Smith rolled into Chicago and ushered in a new era, one designed "to make Bears football Bears football again." The more comfortable Smith becomes as head coach, it's likely the more uncomfortable his players will become because he is so demanding. The former defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams is a soft-spoken disciplinarian who is a stickler for excellence. "Tough, hard-nosed football," Smith says, "that's what Chicago foothill is all about." That's why he wasted no time to implement a system that he says will work. But Bears fans just want to know if, finally, he is the man who'll make a real difference--if he's the man to guide the team back to the Super Bowl and all the hoopla and respect that come with it. Or will he be another in the merry-go-round of head coaches who get kicked out before their plans can kick in? Smith is in his first quarter of the game, and the clock is ticking.

Sheila C. JOHNSON

FOR 33 YEARS, SHEILA C. JOHNSON was best known as BET founder Robert Johnson's wife. These days, the nation's first Black female billionaire is making a name for herself as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and designer of fine linens. And she is quick to set the record straight: She co-founded Black Entertainment Television and was instrumental in its success before it was sold to Viacom. Since her 2002 divorce, Sheila Johnson confidently has stepped into the limelight, and the inevitable controversy. Based in offices at her 200-acre Salamander Farm in Middleburg, Va., (where she keeps 20 or so show horses), the business dynamo has purchased a $7.5 million, 348-acre tract of land and is building the 50-room luxury Salamander Inn & Spa, due to open in 2005. Her grand project is the subject of much controversy in the quaint, mostly-White, one-traffic-light Middleburg. Some are lobbying the local zoning board (to no avail) to withdraw Johnson's building permit. She and her teen daughter and son have experienced racist incidents, so Johnson is often accompanied by a bodyguard. Yet the Chicago-area native, trained violinist and former music teacher will not be deterred. Last spring she opened the gourmet Market Salamander in downtown Middleburg; franchises may open in major cities.

Denise MAJETTE

IN 2002, DENISE MAJETTE made national headlines when she defeated Congressman Cynthia McKinney in a hotly contested race in Atlanta. In 2004, she made even bigger headlines when she announced that she was going to run for the U.S. Senate. To the surprise of some onlookers, but not to her surprise, she won the Democratic nomination, edging out a millionaire opponent without running a single television ad. The second African-American woman to win the senatorial nomination of a major political party, and the first African-American woman to win u major senatorial nomination in the South, Majette, a lawyer, wife and mother of two sons, is involved in another uphill battle in a contest against the Republican nominee in a state that has recently voted Republican on the state level. But Majette has a proven record of overcoming odds, and whatever the outcome, she has established herself us a national name.

Kerry WASHINGTON

SHE wasn't billed as the star, but Kerry Washington mesmerized audiences in the 2001 hit, Save The Last Dance, and hasn't looked back. In 2004, the 26-year-old New Yorker raised eyebrows as a sexy, intense lesbian in the Spike Lee film She Hate Me and warmed audiences as the loyal, understanding wife of Ray Charles in Ray. Her movie roles also included performances in Against The Ropes, Bad Company and The Human Stain. She has played teenagers as well as middle-aged women, both with warmth. Washington graduated from George Washington University with a theater degree in 1998. Only a few years into her acting career, the strikingly beautiful actress, who lives in New York, has been called the most promising new star of 2004.

Walter MOSLEY

Like Easy Rawlins, the existential everyman of his popular detective series, author Walter Mosley is a complex man. Like Rawlins, whom he calls the "quintessential male Black hero in the middle of the 20th century." he often juggles the "shades of grey" in life to an unpredictable ending. Born in Watts, Los Angeles and currently living in New York City, he has turned out 19 books in his publishing career and is often called America's best-known Black male author. Mosley is a writer in the old-school tradition who believes in writing every single day in a Spartan flat with few comforts. And he writes in the buff, au naturel, nude. Doesn't everyone? This has been a big year for the outspoken writer, starting off with e literary novel, The Man in My Basement, and ending with the eighth installment in the Easy Rawlins series, Little Scarlet, tented by critics as one of the best Rawlins novels. He plans to continue the Rawlins series, possibly until his here is 80 and beyond. His future projects include another Easy Rawlins book, called Cinnamon Kiss, a book about "a deconstructionist historian" and his first young adult novel. Fans can only look forward to more unexpected, unpredictable and wonderfully mysterious writing from Walter Mosley.

Michael JACKSON

Just like the Energizer Bunny, the saga of Michael Jackson just keeps going and going and ... During the past year, Jackson's life was consumed by legal proceedings after he pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment that includes charges of child molestation, child abduction and giving a minor an intoxicating agent. The case has raised questions about Michael's possible naivete and the prosecution's zeal to get a conviction. The trial, after a lengthy series of pre-trial maneuvers, is finally scheduled to begin in January. And fans and foes are waiting for legal fireworks--new and old revelations from the prosecution and the defense. Leading up to the trial, Michael has remained in the spotlight, generating fodder for media and fans alike. We've seen him dancing on top of an SUV outside the courtroom to the delight of screaming fans; there was the show of family unity when an all-white-clad Jackson family joined an all-white-attired Michael for a court appearance; and then there was the surprise appearance at the First AME Church in Los Angeles, where he met with about 35 youngsters who were attending Sunday school. Throughout his ordeal, Michael has had onlookers wondering and anticipating what he will do next. But in the end, legal proceedings notwithstanding, there are two bigger questions: Is Michael a 45-year-old man trapped inside a child's body? And will he be able, after the smoke clears, to defend himself as a human being, and then resurrect a career that earned him the title "the King of Pop?"

Barry BONDS

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS SLUGGER BARRY BONDS entered the rarefied air of baseball's most prestigious and thought-to-be "safest" record, becoming the third player in Major League Baseball history to hit 700 home runs and inching toward the all-time record of 755 set by Hank Aaron. In a year in which the 40-year-old slugger once again survived rumors and whispers, controversy and cowardice (Major League pitchers have intentionally walked him more than any other batter in the league), Bonds continued to go about his business, turning the art of hitting home runs into a science. No one knows for sure how long Bonds will play. But if he stays in the game, more records are sure to fall. Can he? Will he break the biggest record of all? Aaron thinks he can. "I think it's just a matter of time ...," Aaron told an interviewer. "I think he will. I'll be happy. Everyone will be after him then. They won't be involving me. Records are made to be broken."

SERENA Williams

She didn't win Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, but she was still the biggest story in women's tennis and perhaps in all tennis. Whether she was walking the runway in one of her micro-mini designs or twitting the tennis world by warming up in boots or flirting with one of the anonymous young men in her circle, Serene Williams was again the belle of the tennis ball, and her victories on the runway and her defeats on the courts, including the controversial line calls in the Jennifer Capriati match, raised more questions than ever. Are the distractions disturbing her game? Is there a cabal to keep Serena and her sister from dominating play? More pointed, and more to the point, is the question some professionals ask: Is her heart still in it, or is she more fascinated by the idea of becoming a fashion designer and movie star? There are other questions, but none of them seem to matter, for whatever people think and say, Serena Williams seems to be having the time of her life.

Colin POWELL

IS HE IN OR IS HE OUT? IS HE LEAVING OR IS HE STAYING? These questions, which have dogged Secretary of State Colin Powell since the beginning of the Bush presidency, built to a crescendo in 2004, powered by increasing conflict over Iraq and the increasingly bitter 2004 political campaign. At one point, after the publication of the Bob Woodward book, Plan of Attack, the Powell question was the dominating question in a national debate. Powell, a consummate diplomat who generally has a higher approval rating than anyone in the administration, has sidestepped the questions of what he will do if he is called on to make a decision if Bush wins the election and if Bush asks him to serve in a second administration. Whatever he decides, and whatever history decides, the future of Powell, who is generally called the moderating balance force of the Bush administration, is a defining metaphor of a critical and defining time.

J. L. King

J. L. King was the "Boogieman" or, to be more precise, the town-crier of the Boogieman of 2004. For it was King, the author of the best-selling book On the Down Low, who ratcheted up fears about Brothers on the Down Low--Brothers who sleep with both men and women and who give women or who expose women to the HIV/AIDS virus. The King book, based, in part, on his own life, said, on one level anyway, that HIV-infected Boogiemen were going to catch and infect Sisters and increase the HIV crisis. Experts said the book served a useful purpose in warning men and women about the danger of casual and unprotected sex, but that the Down-Low phenomenon is only one factor in the increase in HIV infections among Black women. Other factors include injection drug abuse, existing sexually transmitted diseases, and unprotected sex. Despite these facts, King was still the talk of the hour in late fall, and his book was still No. 1 on some Black-oriented best-seller lists.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group