62 Notable alumni of
Morgan State University
Updated:
Morgan State University is 1017th in the world, 371st in North America, and 349th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 62 notable alumni from Morgan State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Mo'Nique
- Occupations
- television produceractorfilm actortelevision actorvoice actor
- Biography
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Monique Angela Hicks, known mononymously as Mo'Nique, is an American comedian and actress. She debuted as a member of The Queens of Comedy and earned recognition as a stand-up comedian. In 2002, she received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. She transitioned to mainstream roles starring in the UPN series The Parkers (1999–2004) and the films Phat Girlz (2006) and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008).
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Omos
- Occupations
- basketball playerprofessional wrestler
- Biography
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Tolulope "Jordan" Omogbehin is a Nigerian professional wrestler and former college basketball player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Omos. He is also known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah.
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Deniece Williams
- Occupations
- record producersinger-songwriterrecording artistsinger
- Biography
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June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC.
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Lester Speight
- Occupations
- film produceractortelevision actorAmerican football playerprofessional wrestler
- Biography
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Lester Speight, also known as Rasta, is a former American football player who has had subsequent careers as a professional wrestler and then actor. He achieved significant recognition for his portrayal of Terry Tate: Office Linebacker in a series of Reebok commercials that debuted during Super Bowl XXXVII, and received further recognition for his portrayal of Augustus Cole in the Gears of War series of video games.
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Kweisi Mfume
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- In 1976 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- program directorpoliticianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Kweisi Mfume is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for Maryland's 7th congressional district, first serving from 1987 to 1996 and again since 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Mfume first left his seat to become the president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a position he held from 1996 to 2004. In 2006, he ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes, losing the Democratic primary to the eventual winner, Ben Cardin. Mfume returned to his former House seat in 2020 after it was left vacant by the death of Elijah Cummings.
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LaChanze
- Occupations
- stage actoractorsingertelevision actorfilm actor
- Biography
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LaChanze Sapp-Gooding, known professionally as LaChanze, is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 for her role as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple. LaChanze has subsequently received 3 more Tony Awards for co-producing Kimberly Akimbo, Topdog/Underdog, and The Outsiders.
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April Ryan
- Occupations
- writerpolitical reporter
- Biography
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April Danielle Ryan is an American reporter, author, and White House Correspondent for The Grio. In 2023 Ryan joined MSNBC as a political contributor.
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Kevin Frazier
- Occupations
- screenwritersports commentatorbasketball player
- Biography
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Kevin Timothy Frazier is an American television host, widely known as co-host of Entertainment Tonight and the founder and owner of the urban entertainment website HipHollywood.com.
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Sijara Eubanks
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
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Sijara Jihan Eubanks is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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Kevin Liles
- Occupations
- composerrecord producer
- Biography
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Kevin Liles is an American record executive who is the co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment. In 2020, Kevin was recognized by Billboard Magazine as R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year for both his efforts in activism and the continued success of Megan Thee Stallion.
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Wilson Goode
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Woodrow Wilson Goode Sr. is an American politician and former Mayor of Philadelphia and the first African American to hold that office. He served from 1984 to 1992, a period which included the controversial MOVE police action and house bombing in 1985. Goode was also a community activist, chair of the state Public Utility Commission, and managing director for the City of Philadelphia.
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Leroy Kelly
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Leroy Kelly is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1973. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
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Yogananda Pittman
- Years
- 20th Century
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- In 1999 graduated with bachelor's degree in psychology
- Occupations
- police officer
- Biography
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Yogananda D. Pittman is an American police officer who is the University of California, Berkeley chief of police. She was formerly the assistant chief and acting chief of the United States Capitol Police, serving in those posts during and after the 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol.
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Tanya Trotter
- Occupations
- modelactorsinger
- Biography
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Tanya Trotter is an American actress, musician and author. She began her career as a teen actress, appearing in the 1993 film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. She went on to release her debut album Natural Thing (1994), which featured the songs "Through the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine". Blount is currently one half of the Grammy-nominated duo The War and Treaty.
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William E. Ward
- Years
- 1949-.. (age 76)
- Occupations
- army officer
- Biography
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William E. "Kip" Ward is a retired United States Army three-star general who served as the inaugural Commander of United States Africa Command from 1 October 2007 to 8 March 2011. During his long career in public service, he has taught international affairs and relations at West Point, US Military Academy; served as Commander of Stabilization Force, Operation Joint Forge, Sarajevo, Bosnia; was appointed the Secretary of State's Security Coordinator to the Israel - Palestinian Authority; Deputy Commander, Headquarters US European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; and many other progressively responsible assignments. He later retired and served as President and chief operating officer of the logistics, IT, and engineering business, Vectrus (fka SENTEL).
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Visanthe Shiancoe
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Visanthe O. Shiancoe is a Liberian-American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Morgan State Bears, he was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played for the Giants for four seasons from 2003 to 2006 and the Minnesota Vikings for five seasons from 2007 to 2011. He played for the New England Patriots in 2012 and the Tennessee Titans in 2013.
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Jim Thorpe
- Occupations
- golfer
- Biography
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Jimmy Lee Thorpe is an American retired professional golfer, who last played on the Champions Tour.
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Anne Wiggins Brown
- Occupations
- opera singer
- Biography
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Anne Brown was an American lyric soprano for whom George Gershwin rewrote the part of "Bess" into a leading role in the original production of his opera Porgy and Bess in 1935.
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Rosey Brown
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Roosevelt "Rosey" Brown Jr. was an American professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1953 to 1965. He played college football for the Morgan State Bears and was selected by the Giants in the 27th round of the 1953 NFL draft.
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Earl G. Graves Sr
- Occupations
- entrepreneurbusinessperson
- Biography
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Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. was an American entrepreneur, publisher, businessman, philanthropist, and advocate of African-American businesses. A graduate of Morgan State University, he was the founder of Black Enterprise magazine and chairman of the media company Earl G. Graves, Ltd. He was the director for Aetna and Executive Board member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was the father of Earl G. Graves Jr.
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Vashti Murphy McKenzie
- Occupations
- journalistmethodist bishopreligious writer
- Biography
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Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. She is also a retired bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and author of six books. In 2000, McKenzie became the first woman to be elected as bishop in the denomination's history. She later served as President of the Council of Bishops, becoming the first woman to serve as Titular head of the AME Church.
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R. Scott Dingle
- Years
- 1965-.. (age 60)
- Biography
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Raymond Scott Dingle is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the 45th Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commanding General, United States Army Medical Command from 2019 to 2024. Dingle graduated from Morgan State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and has master's degrees in Administration from Central Michigan University, Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and in National Security Strategy from the National War College. At the time of his selection, Dingle was serving as Deputy Surgeon General and Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Medical Command in Falls Church, Virginia.
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Parren Mitchell
- Occupations
- politicianmilitary officer
- Biography
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Parren James Mitchell was an American politician who served as a U.S. Congressman affiliated with the Democratic Party representing the 7th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1971, to January 3, 1987. He was the first African American elected to Congress from Maryland.
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William C. Rhoden
- Occupations
- journalistsports journalist
- Biography
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William C. Rhoden is an American sports journalist and author who formerly worked as a columnist for The New York Times from 1983 until 2016, when he joined ESPN's The Undefeated as a writer-at-large, where he is currently employed. Rhoden is also a visiting senior practitioner at Arizona State University as well as the director of the Rhoden Fellows program.
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Curt Anderson
- Occupations
- politicianradio producerlawyer
- Biography
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Curtis Stovall Anderson is an American politician, lawyer and former broadcast journalist. He was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, was the chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, and past chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. After serving 12 years, he was elected again in 2002, and served until his retirement in 2023. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1992 (Clinton) and 2008 (Obama).
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Len Ford
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- Studied in 1944-1945
- Occupations
- basketball playerAmerican football player
- Biography
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Leonard Guy Ford Jr. was an American professional football player who was an offensive and defensive end from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional football for the Los Angeles Dons, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 and the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1996.
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Donald Sanford
- Occupations
- sprinter
- Biography
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Donald Eugene Blair-Sanford is an American-Israeli Olympic sprinter, who specialises in the 400 metre dash.
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Larry R. Ellis
- Years
- 1946-.. (age 79)
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science in physical education
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Larry Rudell Ellis is a former United States Army officer who served as the Commander of United States Army Forces Command from 19 November 2001, until 2004, following his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans of the Department of the Army.
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Dia Simms
- Born in
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United States
- Biography
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D'Angela "Dia" Simms is an American business executive. In 2020, Simms was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal. She was previously the president of Combs Enterprises, a position she had held since May 15, 2017. Simms was appointed to this position by Combs Enterprises founder and CEO, Sean Combs, and was the first person to assume the role of president at the company.
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C. Anthony Muse
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Charles Anthony Muse is an American politician and minister who has served in the Maryland Senate representing District 26 since 2023, and previously from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the district in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 1999. Muse unsuccessfully challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Ben Cardin in 2012, and ran for Prince George's County Executive in 2002 and 2018.
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Kwame R. Brown
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kwame R. Brown is an American politician in Washington, D.C., who was an at-large member of the council from 2005 to 2011 and chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia from 2011 until his resignation in June 2012.
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Pete Rawlings
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Howard Peters "Pete" Rawlings was an American politician and the first African American to become chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates. Rawlings served the 40th legislative district, located in the central, northwest section of Baltimore, from 1979 until 2003. His daughter, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, is the former Mayor of Baltimore.
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Carolyn Colvin
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Carolyn W. Colvin is an American public administrator who is serving as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration since being appointed on February 14, 2013 to succeed Michael J. Astrue. On June 20, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated her to serve as the commissioner. On September 18, 2014, the United States Senate Committee on Finance approved her nomination by a 22–2 vote. However, her nomination was never brought up for a vote before the full Senate.
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Josh Culbreath
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Joshua Culbreath was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 meter hurdles—the national outdoor champion from 1953 to 1955; three-time winner of the event in the Penn Relays in the same years, and Olympic bronze medal winner in 1956, while he was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps; and world record holder in 1957. Culbreath was inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Robert M. Bell
- Occupations
- lawyerjudge
- Biography
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Robert Mack Bell is an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland. From 1996 to 2013, he served as Chief Judge on the Maryland Court of Appeals, now known as the Supreme Court of Maryland, the state's highest appellate court. He was the first African American to hold the position.
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H. Steven Blum
- Biography
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H. Steven Blum is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He served as the 25th chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2003 to 2008. His last assignment before retiring was deputy commander, United States Northern Command, where he concurrently served as vice commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. He retired from the Army National Guard on May 21, 2010.
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Sharon Green Middleton
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Sharon Green Middleton is an American politician who has been a member of the Baltimore City Council since 2007 and its vice president since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, she briefly served as acting president of the Baltimore City Council following Bernard C. Young's ascension to mayor following the resignation of Catherine Pugh.
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Gloria C. Gilmer
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- Graduated with licentiate
- Occupations
- academicmathematician
- Biography
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Gloria C. Gilmer was an American mathematician and educator, notable for being the first African American woman to publish a non-PhD thesis.
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Nathaniel T. Oaks
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Nathaniel T. Oaks is an American politician from Baltimore City, Maryland. He was a longtime member of the Maryland General Assembly, serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1995 to February 2017, when he resigned to take a seat in the Maryland State Senate. Oaks remained in the state Senate until March 29, 2018, when he resigned from office on the same day he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.
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Matthew J. Maddox
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- In 1999 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- lawyerjudge
- Biography
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Matthew James Maddox is an American lawyer from Maryland who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland since 2023. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2022 to 2023.
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Paul Brown
- Occupations
- bassist
- Biography
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Paul Brown "PB", was an American jazz bassist. He was the founder of the Monday Night Jazz Series in Hartford, Connecticut, which was recognized by the Library of Congress as the oldest and longest-running free festival for jazz in the United States and featured jazz greats such as Cannonball Adderley, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Ron Carter, Thelonious Monk, Tito Puente, Woody Shaw, Sun Ra, Bobby Hutcherson, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton Horace Silver, Hugh Masekela, and the "MJQ" Modern Jazz Quartet just to name a few. Brown also founded The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz in 1992 to commemorate 25 years of the Monday night jazz series which in 2016, the Hartford Jazz Society renamed "Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz". He was co-founder of Hartford's Artists Collective, Inc.
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David R. Craig
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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David R. Craig is an American Republican Party politician from the State of Maryland who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maryland in 2014. He was appointed, and sworn in as Harford County Executive on July 7, 2005. Craig was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. Craig previously served in the Maryland State Senate from 1995 to 1999, representing Harford County, and from 1990 to 1994 in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was also elected mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989, and 2001 to 2005. Craig was a teacher and assistant principal in the Harford County Public School System for 34 years.
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Nathaniel J. McFadden
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Nathaniel J. McFadden is an American politician who represented district 45 in the Maryland State Senate from January 11, 1995 to January 9, 2019, and who was the Senate's president pro tem from January 10, 2007 to January 9, 2019.
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Harry A. Cole
- Occupations
- judgepoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Harry A. Cole was an American lawyer, jurist and politician. He was a member of the Maryland State Senate from Baltimore, Maryland. He was the first African-American ever elected to the Maryland Senate and the first African-American to serve on the Maryland Court of Appeals.
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Robert Reed
- Occupations
- painterart educatorartistprintmaker
- Biography
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Robert James Reed Jr. was an American artist and professor of painting and printmaking at Yale School of Art for 45 years. In 1987, Reed was appointed to Yale School of Art's tenured permanent faculty making him, at the time of his death, the School's first and only African-American to be so appointed in the School's then 145 year history. In his artwork, Reed is known for his geometric abstraction and personalized symbols to create a language of abstraction. He employs abstract symbols, color and deeply textured brushwork to create his iconic imagery. As Reed would explain, fragments, paths, cultural and universal signs and symbols, remembered childhood images and places are organized into his imagery. His abstractions are referential and have their basis in "real" form that exists solidly in the real world in real space. His work includes paintings, drawings, monotypes, prints and collages.
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Decatur "Bucky" Trotter
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Decatur "Bucky" Trotter was an American politician who was a member of the Maryland State Senate and chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.
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Bilal Salaam
- Born in
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United States
- Occupations
- singer-songwritersingerrecord producer
- Biography
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Bilal Salaam is an American professor, art historiographer, composer and academic. He is currently a lecturer at Istanbul Ticaret University.
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Tiwian Kendley
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Tiwian Kendley is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Freseros de Irapuato of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). He played college basketball for Morgan State.
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Louise Archer
- Occupations
- teacher
- Biography
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Louise A. Reeves Archer was an American teacher and activist who fought to educate African Americans during the 1930s and 1940s. During this time, racial barriers limited a black student's access to education. They had limited resources compared to white children and were deprived education beyond seventh grade — when twelve grades was already common practice.
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Antonio Fresco
- Enrolled in Morgan State University
- Studied in 2001-2005
- Occupations
- DJ producerrecording artistradio personalitydisc jockeytelevision personality
- Biography
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Miguel Antonio Matos, known professionally as Antonio Fresco, is an American DJ, record producer and radio personality. He is an Afro-Latino of Dominican & Puerto Rican descent.
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Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa is a Nigerian politician who is the current Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2020. He was previously a senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District.
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Anna E. Cooper
- Occupations
- educator
- Biography
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Anna E. Cooper was a Liberian educator, she was the first female dean of the University of Liberia.
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Melvin L. Stukes
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Melvin L. Stukes was an American politician who represented the 44th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates. Stukes was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. Prior to winning a seat in the Maryland General Assembly, Stukes served 13 years in the Baltimore City Council.
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Ron Pinkney
- Occupations
- sports commentator
- Biography
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Robert Theron "Ron" Pinkney was an American pioneer broadcaster who was the first African-American play-by-play announcer on a major television network (ABC). The game was played at the Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi between Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State.
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Vivian Caver
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Vivian Leona Mead Caver was an American politician in the state of Washington. Appointed to a 37th District vacancy, Caver was the third African-American woman to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, serving the 37th district from 1994 to 1995. An alumnus of Morgan State College and the University of Washington, she was a human rights activist.
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Margaret Murphy
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Margaret H. "Peggy" Murphy was an American politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates and was the first female African-American chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation. Murphy was one of three delegates serving the 41st legislative district, which lies in the central, northwest section of Baltimore City.
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Ida R. Cummings
- Occupations
- teacher
- Biography
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Ida R. Cummings was an American teacher and clubwoman, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She was an officer of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs in the 1910s.
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Nellie A. Buchanan
- Years
- 1900-1993 (aged 93)
- Biography
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Nellie A. Buchanan was an American educator and theatre professional. She was the fourth international president of the historically black sorority Zeta Phi Beta, serving from 1923 to 1925.
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Kenneth P. Kerr
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kenneth P. Kerr is an American politician. He is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates. He represents District 3B, which covers parts of Frederick County. He was previously a member of the Frederick County Board of Education from 2016 to 2018.
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Harold T. Pinkett
- Occupations
- historianarchivist
- Biography
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Harold Thomas Pinkett was an African-American archivist and historian. In 1942, he became the first African-American archivist employed at the National Archives of the United States. He was also the first African-American to become a fellow of the Society of American Archivists and to be editor of the journal The American Archivist. He was an expert in agricultural archives, and served as president of the Agricultural History Society.
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Ralph M. Hughes
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ralph M. Hughes is an American politician who represented district 40 in the Maryland State Senate from 1991 to 2007 and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the same district from 1983 to 1991.
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William Ashbie Hawkins
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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William Ashbie Hawkins was a lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, who litigated prominent civil rights cases. One of Baltimore's first African American lawyers,