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Chuck D As leader and co-founder of legendary rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D redefined rap music and hip hop culture with the release of PE's explosive debut album, Yo Bum Rush The Show, in 1987. His messages addressed weighty issues about race, rage and inequality with a jolting combination of intelligence and eloquence never seen before. Chuck D and Public Enemy were celebrated in the May 2004 issue of Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "fifty most important performers in rock & roll history." Chuck D is also a national spokesperson for Rock the Vote, the National Urban League, and the National Alliance for African American Athletes. He has appeared in numerous public service announcements for national peace and the Partnership for a Drug Free America. As he continues to work on commentary, music, and writing on rap, race, and reality, it is clear that there are few who have transcended music and have made an impact as loud of Chuck D.
Lisa D'Amato Recording artist, fashion model and television personality from Los Angeles, California. She got her start in the public arena as a participant on the 5th cycle of the then UPN reality TV series America's Next Top Model and Celebrity Rehab on VH1.
Mike D'Orso Author of the best selling book, Like Judgment Day: The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood. The motion picture "Rosewood" based on Mike D'Orso's book was released in 1997 in conjunction with the paperbook edition of the book. The New York Public Library selected Rosewood as one of its "best 25 books of the year".
Tim Daggett Olympic gold medalist who achieved the pinnacle of athletic success by clinching the Gold Medal for the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team. Topic: “How to Win at Life.”
Pey Dalid Pey Dalid performs a unique blend of musical styles, incorporating rock, reggae and many other popular genres with traditional Jewish sound and content. Their well-known and catchy melodies are sung both in Hebrew and English. The band's live shows are high-energy and intense, bringing audiences to their feet singing and dancing. Formed by three brothers, Mordechai (rhythm guitar/vocals), Shlomo (lead guitar/vocals), and Pesach Walker (drums/percussion/vocals), Pey Dalid has influenced and inspired thousands of people in its 6 years in the Jewish music field. They have traveled the world, performing throughout America, Canada and England. In Israel they have performed extensively, playing at the Klezmer Music Festival in Tsfat, Am Yisroel Chai Festival in Jerusalem and the World Jazz Festival in Eilat. Pey Dalid has appeared on television in America, Israel and Europe including the Chabad Telethon and MTV Europe. Their music has been played on the radio and Internet worldwide and their interviews have been heard across the globe. Performing at many clubs, theatres, as well as outdoor shows and festivals, Pey Dalid has played for crowds ranging from 50 to 2500, appealing to audiences of all ages and religious backgrounds. Pey Dalid has performed at hundreds of weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and has played for numerous Jewish organizations including, Hillel, NCSY, UJA, Aish HaTorah and Chabad. Pey Dalid has shared the stage with diverse musicians such as Matisyahu, Reva L'sheva, Moshav Band, SoulFarm, Blue Fringe, Chaim Dovid, Simply Tsfat, Shlomo Katz and Ruby Harris. Performing original songs, Pey Dalids influences include: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach ztl, Safam and many other personalities in music including Bob Marley, Dave Mathews Band and everything in between. To Purchase "Garden of Eden" visit, http//www.mostlymusic.com/brothers-dalid-garden-eden-p-2717.html
John Daly Started playing at the age of 4. Gave up baseball and focused on golf and football. Senior year, gave up football and devoted everything to golf. Enjoys writing lyrics and playing guitar...Recorded a largely autobiographical album entitled "My Life," featuring guest performances by Darius Rucker, Willie Nelson, Johnny Lee and Daron Norwood...Instead of flying to tournament sites, purchased large RV and drives to many events...Involved in many charitable causes, most notably Make-a-Wish Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America...Donated $25,000 to Nationwide Tour's State Farm Open in 2002, increasing the purse from $425,000 to $450,000.
Dance Theatre of Harlem Internationally acclaimed professional ballet company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem was established in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet,as his personal committment to the people of Harlem following the assasination of Dr.Martin Luther King,Jr.
Faith Daniels NBC-TV news correspondent.
Dee Jay Daniels Dee Jay Daniels plays Michael Hughley on the popular UPN sitcom, "The Hughley's." Dee Jay has also appeared on "Built To Last," "In The House," "Grace Under Fire" and "Family Matters."
Chad Daniels Chad Daniels started doing open mic at Minneapolis ACME Comedy Company in 1998. After spending some time in Grand Forks, North Dakota emceeing the Westward Ho, living in a 6x8 hotel room, 60 miles from the Canadian border, he moved on to Comedy Centrals Laugh Riots Competition and Live at Gotham along with Comedy Central Presents. He has relased two comedy albums, Two Minutes For Stale Hacking and Busy Being Awesome.
Dr. Michael Dansinger Michael Dansinger, MD, is an internationally recognized authority on dietary and lifestyle counseling for weight loss and prevention of obesity-related medical problems. He is the weight loss and nutrition advisor for NBC's hit prime time series "The Biggest Loser", and a contributor to the best selling book series based on the show. He has been interviewed about his weight loss experience on the Today show, CNN, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, BBC Radio, Italian Public Television, Oprah magazine, Time magazine, Consumer Reports, USA Today, NY Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and appears in Who's Who in Medicine and Science. Dr. Dansinger holds multiple academic positions. He is the Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Editor for WebMD's academic journal (MedGenMed), is an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, is a scientist with the USDA Nutrition Research Center, and is a member of the Division of Endocrinology at Tufts-New England Medical Center. His research on dietary counseling in well known. He published the highly publicized research study "Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Cardiac Risk Reduction" in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in January 2005, which was one of the most highly read and quoted scientific articles of the year. His published meta-analysis "The Effect of Dietary Counseling for Weight Loss" (July, 2007) also received media attention and scientific praise as the first study to clarify the amount and duration of weight loss resulting from diet-based lifestyle programs. He is currently conducting a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of the USDA food pyramid and a low-starch version of the food pyramid, for weight loss and heart disease reduction. Sought after as a highly desirable keynote speaker, his humor, discussion of the Biggest Loser show, insights on the national obesity crisis, and prescription for accelerated weight loss, have earned high praise from audiences of over 1000. Dr. Dansinger directs a lifestyle coaching practice for weight loss and diabetes reversal and prevention, limited to a select group of 40 adults in Boston. He is available for public speaking opportunities or for his one-on-one telephone coaching program.
Ted Danson There are a few celebrities who take up an environmental cause and actually move beyond a superficial commitment. Ted Danson is one of those celebrities. He is the co-founding member of the American Oceans Campaign (AOC), an organization established to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore development, toxic wastes, sewage pollution and other ocean abuses. Throwing his whole self into the issues, while lobbying on Capitol Hill, he has been known to chase senators into elevators. Danson starred in the recent CBS series Becker, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination. He is also well known for his role in the long-running series Cheers, for which he received two Emmy Awards (1990 and 1993) as Best Actor in a Comedy Series and nine Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Sam Malone. The role also won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989 and 1990. Danson's other television credits include the CBS series Ink, Frasier, Veronica's Closet, Ellen and The Larry David Show. He also won a Golden Globe for his role in the television movie Something About Amelia. Dansons acclaim in the entertainment world is echoed in his very separate life as an environmentalist. His oceans work has earned him credibility, respect, and a high profile in both environmental and political circles.
Darien Dash Founder, Chairman and CEO of DME Interactive Holding, Inc. In June 1999, DME Interactive Holding became the first publicly traded African-American owned internet company in history. DME is a full service interactive agency that specializes in turn-key, e-commerce solutions, on-line advertising and software creation. Dash's aim is to create an urban internet portal that gives millions of African Americans and Latino household the tools, computers and software to participate in the internet culture.
Chris Daughtry Chris Daughtry was born in North Carolina. At the age of 16, Daughtry started taking singing seriously. He performed with rock bands at Fluvanna County High School, where he graduated in 1998. as a professional musician and became a popular performer with other rock bands during his time in high school. He graduated in 1998 at Fluvanna County High School in Palmyra, Virginia. In 2005, Daughtry auditioned for the CBS singing contest, Rock Star: INXS. He didn't survive the first cut, never even making it on screen. Bet those producers feel silly now! As for his shorne skull, Chris isn't ashamed. In a segment on the 2006 season of American Idol, Daughtry revealed that he's balding and changed his look accordingly. Just like Andre Agassi.
Dov Davidoff Dov is one of the hottest up and coming comics on the scene today. In addition to performing regularly in clubs and at colleges throughout the country, Dov has appeared on several late night talk shows including The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Last Call with Carson Daly. Dov has also become somewhat of a regular fixture on Comedy Central having performed on Premium Blend and appeared on The Chappelle Show and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.Currently, Dov is shooting the Paramount feature film Invincible in which he stars opposite Mark Wahlberg. Dov has also been featured twice at HBOs U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and has won numerous comedy competitions.
Tommy Davidson An actor, stand-up comedian, musician, and singer, Tommy Davidson's exceptional range has made him a rising force in entertainment. Perhaps best known as one of the original cast members of the hit television show "In Living Color," Davidson has parlayed that success into a flourishing motion picture career. Recently, Tommy starred in Spike Lee's Bamboozled where he received acclaim and praise for his turn as Womack/Sleep 'N Eats, a character which showcased his comedic and dramatic acting abilities. Most recently Tommy starred in Morgan Creek Productions' Juwanna Mann released in June 2002.
Lanny Davis Prominent attorney and special counsel to President Bill Clinton from 1996 to 1998. He is the author of Truth To Tell, a book that draws on lessons he learned as the President's leading spokesperson and defender.
Guy Davis Multi-talented performer, Guy Davis, the son of Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, is an actor, playwright, musician and composer. Many people recognize Guy from his leading role in Harry Belafonte's movie, "Beat Street," or his portrayal of Dr.Josh Hall on the ABC daytime drama, "One Life To Live." Guy Davis presents a one-man show called "Mud Surfing" which is one human being's very personal view of the world as he grows up. He also performs a powerful play on drug addiction called "The Trial."
J. Madison Davis America's leading authority of the television phenomena "The Sopranos", J. Madison Davis is a contributing author for the new book The New York Times on the Sopranos which tells the inside story of the show's success from producer David Chase's early efforts and traces the show's trajectory from cable favorite to a mainstream sensation. The Soprano's is watched by over 10 million Americans and tells the compelling and often violent history of a contemporary mob family. A journalism professor and novelist, J. Madison Davis is the former President of the International Crime Writers Association. Don't FUGEDDABOUDIT!
Angela Davis Angela Davis is known internationally for her ongoing work to combat all forms of oppression in the U.S. and abroad. Over the years she has been active as a student, teacher, writer, scholar, and activist/organizer. Professor Davis's political activism began when she was a youngster in Birmingham, Alabama, and continued through her high school years in New York. But it was not until 1969 that she came to national attention after being removed from her teaching position in the Philosophy Department at UCLA as a result of her social activism and her membership in the Communist Party, USA. In 1970, she was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List on false charges, and was the subject of an intense police search that drove her underground, and that culminated in one of the most famous trials in recent U.S. history. During her 16-month incarceration, a massive international "Free Angela Davis" campaign was organized, leading to her acquittal in 1972. Professor Davis' long-standing commitment to prisoners' rights dates back to her involvement in the campaign to free the Soledad Brothers, which led to her own arrest and imprisonment. Today, she remains an advocate of prison abolition and has developed a powerful critique of racism in the criminal justice system. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Prison Activist Resource Center, and currently is working on a comparative study of women's imprisonment in the U.S., the Netherlands, and Cuba. During the last 25 years, Professor Davis has lectured in all 50 United States, as well as in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the former Soviet Union. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and she is the author of five books, including Angela Davis: An Autobiography (1974); Women, Race & Class (1981); Women, Culture & Politics (1989); Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday (1998); and The Angela Y. Davis Reader (1998). She is also the editor of If They Come In The Morning: Voices of Resistance (1971). Former California Governor Ronald Reagan once vowed that Angela Davis would never again teach in the University of California system. Today, she is a tenured professor in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 1994, she received the distinguished honor of an appointment to the University of California Presidential Chair in African American and Feminist Studies.
Clifton Davis Popular actor, gospel singer and entertainer who is best known for his role as Reverend Rueben Gregory on the hit NBC television series, Amen. Actor, producer, singer and songwriter are just a few of the titles tied to his marques name. As a big-screen actor, Chicago’s native son, Clifton Davis has been featured in such familiar flicks as Any Given Sunday, Kingdom Come and Spike Lee’s Crooklyn. On the small-screen, who can forget his most memorable character on the highly successful sitcom Amen, playing the role of the handsome, God-fearing minister, Reuben Gregory Probably, his most surprising achievement is as composer for the multi-platinum selling single and Grammy-nominated song he penned for the Jackson Five back in the day – Never Can Say Good-Bye. But that was then. Clifton Davis would remind you that he is an ordained minister with undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology. And even more importantly, Clifton has been an evangelist for the last thirty years of his life, preaching, teaching and singing about the goodness of the Lord, all over the world. Balancing saintly and secular duties as a witness for the Lord is no easy task. Rebuke from both Hollywood and the holy world is even at the door. But Clifton Davis seems to be an exception to the norms, receiving favor wherever he goes.
Joyce Davis Journalist and senior editor of Upscale Magazine, Joyce Davis writes about lifestyle oriented topics that are of interest to the African-American community including such hot button social issues as gentrification, media coverage of minorities, and male-female relationships.
DeRay Davis A born hustler from Chicagos inner-city, DeRay has made a name for himself in comedy with his standup and film and television appearances. Winner of the 2000 Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition and a standout on the Cedric the Entertainer Tour and at the 2001 Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, DeRay spends most of his time building on his extensive resume of comedy clubs and colleges.
Darryl Davis He is not white. He's not even light-skinned. Make no mistake about it; he is black. Yet, Klan-Destine Relationships author Daryl Davis has come in closer contact with members of the Ku Klux Klan than most white non-members and certainly most blacks -- short of being on the wrong end of a rope. What's more? He continues to do so, making him one of the most unique lecturers on the college speaking circuit today. Over the last ten years, Daryl Davis walked on the edge with one foot dangling over the precipice. His stories of setting up surprise meetings with Klan leaders unaware of his skin color and attending KKK rallies, has the suspense of Hitchcock, keeping audiences riveted to their seats in disbelief. On a quest to do nothing more than explore racism and gather information for his book, Klan-Destine Relationships, Daryl Davis eventually became the recipient of robes and hoods by Klan members who came to him to rescind their beliefs. Davis had inadvertently stumbled upon a successful method of forming friendships between sworn enemies. His methods have made him the center of controversy. In some white circles he has been deemed "politically incorrect" and in some black circles he has been called "Uncle Tom." Daryl Davis often makes supporters out of his detractors by proving his methods work and issuing this challenge: "I have Klan robes and hoods hanging in my closet, given to me voluntarily by members who have quit the Klan since coming to know me. That's what I've done to improve race relations. How many robes and hoods have you received as a result of your methods?"
Dominique Dawes Dominique Dawes is a champion in life. Bursting into the international spotlight in 1992 as part of the bronze medal winning womens Olympic gymnastic team, she was the first African American gymnast to ever qualify and compete in an Olympic games. A three-time Olympian, Awesome Dawesome catapulted into stardom, winning more national championship medals than any other athlete, and is now the most decorated gymnast on the US womens Olympic team. Since her Olympic glory, Dawes hasnt rested on her laurels. Her dedication, determination, and desire have served her well as a positive role model to young people across the nation. A popular speaker, she shares her insights about leading a healthy and balanced life, achieving confidence and self-esteem through both athleticism and citizenship. As spokesperson for The Girl Scout/Unilever Self-Esteem Program for girls, she helps the youth of today realize their fullest potential and inspire them to achieve a higher sense of self-esteem, paving the way for an easier and empowered adolescence. Talented and versatile, Dawes has appeared in the hit Broadway musical, "Grease" and is establishing a fledgling career in broadcasting. Active in numerous organizations such as Sports United Against Drugs, and as President-Elect of the Womens Sports Foundation, she continues to be a winning force for young women of all ages.
Len Dawson Motivational speaker, host of HBO’s “Inside the NFL,” member of the NFL Hall of Fame and cancer survivor.
Howard Day Howard Day is an singer songwriter. Beginning his career as a solo artist in the late 1990s, Day became known for his extensive touring and in concert use of samplers and effects pedals in order to accompany himself. He self financed and self released his first album, Australia, in 2000. Day signed to the major label Epic Records in 2002 and has since re released his debut as well as producing a follow up, Stop All The World Now. Despite initially sluggish sales, Stop All The World Now was certified gold in early 2005 and has produced a number of singles, including "Collide", Day's most successful to date, and the hit "She Says". Day has received significant negative attention over two high profile arrests. In 2004, Day was arrested and charged over an incident in which he was accused of locking a fan in the bathroom of his tour bus and destroying the cellular phone of another, for which he was fined. In December 2005, Day was arrested in Boston after reportedly verbally abusing the flight crew while under the influence of alcohol and sleeping pills. He was sentenced to one year's probation on April 26, 2006.
Oscar De La Hoya The only fighter to win eleven world titles in six different weight classes, and as CEO of Golden Boy Promotions the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional firm, Oscar de la Hoya is one of the most charismatic and beloved figures in the history of the sport. From the podium he recounts the thrilling story of his journey from a scrawny, bullied child in East Los Angeles to Olympic gold medal-winner, six-time world champion, revolutionary fight promoter and businessman. He talks about his Foundation and his biggest battle, to knockout Cancer. Oscar uses his experiences to motivate others to aim high and achieve their dreams too—no matter what obstacles seem to stand in their way. Boxing’s Golden Boy streaked to fame with his gold medal victory in the 1992 Olympics, a medal he had promised his mother he would win as she lay dying of cancer. His electrifying success inside the ring, as well as his personal character and charisma, have made him a worshiped figure in the Hispanic community and one of the most respected fighters in the world. While continuing his quest as a fighter, Oscar is revolutionizing the business side of the sport as CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. Founded in 1994 and already one of the nation’s leading fight promotion firms, but Oscar's business interests extend well beyond Boxing, he has applied his golden touch to land development, boxing promotion and newspaper publishing. From the Podium, he shares the lessons he's learned as a boxer, businessman and father, and the message that any dream can be achieved through hard work, vision and a desire to be a world champion, whether in business, life or philanthropy. SPEECH TOPICS: § From East L.A. to World Champ § Turning Dreams Into Reality § Battling Cancer: Oscar’s Biggest Fight
Suzanne de Passe African-American businesswoman, entrepreneur and movie producer, Suzanne de Passe was President of Motown Productions and was the recipient of an Academy Award nomination for writing the screenplay for "Lady Sings The Blues." She has also won two Emmy Awards, the NAACP Image Award and in 1990 was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Morton Dean Emmy Award winning news correspondent Morton Dean is one of the best know most highly regarded and widely traveled correspondents in the news profession. A solid writer, a gifted storyteller, his face and voice are among the most recognizable on the American scene. Truly one of America's most respected, trusted and experienced news correspondents. As a traveling correspondent Dean covered many historic , headline-making stories around the world for CBS News (20 years) and ABC News. Open a map of the world. Throw a dart at it. Dean has been there. He anchored regular newscasts for both networks. His Sunday CBS Evening News was rated number one during his entire tenure. Dean anchored the news segment as Good Morning America for several years during which GMA had the number one morning rating. Dean has extensive experience in international terrorism. In fact, he may be the only American news correspondent to cover all major terrorist attacks against United States interests linked to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda prior to September 11, 2001. When terrorists first attacked the World Trade Center in 1993, Dean was the first and only newsperson to see and report from inside the garage where the truck bomb detonated and later he covered the investigation into attack. He reported from Iran during the hostage crisis, and from Somalia during the U.S. intervention. Dean's passion for following the story wherever it led often put him the line of fire. While covering the turmoil in Israel and the Palestinian Territory he was caught in a potentially deadly ambush near Hebron. Dean was nominated for a national Emmy Award for his reporting during a fierce gun battle in Kosovo involving U.S. Marines who were pinned down by sniper. Dean has reported from Saddam Hussein's Iraq during numerous assignments. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait he was the first network TV correspondent to report from Kuwait City while it was still under Iraqi occupation. His reports from Belgrade for 30 days during the NATO air attacks helped ABC News win an Emmy for its coverage of the conflict. Dean's experience could fill many books. He has covered presidential campaigns, national nominating conventions, the civil rights struggle summit meetings, Papal visits, and space missions. In the recent past Mort reported on the historic presidential election in Mexico, the Hillary Clinton Senatorial, race in New York, the contentious Reform Party convention in California, and the Boris Yeltsin resignation from Moscow. When the revered Walter Cronkite stepped back from covering NASA activities, Dean became the lead space correspodent for ABC News and later reported on NASA activities for ABC News. He has also reported extensively from Russia on the Soviet/Russian space program.
Michael Dean Ester Michael Dean Ester is a veteran comedian whos television credits include NBCs "Friday Night videos" as well as the Metro Channels New Joke City."His film credits include "Senseless" with David Spade. Michael holds the prestigious title of Campus Comedian of the year given to the top collegiate performer in the country. He continues to delight college audiences as well as cruise ship patrons because his brilliant comedy bridges the generation gap.
Barbara DeAngelis One of America's leading experts on relationships and a highly respected leader in the field of personal growth. As a best selling author, popular television personality and sought after motivational speaker, Barbara has reached millions of people with her positive messages about love, happiness and the search for meaning in our lives. Her latest book is "Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul."
John Dear John has been arrested more than 75 times due to his activities promoting peace. Leaving behind his frat-boy, party-all-night lifestyle, Dear has become a nationally known peace activist who was nominated for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Dears story is one that illustrates that the most essential disarmament of all is the one that happens in our own heart when we finally let go of self-righteousness, resentment, and anger.
Karen DeCrow Karen DeCrow is a nationally recognized author and attorney specializing in Constitutional law, gender and age discrimination, and civil liberties. Her long involvement with the National Organization for Women goes back to 1967; from 1968 to 1974 she served as National Board Member of NOW, and from 1974 to 1977 as its President. In 1988 she co-founded (with Robert Seidenberg) World Woman Watch. Karen is based in upstate New York Ms. DeCrow is the author of many articles and columns in publications such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. In 1990 she was given the Syracuse University Press Club's Professional Recognition Award for Best Newspaper Column. She writes a regular column in the Syracuse New Times. At intervals, this is distributed by New York Times Special Features Syndicate. Ms. DeCrow has written several books: University Adult Education (co-authored with Roger DeCrow, American Council on Education, 1967), The Young Woman's Guide to Liberation (Bobbs-Merrill, 1971), Sexist Justice (Random House, 1974), Women Who Marry Houses: Panic and Protest in Agoraphobia (with Robert Seidenberg, M.D., McGraw-Hill, 1983).
Ruby Dee An acclaimed actor and author, Ruby Dee has graced the stage and screen for more than fifty years. Her most recent roles have been in American Gangster, with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in Steamroom, with Ally Sheedy and in the independent film Clarksdale (all due to be released in 2007. In 2005, she starred in Number 2, a New Zealand comedy-drama which won the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and for which she was awarded New Zealands highest acting honors. She has received several Emmy nominations, and in 1991, won an Emmy for her performance in Decoration Day. In 2007 she and her late husband, Ossie Davis, received a Grammy Award for the audio book of their joint autobiography, With Ossie & Ruby In This Life Together. Although born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dee considers herself a product of Harlem, where she grew up and began her career as a member of the American Negro Theatre. She received her B.A. from Hunter College, and later studied acting with Paul Mann, Lloyd Richards and Morris Carnovsky. Some of her favorite roles on stage and screen include Lutiebelle in Purlie Victorious (written by her late husband, Ossie Davis) Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun Lena in Boesman and Lena, for which she received and Obie and a Drama Desk award; and Mary Tyrone in A Long Days Journey Into Night, for which she received a Cable ACE award. Other notable credits include Anna Lucasta, Wedding Band, St. Lucys Eyes, The Jackie Robinson Story, Uptight (which she co-wrote), Buck and the Preacher, Countdown at Kusini (which she co-produced with Delta Sigma Theta sorority), Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Peyton Place, Go Tell It on the Mountain, The Stand, and Having Our Say. In 2006, Dee released the selected speeches and writings of Ossie Davis in Life Lit by Some Large Vision, in bookstores now. She is also the author of two childrens books, Tower to Heaven and Two Ways to Count to Ten; a book of poetry and short stories, My One Good Nerve (which she has adapted into a solo performance piece); and With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together, a joint autobiography co-authored with her late husband. She has also narrated several audio books, including Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God, for which performance she won an Audie Award. In 1988, Dee was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. With Davis, she has been inducted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame, awarded the Silver Circle Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Science, the National Medal of Arts Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and the Screen Actors Guilds Lifetime Achievement Award. In December 2004, Dee and Davis were recipients of the John F. Kennedy Center Honors. She is a member of Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Writers Guild.
Kool Moe Dee Rapper Kool Mo Dee thrived during hip-hops nascent years as a vocalist whose tongue-twisting rhymes and speedy delivery put his counterparts to shame. Educator, entertainer, speaker, actor. Three platinum albums. Has appeared on many talk shows. A few of his many topics are: Gang Violence, Being black in America, Understanding Our White Brothers and Sisters and Visa Versa. On his 1987 album, How Ya Like Me Now, Kool came up with a hip-hop report card: a method of rating MCs (Emcees, Masters of Ceremonies, Master Communicators, or rap vocalists) as a way of separating the premier MCs from their often one-dimensional, overrated counterparts (“Sucka MCs”). Building on this original list, Kool has put together an extensive rating system to compile the definitive list of the greatest MCs of all time. Kool rates each MC based on seventeen different categories, ranging from the artist’s lyricism, vocabulary, and freestyling ability to his longevity, body of work, and social impact. Each artist is given a numerical score from one to ten in each of the seventeen categories, as well as an explanation for how this rating was determined.
Mos Def Mos Def began his music career with the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics with his younger brother DCQ, and his younger sister Ces. Despite being signed to Payday Records, the group only released two singles and the group's debut album, Manifest Destiny, did not see the light of day until 2004 (see 2004 in music) when it was released through Illson Media. In 1996, he emerged as a solo artist working with De La Soul and da Bush Babees, before releasing his own first single, Universal Magnetic, which was a huge underground hit. After signing with Rawkus Records, Mos Def and Talib Kweli formed the group Black Star, and released a full length album under the name, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, the album was released in 1998, and featured Hi-Tek producing most of the tracks. Mos Def released his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, in 1999 (see 1999 in music). Def was also featured on Rawkus influential The Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing series compilations. After the collapse of Rawkus, he and Kweli signed on to Interscope/Geffen Records, which released his second solo album, The New Danger, in 2004. Mos Def has drawn some criticism from his fan base about "keeping it real" since he appeared in a commercial that endorsed the GMC Denali sport utility vehicle. [1] Mos Def is projected to release his last solo album on Geffen Records, The Undeniable Free Flaco, in early 2006.
Misha Defonseca As told in her awe-inspiring book, Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years, Misha Defonseca walked for over four years as a child during World War II across 3,000 miles of Nazi-occupied land in search of her parents. Her survival was made possible only by her ingenuity and a pack of wolves that helped to feed, shelter and comfort her. Misha Defonseca tells one of the most astonishing stories ever to come out of the Holocaust. A child refugee in search of her parents during World War II, she walked for over four years across 3,000 miles of Nazi-occupied land. In 1941, when Defonseca was seven years old, her parents were arrested and she was hidden in a "safe" home they had secretly arranged for her. Her foster grandfather recognized the terrible danger she was in and taught her some important survival skills. Defonseca overheard her stepmother, however, planning to turn her over to the Germans and decided to run away. She hid in forests and woodland areas, stealing from farm kitchens, pilfering crops in the field and eating wild plants and insects in order to stay alive. Frequently close to death from hunger and cold, her survival was only made possible by the companionship of a pack of wolves that helped to feed and shelter her along her journey. Caring for the cubs while the wolves hunted, she ate the raw meat of their kill, and felt true happiness for the first time in her troubled life. "I never remember being hungry in the company of wolves," she says. Before the war ended, she was captured by partisans, trapped in the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, forced to kill a Nazi soldier in self-defense and swept up by her first love. A classic tale of good and evil, Defonseca describes her extraordinary journey of miles and the passage of her heart from innocence through the abyss of despair to peace and redemption. Told with passion untempered by time, Defonseca's uplifting story is something people of all faiths will want to have the opportunity to hear.
Frank Deford Sports commentator and journalist.
Robert DeForrest Shelley Leading hypnotherapist and motivation consultant, Robert Shelley's stage hypnosis programs are fascinating, funny and informative. The audience is taken on a joyous ride of laughter and amazement as he reveals the untapped power of the human mind. His follow-up workshops lead participants on an adventure into the imagination that they never before experienced. The author of six books and 150 motivational audio learning titles, Robert Shelley reveals in his workshops the simple secret to stress management, self-empowerment and enhancing the quality of life at home, at school and at work.
Mayda Del Valle Mayda Del Valle is the reigning National Poetry Slam Champion, the youngest person to ever win the coveted title and the first woman since 1996, as well as the first of Latin heritage ever. Mayda draws inspiration for her writing from all sources, like Chicago and New York, growing up Puerto Rican in a multicultural neighborhood, with Mexican, Arab-American, Black and Polish cultures all on the same block. Hip Hop, Latin jazz, Salsa, R&B, Miles Davis, Tito Puente, Al Green and Ella Fitzgerald all have their fingerprints in Mayda's words. Mayda has appeared on the HBO show Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, numerous college campuses, and this summer will be seen in the theatrical version of Def Poetry in San Francisco. She is currently working on a one-woman show and has presented it in workshop off-Broadway. DelValle was in the Tony Award-winning “Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam” on Broadway and traveled to Scotland with the show to perform at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The native of Chicago’s South Side has also been featured in four of the five seasons of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” Currently, she tours with “Def Jam Poetry” and legendary director Norman Lear’s “Declaration of Independence” Tour.
Emilio DelGado Best known to viewers as Luis of "Sesame Street," Emilio DelGado has helped develope the program's Spanish language and cultural curricula. Emilio is available as Luis to do songs and games from "Sesame Street," or, in a more serious vein, to lecture on prejudice and bias.
Dom DeLuise Popular Comedian, actor and chef.
Paul DelVecchio An American reality TV star, Paul DelVecchio earned fame by appearing on the MTV show "Jersey Shore."
Philippe deMontebello Distinguished director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gabriel Bol Deng Gabriel Bol Deng has overcome unbelievable obstacles. He was 10 years old when North Sudan Arab militiamen led a violent attack on his village in South Sudan. He fled, not knowing the whereabouts of his parents or siblings. After his escape, Gabriel embarked on a harrowing, four month journey across the Nile River and the untold miles of Desert, surviving disease and paralyzing hunger to reach Ethiopia. While at the Dimma Refugee Camp in Ethiopia, Gabriel first learned English by writing on cardboard with pieces of charcoal. Four years later, he fled from violence again, leaving Ethiopia and traveling cross-country to Kenya, where, with the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Gabriel received an education at the Kakuma Refugee Camp. In 2000, he was offered the chance to join a refugee resettlement program in the United States. Gabriel is one of the Sudanese orphans known as The Lost Boys of Sudan.
Guillermo Descalzi Chief correspondent with the Telemundo Network for the national news and host of an international program, "America en Vivo." He previously hosted the original Spanish language investigative newsmagazine "Occurio Asi." Mr. Descalzi has interviewed every sitting United States president in the Americas.
Gail Devers Olympic gold medalist, Gail Devers won the 100-meter dash in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Devers was also a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic track team in Australia. A motivating and inspiring speaker, she also lectures about overcoming Graves' disease.
Charles DeWayne Charles is a multi-talented singer/songwriter, pianist, saxophonist and drummer. When he is not at school, he spends his time writing music or participating as the music director at his church. Charles is ready to grow from the local venues where he has been performing to the national stage on "America's Got Talent." His motivation is fueled by his love of music and the desire to be responsible with the gift that God has given him. If Charles wins "America's Got Talent," he wants to show his parents his gratitude their love and support and help them finally retire after raising Charles and his three siblings.
Arnold Diaz ABC News correspondent for "20/20". Prior to joining ABC News, Mr. Diaz spent 22 years at CBS-TV, where his "Shame on You!" reports, exposing wrongdoing and incompetence by private industry and government agencies, often led to actions by law enforcement officials, as well as the enactment of legislation.
David Diaz Emmy Award winning CBS News reporter and a former host of "Visiones," a Latino public affairs program.
Junot Diaz Junot Diaz is author of bestselling Drown, a collection of short stories about his native Dominican Republic, and the 2007 novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Time Magazine hailed Oscar Wao as astoundingly great the Star Tribune praised it as a preview of what the next generation of English might look like. Diaz is also a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Andy Dick Comedian Andy Dick is one of the many actors to experiment with a recording career after their star rises high enough to afford them such side projects. Brashly funny and often utilizing a manic personality to get his humor across, Dick was more often infamous for his legendary heavy partying and drug use before an incident with the law helped him change his habits. Raised in a military family, he knew early on that he was an attention hound and looked to comedy to relieve this feeling. He moved to Chicago to study at the Second City training facility, eventually making friends with actor Ben Stiller who was developing his own humor and trying to escape the shadow of his famous parents. The two hit it off and when Stiller had the chance to develop his own Fox television show, Dick was one of the first cast members. Although the show's cutting edge humor was a bomb in the ratings, an Emmy Award helped dull the pain when Fox cancelled the show. The various cast members moved on to successful comedy careers, but Dick kept relatively quiet until he was cast in NBC's News Radio. Enjoying his first successful national exposure, Dick also started gathering headlines over his hard partying. Rumors of drug use persisted, but appearances in several high profile movies helped him avoid bad publicity for a while. But everything came to a head when friend and partying buddy Chris Farley was found dead after an especially heavy binge. Dick was crushed, but the worst was yet to come as costar and friend Phil Hartman was shot to death in 1998 following an argument with his wife. Dick's drug intake grew, and by 1999 he was being investigated after allegedly exposing himself at a Florida concert. Later that same month, he was the last known person to be seen with David Strickland, an actor that hung himself in a Las Vegas hotel room.
Eric Jerome Dickey Best selling novelist of such books as Friends & Lovers; Milk In My Coffee; Cheaters, Liar's Game, and Between Lovers.
Dan Dierdorf CBS Sports football analyst; Dan Dierdorf is a former announcer on ABC's Monday Night Football."
Larry Dierker Former manager of the Houston Astros baseball club.
Bo Dietl Legendary New York City police detective whose police exploits were recently made into the motion picture, "One Tough Cop," starring Stephen Baldwin and Chris Penn. Now the president of his own international detective agency, Bo Dietl is a regular guest on the nationally syndicated "Imus in the Morning" radio program.
Taye Diggs Popular author, entertainer and motion picture star, Taye Diggs has starred in the Broadway production of Rent and such movies as How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man, House on Haunted Hill and The Wood.
Dennis Dillion Referred to as the "economic preacher", Rev. Dillon speaks with great authority and has a tremendous command of statistical data relative to urban economics. He is a multifaceted leader who is journalist, lecuturer, author, business owner and a preacher. His oratory style and rhetoric reminds listeners of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many like him to be a modern day Marcus Garvey.
Kate Dillon Plus-size model Kate Dillon talks about body acceptance and the necessity of having self-esteem- no matter what your size. Named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," she is also the founder of Echo, a nonprofit organization that develops programs in the arts for children. Kate Dillon started modeling and walking the Paris runways at age 16, landing such major campaigns as L'Oreal, Christian Dior and Missoni. Pegged to be the "New Cindy Crawford," she was, however, anorexic and run-down from years of starving herself. Finally, she began eating normally and gaining weight- against the advice of clients and her manager, who wanted her 5'11" figure to stay a bony size six. At first, she tried to lose the pounds again, but then had a revelation that she was free to look however she wanted and did not have to conform to the modeling business' standard of beauty. Now a natural, healthy size 14, Dillon is taking the full-figure market by storm and not limiting beauty to what the scale says. One of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," she was named the 1998 "Model of the Year" by Mode magazine and has been featured on a Times Square billboard. Called the "Curvy Comeback Kid" by Glamour magazine, she has appeared on several television spots, including The Maureen Boyle Show and Today, and has graced ads for Liz Claiborne, Gucci and Lane Bryant. Dillon is also the founder of Echo, a nonprofit organization benefiting arts programs for children. "We don't have enough role models who used to be skinny but gained weight and said, 'That's okay.' We're all different; we all have different bodies - so let's stop trying to make them all alike." -Kate Dillon
David Dinkins New York City's first African American Mayor, David Dinkins, an attorney, is an authority on national issues, urban problems and human rights.
Mike Ditka Mike Ditka's NFL career began in 1961 when the Bears made him their first round selection from the University of Pittsburgh. He had an immediate impact, catching 56 passes and earning NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Ditka played five more seasons with the Bears, earning a Pro Bowl trip each year, before being traded to Philadelphia in 1967. After two years with the Eagles, he played four more in Dallas, where he caught a touchdown pass in the Cowboys' 24-3 win over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. The final accolade to Ditka's outstanding playing career was bestowed upon him 16 years after his retirement when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988). His 427 career receptions included 75 catches in 1964, a NFL record for tight ends until San Diego's Kellen Winslow broke it in 1980. Ditka still holds four Bears records: consecutive games with a reception, touch down receptions, most receptions by a rookie, and most touchdown catches by a rookie. Ditka retired from playing following the 1972 season, but was hired by Cowboys' head coach Tom Landry as an offensive assistant and special teams coach. In Ditka's nine seasons the Cowboys were in the playoffs eight times, won six division titles, three NFC Championships, and the NFL crown following the 1977 campaign. Prior to the 1982 season, Ditka signed on as head coach of the Chicago Bears, taking over a team that had had just two winning seasons in the previous 19 years. During his ten-year tenure as head coach, Ditka led the Bears to six NFC Central titles, three additional appearances in the NFC title game (each time, their opponent went on to win the Super Bowl), and a Super Bowl victory (1986). He has been awarded Coach of the Year honors (1985 and 1988) by The Sporting News, the Associated Press, and pro football writers. Ditka is one of only two men to have won a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. He is also one of only four head coaches to have recorded over 100 coaching victories in only ten seasons. Having retired from coaching after the 1992 season, Ditka served as an NFL analyst on NBC-TV's Sunday NFL news and highlight show, NFL Live, until January 1997, when he became the coach for the New Orleans Saints. After a short stint with the Saints, Ditka rejoined the NBC network (1993 – 1996) as an analyst on NFL Live and as a color commentator for other NBC broadcasts. Currently, Mike is a member of The NFL Today, the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game studio show. Today, Ditka shares his drive and teambuilding skills with audiences across the country. His presentation shares the lessons learned in a life of commitment, attention, and victory. Most Requested Topic: ACE--Attitude, Character and Enthusiasm: Mike Ditka delivers a powerful presentation that highlights the key characteristics people need to achieve their personal and professional goals. With his first-hand experience, clear illustrations and humorous anecdotes, he shows why he is considered one of the best motivational speakers in all of the NFL. His presentation has impact and immediate, take-home value.
Daria Dolan Financial expert and co-host of “Smart Money With the Dolans,” a daily national radio call-in show, and a regular contributor to “CBS This Morning.”
Ken Dolan Personal money management expert and co-host of a daily national radio call-in show on personal finance on the WOR Radio Network, and a regular contributor to “CBS This Morning.”
Phil Donahue Former host of televisions's highly regarded program "The Phil Donahue Show."best known as the the creator and star of The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, the first tabloid talk show. The Phil Donahue show enjoyed a 27-year run on national (U.S.) TV, plus two years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio before ending in 1996. His shows have generally focused on issues that often divide liberals and conservatives in the U.S., such as abortion, consumer protection (his most frequent guest was Ralph Nader, for whom he campaigned in 2000), civil rights and war protests. Donahue later hosted a show on MSNBC (2002–2003)
Lynn Donohue A high school dropout at the age of 15, Donohue was living out of her car and earning minimum wage as a bartender when she learned of a new training program for women interested in the construction trades. Seizing the opportunity to steer her life in a new direction, she began taking classes towards becoming a professional mason. After surviving years of discrimination in a male-dominated field, she won the Massachusetts state masonry competition and later opened her own construction company. Realizing she needed a formal business education to advance her company, Donohue returned to school and is in the midst of finishing her MBA degree. Donohue is the author of a critically acclaimed book, Brick by Brick: A Woman's Journey, which recounts her journey from bartender to bricklayer to sole owner of her own construction company, all before her 27th birthday.
Dan Dorfman Influential financial news analyst.
Norman Dorsen Law professor, human rights activist and president of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Ivory Dorsey Content-based, multi-dimensional speaker, trainer, facilitator and consultant addressing such topics as sales, customer service, change, leadership and diversity, Ivory Dorsey is often described as informed, dynamic, pragmatic, motivating and inspiring. She is the author of Universal Appeal: The Bottom Line Benefit of Diversity.
Jason Ryan Dorsey Jason Ryan Dorsey knows the courage and determination it takes to turn a calling into a career. Growing up in small-town Texas, Jason never quite fit in. He started high school at 4’10” and often felt picked on. He responded to the bullying with humor and by hanging out with local “troublemakers.” At a critical time, Jason’s tenth-grade science teacher intervened. The teacher, Mr. Price, challenged Jason to do something positive with his quick wit and street smarts. Inspired by Mr. Price’s belief in his abilities, Jason left high school to start college early. Going to college early and out-of-state changed Jason’s perspective about what was possible for his future. He spent a summer studying medicine in south Florida, another summer working on an archeological dig in Ashkelon, Israel, and a year in upstate New York attending college full time. Jason’s New York experience included tutoring college students who were struggling academically and from difficult backgrounds—an area in which he excelled. After his year in New York, Jason enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin as an 18-year-old junior. Through hard work and calculated risks he positioned himself for excellent job opportunities upon his graduation. But on January 7, 1997, at 1:58AM, Jason made a life-changing decision. He decided to forego his safe path into corporate finance and instead follow his passion for helping his peers from tough backgrounds transition into college and the workforce. To do this Jason chose to write a book revealing the lessons he learned going from a small-town with seemingly few opportunities to being 18 years old and having an extensive network, experienced mentors, valuable internship, and excellent job prospects. Jason keynoted his first national education conference at age 20. The other keynote speaker was First Lady Barbara Bush! Taking a major financial and personal risk, Jason wrote and self-published Graduate to Your Perfect Job at age 18. Soon he was $50,000 in debt and sleeping on the floor of a friend’s one-car garage apartment. With nowhere to go but up, Jason told everyone he could about his book and mission. Eventually a local school invited Jason to speak to their toughest students on how to get a great job. The students enjoyed Jason’s humor and practical strategies. That speech led to Jason keynoting a statewide teacher conference, which led to him keynoting a statewide business leaders conference, which led to many more speeches…Only two years after taking the risk to follow his passion, Jason keynoted his first national conference for 5,000 education and business leaders—the other keynote speaker was First Lady Barbara Bush! Jason’s unique high-energy humor quickly made him the most sought after young speaker in America. He has now delivered over 1,500 keynotes at events across the US and as far away as India, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, and Egypt. And he’s been featured as a voice for his generation on 20/20, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s The View, TeenPeople and in The Wall Street Journal. In recognition of his entrepreneurial success, Jason won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Education when he was 25 years old. Graduate to Your Perfect Job has now sold over 200,000 copies and is currently used in 1,650+ schools, colleges, and workforce development programs. Jason followed the success of his first book with two more critically acclaimed books, Violence Not Allowed and 50 Ways to Improve Schools for Under $50. These books have been recognized by leaders such as the President of the United States and multiple Commissioners of Education for their innovative approach and inspiring call-to-action. Three years ago, Jason realized that many of his peers were struggling to find their place in the “real world.” These talented but frustrated Twentysomethings did everything their parents and college advisors told them to do, but they were disappointed with the results. Jason felt this emerging generational crisis of purpose and direction—one he understood from his own life journey—warranted his full attention. He’s now spent three years researching this complicated issue and the result is My Reality Check Bounced! The Twentysomething’s Guide to Cashing In on Your Real-World Dreams. This peer-to-peer book shares the inspiring stories, step-by-step actions, and practical strategies any Twentysomething can rely on to break free of their rut and start living with more meaning and courage. To read the first chapter of My Reality Check Bounced! CLICK HERE. Ten years after choosing to follow his passion, Jason has expanded his speaking and consulting expertise to benefit corporate executives, managers, community leaders and entrepreneurs. He teaches them exactly how to retain, motivate, and lead new hires and young professionals. Jason’s message is credible and entertaining. He uses his unique frontline perspective—gained from speaking to 350,000 of his peers about workplace strategies—to candidly reveal his generation unique perspective, personality, and workplace priorities. Jason is an ideal liaison between his generation and employers, because it is estimated that 100,000 of his peers have used his books to land their first job or a better job.
Doug E. Doug Well known actor, comedian, director and writer. Doug E. Doug co- stars with Bill Cosby in the CBS sitcom, "Cosby". He is also well known to movie viewers for his starring role in "Cool Runnings." His additional theatrical credits include "Hangin' with the Homeboys"; "Class Act"; and the Disney films, "Operation Dumbo Drop"; and "That Darn Cat".
Fredrick Douglass Frederick Douglass IV will mesmerize you with the speeches and stories of his great, great grandfather, Frederick Douglass. A great orator and writer, a leading figure in the abolitionist movement, Frederick Douglass was born in 1817 into slavery in Maryland. He escaped in 1838 and in 1841 addressed an abolitionist meeting recounting his life as a slave. This was followed by lectures throughout the East and the publication of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Douglass also published the abolitionist North Star, the first of a series of journals he was to create. Increasingly, he came to reject the moralistic stance against slavery in favor of political struggle and the support of the Republican party.
Frederick Douglass IV Frederick Douglass IV will mesmerize you with the speeches and stories of his great, great grandfather, Frederick Douglass. A great orator and writer, a leading figure in the abolitionist movement, Frederick Douglass was born in 1817 into slavery in Maryland. He escaped in 1838 and in 1841 addressed an abolitionist meeting recounting his life as a slave. This was followed by lectures throughout the East and the publication of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Douglas also published the abolitionist North Star, the first of a series of journals he was to create. Increasingly, he came to reject the moralistic stance against slavery in favor of political struggle and the support of the Republican party.
Rita Dove Rita Dove is the first African-American and the youngest person ever to be Poet Laureate of the United States. Dove won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for Thomas and Beulah, in which she evoked the lives of her grandparents. She is also the author of On the Bus with Rosa Parks, which was named a New York Times notable book of the year. Famed poet Rita Dove was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1952 as the daughter of the first Black research chemist who, in the 1950s, broke the race barrier in the tire industry. In 1970 she was invited to the White House as a Presidential Scholar, one of the two most outstanding high school graduates of the State of Ohio that year, before attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio as a National Achievement Scholar. She graduated summa cum laude (as well as Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi) with a degree in English in 1973 and studied for a year on a Fulbright scholarship at Universität Tübingen in Germany. She then joined the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1977. In 1976 she met her husband, the German writer Fred Viebahn, who was a Fulbright fellow in the University of Iowa's International Writing Program that year; their daughter Aviva Chantal Tamu Dove-Viebahn was born in 1983. Appearances in magazines and anthologies had already won national acclaim for Dove when she published her first poetry collection, The Yellow House on the Comer, with Carnegie-Mellon University Press in 1980. It was followed by Museum (1983) and Thomas and Beulah (1986), both also from Carnegie-Mellon. Thomas and Beulah, a collection of interrelated poems loosely based on her grandparents' life, earned her the 1987 Pulitzer Prize, making her the second African-American poet (after Gwendolyn Brooks in 1950) to receive this prestigious award. Other publications by Dove include a book of short stories, Fifth Sunday, Calialoo Fiction Series, 1985; the poetry collections Grace Notes (W.W. Norton, 1989), Selected Poems (Pantheon/Vintage, 1993) and Mother Love (W.W. Norton, 1995); the novel Through the Ivory Gate (Pantheon, 1992); the verse drama The Darker Face of the Earth (Story Line Press, 1994; 2nd, revised edition 1996) and a book with her laureate lectures (The Poet's World, The Library of Congress, 1995). The Darker Face of the Earth had its critically acclaimed world premiere at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon in the summer of 1996, supported by a major grant from the W. Alton Jones Foundation. A joint production by Crossroads Theatre of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., underwritten by the Kennedy Centers Fund for New American Plays and the Geraldine Dodge Foundation, opened at Crossroads in October 1997 and went to the Kennedy Center for a four week run in the Eisenhower Theater in November 1997. In the fall of 1994 Dove's poem Lady Freedom Among Us, first read by her at the ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Capitol and celebrating the restoration of the Freedom Statue on the Capitol's dome in October 1993, was published by Janus Press in a limited edition to become the four-millionth acquisition of the University of Virginia Libraries. A multimedia version was made globally accessible by the University of Virginia on the Internet, one of the earliest such publications by a major writer.
Colette Dowling Author of 8 books on women's psychological issues with advanced training is psychotherapy and psychoanalysis and expertise in women's mental health.
Hugh Downs Hugh Downs Former co-anchor of ABC's 20/20, Hugh Downs is also an activist, adventurer, author, outdoorsman and student in a number of areas. His lectures cover a broad spectrum of topics that include space, energy, the environment, communication and the human psyche. He has received numerous Emmy Awards and other honors for his work. Hugh Downs, longtime former anchor of ABC's primetime newsmagazine program 20/20, is one of the most familiar American television figures in the history of the medium. He left the program in September of 1999. Downs has enjoyed a distinguished career in radio and television as a reporter, newscaster, interviewer, narrator and host. In 1985, he was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for the greatest numbers of hours on network commercial television. Having one of the most honored careers in his field, Downs celebrated his 60th anniversary in broadcasting (both radio and television) in May of 1999. He has received many Emmy Awards for his work as reporter and host, including a Daytime Emmy Award for Live from Lincoln Center: Yo Yo Ma in Concert, Downs hosted PBS' Live from Lincoln Center for a decade. Other career highlights have included nine years as host of the NBC morning program, Today, numerous documentaries, the launching of The Tonight Show, and the daytime game show, Concentration. Downs, an Akron, Ohio native, attended Bluffton (Ohio) College, Wayne University (now Wayne State) and Columbia University. He holds a post-master's degree in gerontology from Hunter College. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from St. John's University, the University of Maryland, Daniel Webster College and Hunter College of the City University of New York. Downs has written an autobiography, Yours Truly, Hugh Downs, as well as many other books, including Letter to a Great Grandson: A Message of Love, Advice, and Hopes for the Future; Hugh Downs: The Best Years; My America: What My Country Means to Me, and many articles. Downs is hosting a weekly online show at www.inextv.com, called Conversations with Hugh Downs: Values in America.
Dave Dravecky Former major league pitcher, cancer survivor and motivational speaker.
Yamato Drummers of Japan Yamato and its high-power exhilarating drummers returns to Kutztown with a brand-new show Shin-on — Heartbeat. With several dozen large and small drums (including an odaiko made from a huge tree over 400 years old), Yamato put their very souls into these unusual instruments, whose sound stirs the hearts of people everywhere.
Peter Duchin Pianist, conductor, and composer who presents a lecture/recital.
Peter Duffy Peter Duffy author of The Bielski Brothers this his first book. In 1941, three young men -- brothers, sons of a miller -- witnessed their parents and two other siblings being led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would, of course, be repeated endlessly throughout the war. What makes this particular story of interest is how the survivors responded. Instead of running or capitulating or giving in to despair, these brothers -- Tuvia, Zus, and Asael Bielski -- did something else entirely. They fought back, waging a guerrilla war of wits and cunning against both the Nazis and the pro-Nazi sympathizers. Along the way they saved well over a thousand Jewish lives. Using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding the Belorussian towns of Novogrudek and Lida, the Bielskis evaded the Nazis and established a hidden base camp, then set about convincing other Jews to join their ranks. When the Nazis began systematically eliminating the local Jewish populations -- more than ten thousand were killed in the first year of the Nazi occupation alone -- the Bielskis intensified their efforts, often sending fighting men into the ghettos to escort Jews to safety. As more and more Jews arrived each day, a robust community began to emerge, a "Jerusalem in the woods." They slept in camouflaged dugouts built into the ground. Lovers met, were married, and conceived children. The community boasted a synagogue, a bathhouse, a theater, and cobblers so skilled that Russian officers would wait in line to have their boots reshod. But as its notoriety grew, so too did the Nazi efforts to capture the rugged brothers; and on several occasions they came so near to succeeding that the Bielskis had to abandon the camp and lead their massive entourage to newer, safer locations. And while some argued in favor of a smaller, more mobile unit, focused strictly on waging battle against the Germans, Tuvia Bielski was firm in his commitment to all Jews. "I'd rather save one old Jewish woman," he said, "than kill ten Nazis." In July 1944, after two and a half years in the woods, the Bielskis learned that the Germans, overrun by the Red Army, were retreating back toward Berlin. More than one thousand Bielski Jews emerged -- alive -- on that final, triumphant exit from the woods.
Olympia Dukakis Academy award-winning actress.
Bill Duke Director of the highly acclaimed motion picture,"A Rage in Harlem," he also directed such movies as "The Meeting," "Bird on A Wire," and "Sister Act II."
Duke Ellington Orchestra World famous orchestra conducted by Edward Ellington.
Michelle Dumaresq Michelle Dumaresq is a professional downhill mountain bike competitor and post-operative male-to-female (MTF) transwoman. She is from Canada and competes with other professional female downhill mountain bike racers. She entered the sport in 2001, six years after completing SRS, when she was discovered riding on Vancouver's North Shore by several top women mountain bikers. Dumaresq was quite open about her history as a transwoman. The women, who were filming an independent film on female mountain bike riding, suggested Dumaresq consider racing and also invited Dumaresq to appear in their film, called "Dirt Divas.
Dr. Christine Dumas Dr. Christine Dumas is a medical reporter. Since 1996, her stories have appeared on NBC News Today and NBC News Weekend Edition Today. She is a regular guest on Weekend Live with Tony Snow, as well as being a featured weekly guest on Tony Snow’s nationally syndicated radio program, where she comments on topical issues across medicine and the currency of conversation.Dr. Christine Dumas began her career as a health correspondent for ABC’s Home Show and then moved to ABC’s Good Morning America. When off camera, she has co-authored a new health care guide, Special Treatment: How to Get the Same High-Quality Health Care Your Doctor Gets (Penguin Putnam, 2003). Her book is a must have reference guide for households across America and reaches diverse audiences seeking unparalleled advice in medical care.Dr. Christine Dumas has served as a keynote speaker for the Speaking of Women’s Health National Tour, where she covered the latest trends in health, wellness and fitness delivering that message to over 30,000 women across the United States. She served as a national spokesperson and strategic planning consultant for the American Medical Association’s Women’s Health Campaign, and also on the National Tobacco-Free Steering Committee for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. She serves on the board of the National Association of Medical Communicators. She was awarded two Presidential Citations from the American Dental Association for her contributions to the health of the nation.Dr. Christine Dumas has spent over a decade reporting on trends in health and wellness giving her a leading-edge perspective that is sought-after by top medical organizations, Fortune 500 corporations and other group forums. Dr. Dumas regularly lectures to healthcare organizations such as the American Medical Association, the National Institutes of Health and the American Dental Association as well as to corporate audiences such as Estee Lauder, Procter and Gamble and United Airlines. Many Fortune 500 companies recruit Dr. Dumas for keynote speeches and to offer her infectious enthusiasm about best practices for maintaining wellness
Sandy Duncan Award-winning actress.
Jeff Dunham Jeff Dunham is a ventriloquist and stand-up comedian. He has performed on numerous comedy shows including Comedy Central Presents in 2003 and The Late Show with David Letterman. Some of his famous puppets include a woozle named Peanut , a bitter old man named Walter, and José Jalapeno - a talking Jalapeno pepper on a stick (whose running joke is adding "on a stick" to the end of other sentences). His latest DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing With Myself, was released in April 2006. In this latest stand-up offering, Jeff plays straight-man to his usual crew and two recently added characters, the Playa-In-a-Management-Profession, Sweet Daddy D, and Nascar enthusiast (amongst other things), Bubba J.
Holly Dunn Award-winning country music vocalist.
Barrie Dunsmore Foreign affairs authority and former ABC-TV News correspondent.
Charles Dutton A product of the streets, the noted actor Charles Dutton spent his youth in and out of reform schools and eventually landed in the Maryland State Penitentiary. During his incarceration, he discovered a love of acting and established a drama group for inmates. After leaving prison, he earned a B.A. degree and was accepted to the Yale University Drama School. Dutton enjoyed critical acclaim as the title character in the TV comedy/drama series "Roc." His lecture is both motivating and uplifting.
Stephen Dweck Humorist, screen writer and co-author of the best selling books on Africa-American humor entitled Snaps, Double Snaps, and Triple Snaps. Their latest books are You're so Fine I'd Drink a Tub of Your Bath Water, and Baby, All Those Curves and Me With No Brakes. They have written "The Williams Family", a comedy for Paramount Pictures and a screenplay, "Puck U" starring Danny Glover, Adam Sandler and the Wayans Brothers.
Jeff Dye Jeff Dye is an extremely talented comedian/actor/host who will be hosting MTVs American Idiot which will premiere in late 2009. Jeff’s Comedy Central Half Hour Special will be airing next year and he performed at this year’s JUST FOR LAUGHS festival for TBS in Chicago. Jeff was a finalist on the 2008 season of ‘LAST COMIC STANDING’ and he performed in a 50 city tour with LCS. Last year he won the Giggles 10th Annual Laff-Off in his native Seattle, and was chosen to perform at the Montreal JUST FOR LAUGHS Festival.
Wayne Dyer Well-known psychologist, motivational speaker and author of many best selling-books, including Your Erroneous Zones, Pulling Your Own Strings, and The Skies The Limit.
Esther Dyson A leading authority on computers, the internet and business, Esther Dyson is an investor/commentator on emerging technologies, emerging markets and emerging companies. She is the chairman of EDventure Holdings which publishes the influential monthly computer-industry newsletter, Release 1.0 and is the author of a book on the impact of the Net on individuals' lives, Release 2.0: A Design for Living in the Digital Age.
Michael Eric Dyson Hailed as one of the nations most inspiring African Americans, Michael Eric Dyson has been credited with revitalizing the role of the public intellectual with the fervor of an ordained Baptist minister. Infusing intellectual thought with popular culture, Dyson focuses on topics of interest to the public. He eloquently melds scholarly insight with the phenomena of contemporary culture, emphasizing their interconnectedness and force in shaping our society. His books provide some of the most significant commentary on modern social and intellectual thought, interwoven with a combination of cultural criticism, race theory, religion, philosophical reflection, and gender studies. Works such as Making Malcolm X; I May Not Get There with You; Hollar if You Hear Me; Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye; Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost its Mind?; and the recent Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster deeply probe social themes and cultural politics. A popular University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, Dyson bridges gaps between generations, connecting civil rights identity to hip-hop culture while forging links between older and younger Americans, especially black Americans. As a cutting edge historian, he educates the general public on the significance of hip hop, not only in understanding black culture, but American cultural as well. With his powerful voice, Dyson reaches beyond race, addressing the universal commonality of American concern.