name	Sheryl Lee Ralph
birth date	December 30, 1956
birth place	Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
occupation	Actress, singer
yearsactive	1977–present
spouse	Vincent Hughes (2005–present)Eric Maurice (1990–2001) (divorced) 2 children
notable role	Deena Jones in ''Dreamgirls'' (Broadway) Ginger St. James in ''It's a Living'' Lola Quinn in ''The Mighty Quinn'' Dee Mitchell in ''Moesha'' }}

Sheryl Lee Ralph (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer.

Biography

Personal life

Raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to an African American father and a Jamaican mother. Sheryl attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY. She starred in the High School play Oklahoma and played Ado Annie. Sheryl graduated in 1972. In 1973, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, Ralph was the youngest female to ever graduate from Rutgers University. During her time at Rutgers she dated fellow student Jeffrey Kleinbaum. Also that year she was named as one of the top 10 college women in America by ''Glamour'' magazine. Initially she hoped to study medicine, but after dealing with cadavers in a premed class and winning a scholarship in a competition at the American College Theater Festival, she quit medicine for the performing arts. Many years later, she served as the commencement speaker at Rutgers for the Class of 2003. Ralph is married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes.

Career

Ralph began her career on the stage and was nominated in 1982 for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Deena Jones in ''Dreamgirls''. In 1984, Ralph released her only album ''In the Evening'', in which the title track hit peaked at #6 on the ''Billboard'' chart that same year. In 1988, she starred in the Disney movie ''Oliver & Company'' providing the speaking voice of Rita. Her first film leading role came as Denzel Washington's wife in ''The Mighty Quinn''. In 1992, she starred as Robert De Niro's mistress in ''Mistress''. During the 1990s she also had roles in ''The Flintstones'', ''Deterrence'' and ''Unconditional Love''.

On television, she is known for playing Ginger St. James on ''It's a Living'', Etienne Toussaint-Bouvier on ''Designing Women'', and later Dee Mitchell on ''Moesha'' and the supervillainous Cheetah in ''Justice League'' and ''Justice League Unlimited''. Ralph produced ''Divas Simply Singing'', which has become an important AIDS fundraiser. In June 2000, Ralph sued ''The National Enquirer'' for one million dollars over a piece they had written about her and her husband. She was voted one of TV's Favorite Moms for her portrayal of step mom Dee on the number-one rated television series ''Moesha''. She also appeared on the Showtime series, ''Barbershop'', as the popular, post-operative transsexual, Claire. Recently, Sheryl brought a new face to the sufferings of war in the NBC hit series ''ER''.

Ralph's 2002 project, ''Baby of the Family'', concerns a young child who is born with a caul over her head; enabling her to see ghosts and the future. Ralph was also recently featured with son Etienne on MTV's ''My Super Sweet 16'' and BET's ''Baldwin Hills'', as well as an episode of ''Clean House'' that also featured her two children, Etienne and Ivy-Victoria aka "Coco" (named after Ralph's mother).

In July 2004, Ralph was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at the 47th National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. In May 2008, Ralph was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Tougaloo College after giving the commencement address.

On June 16, 2009 it was announced that Ralph would join the cast of the Broadway-bound musical ''The First Wives Club'' as Elyse. She replaced Adriane Lenox, who withdrew from the show due to health concerns.

Filmography

''A Piece of the Action'' (1977)

''Oliver & Company'' (1988) (voice)

''The Mighty Quinn'' (1989)

''The Distinguished Gentleman'' (1992)

''Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'' (1993)

''White Man's Burden'' (1995)

''Lover's Knot'' (1996)

''Bogus'' (1996)

''Jamaica Beat'' (1997)

''Secrets'' (1998) (short subject) (also director and producer)

''Unconditional Love'' (1999)

''Personals'' (1999)

''Deterrence'' (1999)

''Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel'' (2000)

''Baby of the Family'' (2002)

''Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age'' (2007) (documentary)

''Blessed and Cursed'' (2010)

Television work

''Good Times'' (1978) - J.J and the Plumber's Helper.

''Wonder Woman'' (1979)

''The Neighborhood'' (1982)

''Search for Tomorrow'' (cast member from 1983–1984)

''V: The Series'' (1984)

''Code Name: Foxfire'' (1985) (canceled after a few episodes)

''Hunter'' (1985–1986) - The Return of Typhoon Thompson episode.

''Pros and Cons'' (1986)

''It's a Living'' (cast member from 1986–1989)

''Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies'' (1987)

''New Attitude'' (1990) (canceled after a few episodes)

''The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' (1991)

''Designing Women'' (cast member from 1992–1993)

''George'' (1993) (canceled after a few episodes)

''Witch Hunt'' (1994)

''Moesha'' (cast member from 1996–2001)

''sabrina the teenage witch season 3 episode 14 "what price harvey"

''The Jennie Project'' (2001)

''Justice League'' (2001) - Cheetah

''Da Kink in My Hair'' (2004)

''BarberShop: The Series'' (2005)

''Flavor of Love 3'' (2008) - Guest Star

''My Super Sweet 16'' (2008)

''Hannah Montana'' (2008)

''Baldwin Hills'' - (recurring, Etienne's Mom, season 3, 2009)

''Zevo-3'' (2010 to present)

Stage work

''Reggae'' (1980)

''Dreamgirls'' (1981)

''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' (2002)

Discography

Album

''In the Evening'' (1984, The New York Music Company) #"You're So Romantic" (4:38) #"In the Evening" (3:50) #"Give Me Love" (3:34) #"Evolution" (4:02) #"Back to Being in Love" (3:01) #"Be Somebody" (3:35) #"I'm Your Kind of Girl" (3:55) #"B.A.B.Y." (3:15) #"Ready or Not" (3:46) #"I'm So Glad That We Met" (3:56) Produced and arranged by Trevor Lawrence

Singles

"When I First Saw You" (1983) - US R&B; #50 "In the Evening" (1984) - US Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles #6; UK #64

"You're So Romantic" (1985)

"In the Evening" (remix) (1996)

"Evolution" (remix) (1998)

"Here Comes the Rain Again" (1999) (cover of Eurythmics song)

References

External links

Official Page of Sheryl Lee Ralph

Category:1956 births Category:American people of Jamaican descent Category:African American film actors Category:AIDS activists Category:African American television actors Category:Independent Spirit Award winners Category:Living people Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:People from Waterbury, Connecticut Category:People from Manchester Parish Category:People from Long Island

de:Sheryl Lee Ralph it:Sheryl Lee Ralph ja:シェリル・リー・ラルフ pl:Sheryl Lee Ralph ru:Ральф, Шерил Ли

birth date	April 22, 1967
birth place	Augsburg, West Germany(now Augsburg, Germany)
othername	Sheryl Lee Diamond
awards	Spirit of Sundance Award1995 ''for her body of work''
spouse	Jesse Diamond
website	}}

Sheryl Lee (born April 22, 1967) is an American actress. She came to international attention for her performances as Laura Palmer and Maddy Ferguson on the 1990 cult TV series ''Twin Peaks'' and in the 1992 film ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. She is also known for portraying photographer Astrid Kirchherr in ''Backbeat'' (1994) and for her roles in ''Vampires'' (1998) and ''Winter's Bone'' (2010), as well as for her television series roles in ''LA Doctors'', ''Kingpin'', ''One Tree Hill'' and ''Dirty Sexy Money''.

Early life

Lee was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, West Germany, the daughter of an artist mother and architect father. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado, United States, where she was a graduate of Fairview High School (class of 1985). After graduating, Lee moved to Pasadena, California where she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and later attended the North Carolina School of Arts, the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, and the University of Colorado. After several years of studying, Lee moved to Seattle, Washington where she acted in several stage plays.

Acting career

Lee is remembered by legions of David Lynch fans for her appearance as the dead Laura Palmer in the cult television series ''Twin Peaks''. Lynch asked Lee to audition for him after seeing a publicity photo of her in Seattle from one of the plays she was starring in at the time. When the series was picked up, Lee was also given the part of Laura's cousin Maddy Ferguson later in the series (a role which was reportedly written because Lynch, impressed with her abilities, wanted to give her a fuller role on the show). She also starred in the prequel ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', which elaborated on events leading up to Laura Palmer's death.

Other roles have included playing the part of Astrid Kirchherr in the 1994 movie ''Backbeat'', a bio-pic of the early career of The Beatles opposite Stephen Dorff, the part of Liza in Gary Walkow's 1995 adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella ''Notes from Underground'' opposite Henry Czerny, the role of Katrina in John Carpenter's 1998 film ''Vampires'' opposite James Woods and Daniel Baldwin, and the role of Marlene Cadena in the 2003 television series ''Kingpin'' opposite Yancey Arias and Bobby Cannavale. Sheryl Lee also starred alongside Craig Sheffer in ''Bliss'' (1997). Lee starred opposite Anthony Michael Hall as the sweet but vengeful housewife Eve Robbins in the 2001 USA Cable movie ''Hitched''.

In 2004, Lee was the original choice for the role of Mary-Alice Young on ''Desperate Housewives''. It would have been the second time she would have played a dead character on a series; however, the producers ultimately chose to replace her with Brenda Strong.

In 2005, she played the recurring part of Ellie Harp, the biological mother of Peyton Sawyer (played by Hilarie Burton), who battles breast cancer, on the third season of the WB Network series ''One Tree Hill''.

In 2007 and 2008, Lee appeared on the ABC dramedy, ''Dirty Sexy Money'' as Andrea Smithson, the mother of Brian Darling's (Glenn Fitzgerald) illegitimate child.

In 2001, she presented the ''I Love 1990'' segment of the BBC's popular ''I Love 1990s'' series.

On stage, Lee starred on Broadway in 1992 alongside Al Pacino in Oscar Wilde's ''Salome'' as the title role, in the Circle in the Square Theatre, under the direction of Robert Allan Ackerman. The play co-starred Suzanne Bertish, Esai Morales and Arnold Vosloo.

Lee, along with several other Twin Peaks cast members, guest starred in a special Twin Peaks themed episode of Psych. Other cast members reunited with Lee included Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs), Ray Wise (Leland Palmer), Lenny Von Dohlen (Harold Smith), Robyn Lively (Lana Budding Milford), and Catherine E. Coulson (The Log Lady). This episode marked the first time several Twin Peaks cast members have been reunited on television in almost two decades.

In 2010 she appeared in a supporting role as ''April'' in Debra Granik's ''Winter's Bone'' (which won best picture at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010). The film is about a seventeen-year-old girl (Jennifer Lawrence) in the rural Ozarks, caring for her mentally-ill mother and her younger brother and sister, when she discovers that her father put their house and land up as a bond for a court appearance, at which he failed to appear. Lee won two Awards for ''Best Ensemble'' at Detroit Film Critics Society and Gotham Awards, shared with the cast.

Personal life

She dated David Duchovny. She was married to Jesse Diamond, a photographer and son of singer and songwriter Neil Diamond. They have a son, Elijah.

She is an avid member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and has assertively campaigned against fur and mistreatment of animals. In 2008, she participated in the 3rd Munchkin's Project Pink annual breast cancer awareness campaign to raise money for breast cancer research.

Lee practices Kundalini yoga.

Filmography

Films

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | 1990 | ''Wild at Heart'' | The Good Witch |- | rowspan=2|1992 | ''Jersey Girl'' | Tara |- | ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' | Laura Palmer | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best ActressNominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead |- | rowspan=2|1994 | ''Don't Do It'' | Michelle |- | ''Backbeat'' | Astrid Kirchherr |- | rowspan=3|1995 | ''Fall Time'' | Patty/Carol |- | ''Homage'' | Lucy Samuel |- | ''Notes from Underground'' | Liza |- | 1996 | ''Mother Night'' | Helga Noth / Resi Noth |- | rowspan=3|1997 | ''Bliss'' | Maria |- | ''This World, Then the Fireworks'' | Lois Archer |- | ''The Blood Oranges'' | Fiona |- | 1998 | ''Vampires'' | Katrina | Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |- | rowspan=2|1999 | ''Kiss the Sky'' | Andy |- | ''Angel's Dance'' | Angelica 'Angel' Chaste |- | 2002 | ''Children on Their Birthdays'' | Elinore Murphy |- | 2005 | ''Paradise, Texas'' | Betsy Kinney |- | 2010 | ''Winter's Bone'' | April | Detroit Film Critics Society for Best EnsembleGotham Award for Best EnsembleNominated—Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards for Best Ensemble |- | 2011 | ''Texas Killing Fields'' | | completed |}

Television

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | 1990 | ''Twin Peaks'' | Laura Palmer / Maddy Ferguson | series regular (1990–1991)Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Prime Time Death Scene |- | 1991 | ''Love, Lies and Murder'' | Patti Bailey | NBC TV movie |- | 1992 | ''Red Shoe Diaries'' | Kate Lyons | episode 1.08 ''Jake's Story'' |- | rowspan=3|1994 | ''Guinevere'' | Guinevere | Lifetime TV movie |- | ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' | Catherine | episode 2.15 "Another Woman" |- | ''Aaahh!!! Real Monsters'' | | episode 1.03 "Krumm Goes Hollywood" — voice role |- | 1995 | ''Follow the River'' | Mary Draper Ingles | ABC TV movie |- | 1997 | ''David'' | Bathsheba | TNT miniseries |- | 1998 | ''L.A. Doctors'' | Dr. Sarah Church | series regular (1998–1999) |- | rowspan=2|2001 | ''Hitched'' | Eve Robbins | USA TV movie |- | ''I Love 1990s'' | Host | episode "I Love 1990" — BBC documentary series |- | rowspan=2|2003 | ''Kingpin'' | Marlene McDillon Cadena | series regular |- | ''Without a Trace'' | Tina Hodges | episode 2.10 "Coming Home" |- | 2004 | ''Desperate Housewives'' | Mary Alice Young | original pilot |- | 2005 | ''One Tree Hill'' | Elizabeth 'Ellie' Harp | recurring role (seasons 2–3, 2005–2006) |- | rowspan=3|2006 | ''The Secrets of Comfort House'' | Wendy | Lifetime TV movie |- | ''CSI: NY'' | Ellen Garner | 3.09 "And Here's To You, Mrs Azrael" |- | ''House M.D.'' | Stephanie Green | episode 3.02 "Cane and Able" |- | rowspan=3|2007 | ''Manchild'' | Mary | Showtime TV pilot — not ordered to series |- | ''State of Mind'' | Leslie Petrovsky | episode 1.01 "Pilot" |- | ''Dirty Sexy Money'' | Andrea Smithson | recurring role (seasons 1–2, 2007–2009) |- | rowspan=2|2010 | ''Lie to Me'' | Janet Brooks | episode 2.17 "Bullet Bump" |- | ''Psych'' | Dr. Donna Gooden | episode 5.12 "Dual Spires" |}

Stage credits

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Theatre ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | 1986 || ''Crimes of the Heart'' || || National Theatre Conservatory, Denver, CO |- | || ''Electric River'' || || Pioneer Square Theater, Seattle, WA |- | || ''Emerald City'' || || Empty Space Theatre, Seattle, WA |- | 1991 || ''Love Letters'' || Melissa Gardner || Canon Theater, Los Angeles, CA |- | 1992 || ''Salome'' || Salome || Circle in the Square Theatre, New York, NY || Broadway debut |}

Video Games

{|class="wikitable" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9; |- align="center" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | rowspan="2"|1994 | ''Murder Mystery 3: Who Killed Brett Penance?'' | Lucie Fairwell | |- | ''Murder Mystery 4: Who Killed Taylor French?'' | Lucie Fairwell | |- | 2010 | ''BioShock 2'' | Additional voices (Splicer) | |}

Awards and nominations

!Year	!Award	!Category	!Film	!Result
1992		Best Prime Time Death Scene	''Twin Peaks''
	Saturn Awards
Independent Spirit Awards	Best Female Lead
1995	Sundance Film Festival	Spirit of Sundance Award — for her body of work
1999	Saturn Awards
		Best Ensemble
	Best Ensemble
Detroit Film Critics Society	Best Ensemble

References

Further reading

External links

Category:American film actors Category:American stage actors Category:American television actors Category:American vegetarians Category:Actors from Colorado Category:People from Boulder, Colorado Category:People from Augsburg Category:1967 births Category:Living people

da:Sheryl Lee de:Sheryl Lee el:Σέρυλ Λη es:Sheryl Lee fr:Sheryl Lee it:Sheryl Lee nl:Sheryl Lee ja:シェリル・リー no:Sheryl Lee pl:Sheryl Lee pt:Sheryl Lee ru:Ли, Шерил sl:Sheryl Lee sr:Шерил Ли fi:Sheryl Lee sv:Sheryl Lee

African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans or Afro-Americans, and formerly as American Negroes) are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa. Most African Americans are of West and Central African descent and are descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States. However, some immigrants from African, Caribbean, Central American or South American nations, or their descendants, may be identified or self-identify with the term.

African Americans make up the single largest racial minority in the United States.

African-American history starts in the 16th century with African slaves who quickly rose up against the Spanish explorer Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón and progresses to the present day, with Barack Obama as the 44th and current President of the United States. Between those landmarks there have been events and issues, both resolved and ongoing, including slavery, racism, reconstruction, development of the African-American community, participation in the great military conflicts of the United States, racial segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement.

History

Slavery era

The first African slaves arrived in the present-day United States as part of the San Miguel de Gualdape colony (most likely located in the Winyah Bay area of present-day South Carolina), founded by Spanish explorer Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón in 1526. The ill-fated colony was almost immediately disrupted by a fight over leadership, during which the slaves revolted and fled the colony to seek refuge among local Native Americans. De Ayllón and many of the colonists died shortly afterwards of an epidemic and the colony was abandoned, leaving the escaped slaves behind on North American soil.

In 1565, the colony of Saint Augustine in Florida, founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, became the first permanent European settlement in North America. It included an unknown number of free and enslaved Africans that were part of this colonial expedition.

The first recorded Africans in British North America (including most of the future United States) arrived in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. As English settlers died from harsh conditions, more and more Africans were brought to work as laborers. The Africans were likely treated as indentured servants, similar in legal position to poor English indenturees, who traded several years labor in exchange for passage to America. Africans could legally raise crops and cattle to purchase their freedom. They raised families, marrying other Africans and sometimes intermarrying with Native Americans or English settlers. By the 1640s and 1650s, several African families owned farms around Jamestown and some became wealthy by colonial standards.

The popular conception of a race-based slave system did not fully develop until the 18th century. The Dutch West India Company introduced slavery in 1625 with the importation of eleven black slaves into New Amsterdam (present-day New York City). All the colony's slaves, however, were freed upon its surrender to the British. Massachusetts was the first British colony to legally recognize slavery in 1641. It was not until 1662 that Virginia ruled that a slave mother's children would remain slaves.

The first black congregations and churches were organized before 1800 in both northern and southern cities following the Great Awakening. By 1775, Africans made up 20% of the population in the American colonies, which made them the second largest ethnic group after the English. During the 1770s, Africans, both enslaved and free, helped rebellious English colonists secure American Independence by defeating the British in the American Revolution. Africans and Englishmen fought side by side and were fully integrated. James Armistead, an African American, played a large part in making possible the 1781 Yorktown victory, which established the United States as an independent nation. Other prominent African Americans were Prince Whipple and Oliver Cromwell, who are both depicted in the front of the boat in George Washington's famous ''1776 Crossing the Delaware'' portrait.

By 1860, there were 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the United States due to the Atlantic slave trade, and another 500,000 African Americans lived free across the country. In 1863, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation declared that all slaves in states which had seceded from the Union were free. Advancing Union troops enforced the proclamation with Texas being the last state to be emancipated in 1865.

Reconstruction and Jim Crow

[[File:Jesse Owens1.jpg|thumb|right|Jesse Owens shook racial stereotypes both with Nazis and segregationists in the USA at the 1936 Berlin olympics.]] African Americans quickly set up congregations for themselves, as well as schools, community and civic associations, to have space away from white control or oversight. While the post-war reconstruction era was initially a time of progress for African Americans, in the late 1890s, Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws to enforce racial segregation and disenfranchisement. Most African Americans followed the Jim Crow laws, using a mask of compliance to prevent becoming victims of racially motivated violence. To maintain self-esteem and dignity, African Americans such as Anthony Overton and Mary McLeod Bethune continued to build their own schools, churches, banks, social clubs, and other businesses.

In the last decade of the 19th century, racially discriminatory laws and racial violence aimed at African Americans began to mushroom in the United States. These discriminatory acts included racial segregation—upheld by the United States Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896—which was legally mandated by southern states and nationwide at the local level of government, voter suppression or disenfranchisement in the southern states, denial of economic opportunity or resources nationwide, and private acts of violence and mass racial violence aimed at African Americans unhindered or encouraged by government authorities.

Great Migration and Civil Rights Movement

The desperate conditions of African Americans in the South that sparked the Great Migration of the early 20th century, combined with a growing African American community in the Northern United States, led to a movement to fight violence and discrimination against African Americans that, like abolitionism before it, crossed racial lines. The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 was directed at abolishing racial discrimination against African Americans, particularly in the Southern United States. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the conditions which brought it into being are credited with putting pressure on President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Johnson put his support behind passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and labor unions, and the Voting Rights Act (1965), which expanded federal authority over states to ensure black political participation through protection of voter registration and elections. By 1966, the emergence of the Black Power movement, which lasted from 1966 to 1975, expanded upon the aims of the Civil Rights Movement to include economic and political self-sufficiency, and freedom from white authority.

Post-Civil Rights era

Politically and economically, blacks have made substantial strides during the post-civil rights era. In 1989, Douglas Wilder became the first African-American elected governor in U.S. history. There is currently one black governor; governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. Clarence Thomas became the second African-American Supreme Court Justice. In 1992 Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. There were 8,936 black officeholders in the United States in 2000, showing a net increase of 7,467 since 1970. In 2001 there were 484 black mayors.

On November 4, 2008, Democratic Senator Barack Obama defeated Republican Senator John McCain to become the first African American to be elected President. At least 95 percent of African-American voters voted for Obama. He also received overwhelming support from young and educated whites, a majority of Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans picking up a number of new states in the Democratic electoral column. Obama lost the overall white vote, although he won a larger proportion of white votes than any previous nonincumbent Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter. The following year Michael S. Steele was elected the first African-American chairman of the national Republican Party.

Demographics

In 1790, when the first U.S. Census was taken, Africans (including slaves and free people) numbered about 760,000—about 19.3% of the population. In 1860, at the start of the Civil War, the African American population had increased to 4.4 million, but the percentage rate dropped to 14% of the overall population of the country. The vast majority were slaves, with only 488,000 counted as "freemen". By 1900, the black population had doubled and reached 8.8 million. In 1910, about 90% of African Americans lived in the South, but large numbers began migrating north looking for better job opportunities and living conditions, and to escape Jim Crow laws and racial violence. The Great Migration, as it was called, spanned the 1890s to the 1970s. From 1916 through the 1960s, more than 6 million black people moved north. But in the 1970s and 1980s, that trend reversed, with more African Americans moving south to the Sun Belt than leaving it.

The following table of the African American population in the United States over time shows that the African American population, as a percentage of the total population, declined until 1930 and has been rising since then. {|class="wikitable" style="float:left; font-size:85%;" African Americans in the United States ! Year || Number || % of totalpopulation || % Change(10 yr) || Slaves || % in slavery |- | 1790 || 757,208 || 19.3% (highest) || – || 697,681 || 92% |- | 1800 || 1,002,037 || 18.9% || 32.3% || 893,602 || 89% |- | 1810 || 1,377,808 || 19.0% || 37.5% || 1,191,362 || 86% |- | 1820 || 1,771,656 || 18.4% || 28.6% || 1,538,022 || 87% |- | 1830 || 2,328,642 || 18.1% || 31.4% || 2,009,043 || 86% |- | 1840 || 2,873,648 || 16.8% || 23.4% || 2,487,355 || 87% |- | 1850 || 3,638,808 || 15.7% || 26.6% || 3,204,287 || 88% |- | 1860 || 4,441,830 || 14.1% || 22.1% || 3,953,731 || 89% |- | 1870 || 4,880,009 || 12.7% || 9.9% || – || – |- | 1880 || 6,580,793 || 13.1% || 34.9% || – || – |- | 1890 || 7,488,788 || 11.9% || 13.8% || – || – |- | 1900 || 8,833,994 || 11.6% || 18.0% || – || – |- | 1910 || 9,827,763 || 10.7% || 11.2% || – || – |- | 1920 || 10.5 million || 9.9% || 6.8% || – || – |- | 1930 || 11.9 million || 9.7% (lowest) || 13% || – || – |- | 1940 || 12.9 million || 9.8% || 8.4% || – || – |- | 1950 || 15.0 million || 10.0% || 16% || – || – |- | 1960 || 18.9 million || 10.5% || 26% || – || – |- | 1970 || 22.6 million || 11.1% || 20% || – || – |- | 1980 || 26.5 million || 11.7% || 17% || – || – |- | 1990 || 30.0 million || 12.1% || 13% || – || – |- | 2000 || 34.6 million || 12.3% || 15% || – || – |- | 2010 || 38.9 million || 12.6% || 12% || – || – |- |}

By 1990, the African American population reached about 30 million and represented 12% of the U.S. population, roughly the same proportion as in 1900. In current demographics, according to 2005 U.S. Census figures, some 39.9 million African Americans live in the United States, comprising 13.8% of the total population. The World Factbook gives a 2006 figure of 12.9% Controversy has surrounded the "accurate" population count of African Americans for decades. The NAACP believed it was under counted intentionally to minimize the significance of the black population in order to reduce their political power base.

At the time of the 2000 Census, 54.8% of African Americans lived in the South. In that year, 17.6% of African Americans lived in the Northeast and 18.7% in the Midwest, while only 8.9% lived in the western states. The west does have a sizable black population in certain areas, however. California, the nation's most populous state, has the fifth largest African American population, only behind New York, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. According to the 2000 Census, approximately 2.05% of African Americans identified as Hispanic or Latino in origin, many of whom may be of Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Haitian, or other Latin American descent. The only self-reported ''ancestral'' groups larger than African Americans are the Irish and Germans. Because many African Americans trace their ancestry to colonial American origins, some simply self-identify as "American".

U.S. cities

Almost 58% of African Americans lived in metropolitan areas in 2000. With over 2 million black residents, New York City had the largest black urban population in the United States in 2000, overall the city has a 28% black population. Chicago has the second largest black population, with almost 1.6 million African Americans in its metropolitan area, representing about 18 percent of the total metropolitan population.

Among cities of 100,000 or more, Detroit, Michigan had the highest percentage of black residents of any U.S. city in 2010, with 82%. Other large cities with African American majorities include New Orleans, Louisiana (60%), Baltimore, Maryland (63%) Atlanta, Georgia (54%), Memphis, Tennessee (61%), and Washington, D.C. (50.7%).

The nation's most affluent county with an African American majority is Prince George's County, Maryland, with a median income of $62,467. Within that county, among the wealthiest communities are Glenn Dale, Maryland and Fort Washington, Maryland. Other affluent predominantly African American counties include Dekalb County in Georgia, and Charles City County in Virginia. Queens County, New York is the only county with a population of 65,000 or more where African Americans have a higher median household income than White Americans.

Religion

The majority of African Americans are Protestant of whom many follow the historically black churches. Black church refers to churches which minister predominantly African American congregations. Black congregations were first established by freed slaves at the end of the 17th century, and later when slavery was abolished more African Americans were allowed to create a unique form of Christianity that was culturally influenced by African spiritual traditions.

According to a 2007 survey, more than half of the African American population are part of the historically black churches. The largest Protestant denomination among African Americans are the Baptists, distributed in four denominations, the largest being the National Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention of America. The second largest are the Methodists, the largest sects are the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Pentecostals are mainly part of the Church of God in Christ. About 16% of African American Christians are members of white Protestant communions, these denominations (which include the United Church of Christ) mostly have a 2 to 3% African American membership. There are also large numbers of Roman Catholics, constituting 5% of the African American population. Of the total number of Jehovah's Witnesses, 22% are black.

Some African Americans follow Islam. Historically, between 15 to 30% of enslaved Africans brought to the Americas were Muslims, but most of these Africans were converted to Christianity during the era of American slavery. However during the 20th century, some African Americans converted to Islam, mainly through the influence of black nationalist groups that preached with distinctive Islamic practices; these include the Moorish Science Temple of America, though the largest organization was the Nation of Islam, founded during the 1930s, which attracted at least 20,000 people as of 1963, prominent members included activist Malcolm X and boxer Muhammad Ali.

Malcolm X is considered the first person to start the movement among African Americans towards mainstream Islam, after he left the Nation and made the pilgrimage to Mecca. In 1975, Warith Deen Mohammed, the son of Elijah Muhammad who took control of the Nation after his death, guided majority of its members to orthodox Islam. However, few members rejected these changes, in particular Louis Farrakhan, who revived the Nation of Islam in 1978 based on its original teachings.

African American Muslims constitute 20% of the total U.S. Muslim population, the majority are Sunni or orthodox Muslims, some of these identify under the community of W. Deen Mohammed. The Nation of Islam led by Louis Farrakhan has a membership from 20,000—50,000 members.

There are relatively few African American Jews; estimates of their number range from 20,000 to 200,000. Most of these Jews are part of mainstream groups such as the Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox branches of Judaism; although there are significant numbers of people who are part of non-mainstream Jewish groups, largely the Black Hebrew Israelites, whose beliefs include the claim that African Americans are descended from the Biblical Israelites.

Contemporary issues

African Americans have improved their social and economic standing significantly since the Civil Rights Movement and recent decades have witnessed the expansion of a robust, African American middle class across the United States. Unprecedented access to higher education and employment in addition to representation in the highest levels of American government has been gained by African Americans in the post-civil rights era.

Nevertheless, due in part to the legacy of slavery, racism and discrimination, African Americans as a group remain at a pronounced economic, educational and social disadvantage in many areas relative to European Americans. Persistent social, economic and political issues for many African Americans include inadequate health care access and delivery; institutional racism and discrimination in housing, education, policing, criminal justice and employment; crime, poverty and substance abuse.

One of the most serious and long standing issues within African American communities is poverty. Poverty itself is a hardship as it is related to marital stress and dissolution, health problems, low educational attainment, deficits in psychological functioning, and crime. In 2004, 24.7% of African American families lived below the poverty level. In 2007, the average African American income was $33,916, compared with $54,920 for whites.

Politics and social issues

Collectively, African Americans are more involved in the American political process than other minority groups in the United States, indicated by the highest level of voter registration and participation in elections among these groups in 2004. African Americans collectively attain higher levels of education than immigrants to the United States. African Americans also have the highest level of Congressional representation of any minority group in the U.S.

The large majority of African Americans support the Democratic Party. In the 2004 Presidential Election, Democrat John Kerry received 88% of the African American vote compared to 11% for Republican George W. Bush. Although there is an African-American lobby in foreign policy, it has not had the impact that African American organizations have had in domestic policy.

Historically, African Americans were supporters of the Republican Party because it was Republican President Abraham Lincoln who helped in granting freedom to American slaves; at the time, the Republicans and Democrats represented the sectional interests of the North and South, respectively, rather than any specific ideology, and both right and left were represented equally in both parties.

The African American trend of voting for Democrats can be traced back to the 1930s during the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program provided economic relief to African Americans; Roosevelt's New Deal coalition turned the Democratic Party into an organization of the working class and their liberal allies, regardless of region. The African American vote became even more solidly Democratic when Democratic presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for civil rights legislation during the 1960s.

After over 50 years, marriage rates for ''all'' Americans began to decline while divorce rates and out-of-wedlock births have climbed. These changes have been greatest among African Americans. After more than 70 years of racial parity black marriage rates began to fall behind whites. Single-parent households have become common, and according to US census figures released in January 2010, only 38 percent of black children live with both their parents. Despite that and heavy Democratic leanings, African Americans favor "traditional American values" about family and marriage.

While 52% of Democrats support same-sex marriage, only 30% of black Democrats do. In 2008, though Democrats overwhelmingly voted (64%) against the California ballot proposition banning gay marriage, blacks overwhelmingly approved (70% in favor) it, more than any other racial group. The high-profile candidacy of Barack Obama is credited with increasing black turnout on the bill which has been seen as the crucial difference in its passing.

Blacks also hold far more conservative opinions on abortion, extramarital sex, and raising children out of wedlock than Democrats as a whole. On financial issues, however, African Americans are very much in line with Democrats, generally supporting a more progressive tax structure to provide more services and reduce injustice and as well as more government spending on social services.

News media and coverage

Some activists and academics contend that news media coverage of African American news concerns or dilemmas is inadequate or the news media present distorted images of African Americans. To combat this, Robert L. Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television, a network that targets young African Americans and urban audiences in the United States. Most programming on the network consists of rap and R&B; music videos and urban-oriented movies and series. The channel also shows syndicated television series, original programs, and some public affairs programs. On Sunday mornings, BET broadcasts a lineup of network-produced Christian programming; other, non-affiliated Christian programs are also shown during the early morning hours daily. BET is now a global network that reaches 85 million viewers in the Caribbean, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In addition to BET there is Centric, which is a spin-off cable television channel of BET, created originally as ''BET on Jazz'' to showcase jazz music-related programming, especially that of black jazz musicians. Programming has been expanded to include a block of urban programs as well as some R&B;, neo soul, and alternative hip hop, with the focus on jazz reduced to low-profile hours.

TV One is another African American-oriented network and a direct competitor to BET, targeting African American adults with a broad range of programming. The network airs original lifestyle and entertainment-oriented shows, movies, fashion and music programming, as well as classic series such as 227, Good Times, Martin, Boston Public and It's Showtime at the Apollo. The network primarily owned by Radio One. Founded and controlled by Catherine Hughes, it is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies and the largest African American-owned radio broadcasting company in the United States.

Other African American networks scheduled to launch in 2009 are the Black Television News Channel founded by former Congressman J. C. Watts and Better Black Television founded by Percy Miller. In June 2009, NBC News launched a new website named The Grio in partnership with the production team that created the black documentary film, Meeting David Wilson. It is the first African American video news site which focuses on underrepresented stories in existing national news. The Grio consists of a broad spectrum of original video packages, news articles, and contributor blogs on topics including breaking news, politics, health, business, entertainment and Black History.

Education

By 2000, African Americans had advanced greatly. They still lagged overall in education attainment compared to white or Asian Americans, with 14 percent with four year and 5 percent with advanced degrees, though it was higher than for other minorities. African Americans attend college at about half the rate of whites, but at a greater rate than Americans of Hispanic origin. More African American women attend and complete college than men. Black schools for kindergarten through twelfth grade students were common throughout the U.S., and a pattern towards re-segregation is currently occurring across the country.

Historically black colleges and universities remain today which were originally set up when segregated colleges did not admit African Americans. As late as 1947, about one third of African Americans over 65 were considered to lack the literacy to read and write their own names. By 1969, illiteracy as it had been traditionally defined, had been largely eradicated among younger African Americans.

US Census surveys showed that by 1998, 89 percent of African Americans aged 25 to 29 had completed high school, less than whites or Asians, but more than Hispanics. On many college entrance, standardized tests and grades, African Americans have historically lagged behind whites, but some studies suggest that the achievement gap has been closing. Many policy makers have proposed that this gap can and will be eliminated through policies such as affirmative action, desegregation, and multiculturalism.

In Chicago, Marva Collins, an African American educator, created a low cost private school specifically for the purpose of teaching low-income African American children whom the public school system had labeled as being "learning disabled". One article about Marva Collins' school stated,

Working with students having the worst of backgrounds, those who were working far below grade level, and even those who had been labeled as 'unteachable,' Marva was able to overcome the obstacles. News of third grade students reading at ninth grade level, four-year-olds learning to read in only a few months, outstanding test scores, disappearance of behavioral problems, second-graders studying Shakespeare, and other incredible reports, astounded the public.

During the 2006–2007 school year, Collins' school charged $5,500 for tuition, and parents said that the school did a much better job than the Chicago public school system. Meanwhile, during the 2007–2008 year, Chicago public school officials claimed that their budget of $11,300 per student was not enough.

Economic status

Economically, African Americans have benefited from the advances made during the Civil Rights era, particularly among the educated, but not without the lingering effects of historical marginalization when considered as a whole. The racial disparity in poverty rates has narrowed. The black middle class has grown substantially. In 2000, 47% of African Americans owned their homes. The poverty rate among African Americans has decreased from 26.5% in 1998 to 24.7% in 2004. African Americans are the second largest consumer group in America with a combined buying power of over $892 billion currently and likely over $1.1 trillion by 2012. In 2002 African American-owned businesses accounted for 1.2 million of the US's 23 million businesses. As of 2011 African American-owned business account for approximately 2 million US businesses. Black-owned businesses experienced the largest growth in number of businesses among minorities from 2002 to 2011.

In 2004, African American workers had the second-highest median earnings of American minority groups after Asian Americans, and African Americans had the highest level of male-female income parity of all ethnic groups in the United States. Also, among American minority groups, only Asian Americans were more likely to hold white-collar occupations (management, professional, and related fields), and African Americans were no more or less likely than European Americans to work in the service industry. In 2001, over half of African American households of married couples earned $50,000 or more. Although in the same year African Americans were over-represented among the nation's poor, this was directly related to the disproportionate percentage of African American families headed by single women; such families are collectively poorer, regardless of ethnicity.

By 2006, gender continued to be the primary factor in income level, with the median earnings of African American men more than those black and non-black American women overall and in all educational levels. At the same time, among American men, income disparities were significant; the median income of African American men was approximately 76 cents for every dollar of their European American counterparts, although the gap narrowed somewhat with a rise in educational level.

Overall, the median earnings of African American men were 72 cents for every dollar earned of their Asian American counterparts, and $1.17 for every dollar earned by Hispanic men. On the other hand by 2006, among American women with post-secondary education, African American women have made significant advances; the median income of African American women was more than those of their Asian-, European- and Hispanic American counterparts with at least some college education.

African Americans are still underrepresented in government and employment. In 1999, the median income of African American families was $33,255 compared to $53,356 of European Americans. In times of economic hardship for the nation, African Americans suffer disproportionately from job loss and underemployment, with the black underclass being hardest hit. The phrase "last hired and first fired" is reflected in the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment figures. Nationwide, the October 2008 unemployment rate for African Americans was 11.1%, while the nationwide rate was 6.5%.

The income gap between black and white families is also significant. In 2005, employed blacks earned only 65% of the wages of whites, down from 82% in 1975. ''The New York Times'' reported in 2006 that in Queens, New York, the median income among African American families exceeded that of white families, which the newspaper attributed to the growth in the number of two-parent black families. It noted that Queens was the only county with more than 65,000 residents where that was true.

In 1999, the rate of births to unwed African American mothers was estimated by economist Walter E. Williams of George Mason University to be 70%. The poverty rate among single-parent black families was 39.5% in 2005, according to Williams, while it was 9.9% among married-couple black families. Among white families, the comparable rates were 26.4% and 6%.

According to ''Forbes'' magazine's "wealthiest American" lists, a 2000 net worth of $800 million dollars made Oprah Winfrey the richest African American of the 20th century; by contrast, the net worth of the 20th century's richest American, Bill Gates, who is of European descent, briefly hit $100 billion in 1999. In Forbes' 2007 list, Gates' net worth decreased to $59 billion while Winfrey's increased to $2.5 billion, making her the world's richest black person. Winfrey is also the first African American to make Business Week's annual list of America's 50 greatest philanthropists. BET founder Bob Johnson was also listed as a billionaire prior to an expensive divorce and as of 2009, had an estimated net worth of $550 million. Winfrey remains the only African American wealthy enough to rank among the country's 400 richest people. Some black entrepreneurs use their wealth to create new avenues for both African Americans and new opportunities for American business in general. Examples such as Tyler Perry who created new filming studios in Atlanta, Georgia which makes it possible to film movies and television shows outside of California.

Cultural influence in the United States

From their earliest presence in North America, African Americans have contributed literature, art, agricultural skills, foods, clothing styles, music, language, social and technological innovation to American culture. The cultivation and use of many agricultural products in the U.S., such as yams, peanut$2s, rice, okra, sorghum, grits, watermelon, indigo dyes, and cotton, can be traced to African and African American influences. Notable examples include George Washington Carver, who created 300 products from peanuts, 118 products from sweet potatoes, and 75 from pecans; and George Crum, who invented the potato chip in 1853.

African American music is one of the most pervasive African American cultural influences in the United States today and is among the most dominant in mainstream popular music. Hip hop, R&B;, funk, rock and roll, soul, blues, and other contemporary American musical forms originated in black communities and evolved from other black forms of music, including blues, doo-wop, barbershop, ragtime, bluegrass, jazz, and gospel music.

African American-derived musical forms have also influenced and been incorporated into virtually every other popular musical genre in the world, including country and techno. African American genres are the most important ethnic vernacular tradition in America, as they have developed independent of African traditions from which they arise more so than any other immigrant groups, including Europeans; make up the broadest and longest lasting range of styles in America; and have, historically, been more influential, interculturally, geographically, and economically, than other American vernacular traditions.

African Americans have also had an important role in American dance. Bill T. Jones, a prominent modern choreographer and dancer, has included historical African American themes in his work, particularly in the piece "Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin/The Promised Land". Likewise, Alvin Ailey's artistic work, including his "Revelations" based on his experience growing up as an African American in the South during the 1930s, has had a significant influence on modern dance. Another form of dance, Stepping, is an African American tradition whose performance and competition has been formalized through the traditionally black fraternities and sororities at universities.

Many African American authors have written stories, poems, and essays influenced by their experiences as African Americans. African-American literature is a major genre in American literature. Famous examples include Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou.

African American inventors have created many widely used devices in the world and have contributed to international innovation. Norbert Rillieux created the technique for converting sugar cane juice into white sugar crystals. Moreover, Rillieux left Louisiana in 1854 and went to France, where he spent ten years working with the Champollions deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone. Most slave inventors were nameless, such as the slave owned by the Confederate President Jefferson Davis who designed the ship propeller used by the Confederate navy.

By 1913 over 1,000 inventions were patented by black Americans. Among the most notable inventors were Jan Matzeliger, who developed the first machine to mass-produce shoes, and Elijah McCoy, who invented automatic lubrication devices for steam engines. Granville Woods had 35 patents to improve electric railway systems, including the first system to allow moving trains to communicate. Garrett A. Morgan developed the first automatic traffic signal and gas mask.

Lewis Howard Latimer invented an improvement for the incandescent light bulb. More recent inventors include Frederick McKinley Jones, who invented the movable refrigeration unit for food transport in trucks and trains. Lloyd Quarterman worked with six other black scientists on the creation of the atomic bomb (code named the Manhattan Project.) Quarterman also helped develop the first nuclear reactor, which was used in the atomically powered submarine called the Nautilus.

A few other notable examples include the first successful open heart surgery, performed by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and the air conditioner, patented by Frederick McKinley Jones. Dr. Mark Dean holds three of the original nine patents on the computer on which all PCs are based. More current contributors include Otis Boykin, whose inventions included several novel methods for manufacturing electrical components that found use in applications such as guided missile systems and computers, and Colonel Frederick Gregory, who was not only the first black astronaut pilot but the person who redesigned the cockpits for the last three space shuttles. Gregory was also on the team that pioneered the microwave instrumentation landing system.

Political legacy

African Americans have fought in every war in the history of the United States.

The gains made by African Americans in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements not only obtained certain rights for African Americans, but changed American society in far-reaching and fundamentally important ways. Prior to the 1950s, Black Americans in the South were subject to de jure discrimination, or Jim Crow. They would often be the victims of extreme cruelty and violence, sometimes resulting in deaths: by the post WWII era, African Americans became increasingly discontented with their long-standing inequality. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., African Americans and their supporters challenged the nation to "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed that all men are created equal ..."

The Civil Rights Movement marked a sea-change in American social, political, economic and civic life. It brought with it boycotts, sit-ins, demonstrations, court battles, bombings and other violence; prompted worldwide media coverage and intense public debate; forged enduring civic, economic and religious alliances; and disrupted and realigned the nation's two major political parties.

Over time, it has changed in fundamental ways the manner in which blacks and whites interact with and relate to one another. The movement resulted in the removal of codified, ''de jure'' racial segregation and discrimination from American life and law, and heavily influenced other groups and movements in struggles for civil rights and social equality within American society, including the Free Speech Movement, the disabled, women, Native Americans, and migrant workers.

The term "African American"

Political overtones

The term African American carries important political overtones. Earlier terms used to identify Americans of African ancestry were conferred upon the group by colonists and Americans of European ancestry. The terms were included in the wording of various laws and legal decisions which some thought were being used as tools of white supremacy and oppression. There developed among blacks in America a growing desire for a term of self-identification of their own choosing.

With the political consciousness that emerged from the political and social ferment of the late 1960s and early 1970s, blacks no longer approved of the term Negro. They believed it had suggestions of a moderate, accommodationist, even "Uncle Tom" connotation. In this period, a growing number of blacks in the United States, particularly African American youth, celebrated their blackness and their historical and cultural ties with the African continent. The Black Power movement defiantly embraced ''Black'' as a group identifier. It was a term social leaders themselves had repudiated only two decades earlier, but they proclaimed, "Black is beautiful".

In this same period, a smaller number of people favored ''Afro-American'', a common shortening (as is 'Anglo-American'). However, after the decline in popularity of the 'Afro' hairstyle in the late 1970s, the term fell out of use.

In the 1980s the term ''African American'' was advanced on the model of, for example, German-American or Irish-American to give descendents of American slaves and other American blacks who lived through the slavery-era a heritage and a cultural base. The term was popularized in black communities around the country via word of mouth and ultimately received mainstream use after Jesse Jackson publicly used the term in front of a national audience. Subsequently, major media outlets adopted its use.

Some such as Maulana Karenga and Owen Alik Shahadah argue African-American is more appropriate because it accurately articulates geography and historical origin. Thus linking a people to a continent as oppose to an abstract color. Others believe the term black is inaccurate because African Americans have a variety of skin tones. Surveys show that the majority of Black Americans have no preference for "African American" or "Black," although they have a slight preference for "Black" in personal settings and "African American" in more formal settings. Many African-Americans expressed a preference for the term, as it was formed in the same way as names for others of the many ethnic groups in the nation. Some argued further that, because of the historical circumstances surrounding the capture, enslavement and systematic attempts to de-Africanize blacks in the United States under chattel slavery, most African Americans are unable to trace their ancestry to a specific African nation; hence, the entire continent serves as a geographic marker.

For many, African American is more than a name expressive of cultural and historical roots. The term expresses pride in Africa and a sense of kinship and solidarity with others of the African diaspora—an embrace of pan-Africanism as earlier enunciated by prominent African thinkers such as Marcus Garvey, W. E. B. Du Bois and George Padmore.

Who is African American?

Since 1977, in an attempt to keep up with changing social opinion, the United States government has officially classified black people (revised to ''black'' or ''African American'' in 1997) as "having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa." Other federal offices, such as the United States Census Bureau, adhere to the OMB standards on race in its data collection and tabulations efforts. In preparation for the United States 2010 Census, a marketing and outreach plan, called ''2010 Census Integrated Communications Campaign Plan'' (ICC) recognized and defined African Americans as black people born in the United States. From the ICC perspective, African Americans are one of three groups of black people in the United States

The ICC plan was to reach the three groups by acknowledging that each group has its own sense of community that is based on geography and ethnicity. The best way to market the census process toward any of the three groups is to reach them through their own unique communication channels and not treat the entire black population of the U.S. as though they are all African Americans with a single ethnic and geographical background. The U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation categorizes black or African American people as "A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa" through racial categories used in the UCR Program adopted from the Statistical Policy Handbook (1978) and published by the Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce, derived from the 1977 OMB classification.

The African-American experience

In her book ''The End of Blackness'', as well as in an essay on the liberal website Salon, author Debra Dickerson has argued that the term "black" should refer strictly to the descendents of Africans brought to America as slaves, and not the sons and daughters of black immigrants who lack that ancestry. In her opinion, President Barack Obama, who is the son of a Kenyan immigrant, although technically African-American, is not black. She makes the argument that grouping all people of African descent together regardless of their unique ancestral circumstances would inevitably deny the lingering effects of slavery within the American community of slave descendents, in addition to denying black immigrants recognition of their own unique ancestral backgrounds. "Lumping us all together", Dickerson wrote, "erases the significance of slavery and continuing racism while giving the appearance of progress".

Similar viewpoints have been expressed by Stanley Crouch in a New York Daily News piece, Charles Kenzie Steele, Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and African-American columnist David Ehrenstein of the LA Times who accused white liberals of flocking to blacks who were "Magic Negros", a term that refers to a black person with no past who simply appears to assist the mainstream white (as cultural protagonists/drivers) agenda. Ehrenstein went on to say "He's there to assuage white 'guilt' they feel over the role of slavery and racial segregation in American history." said "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that." She has also rejected an immigrant designation for African-Americans and instead prefers the term "black" or "white" to denote the African and European U.S. founding populations.

Terms no longer in common use

The terms mulatto and colored were widely used until the second quarter of the 20th century, when they were considered outmoded and generally gave way to the use of ''negro''. By the 1940s, the term commonly was capitalized, but by the mid 1960s, it had acquired negative connotations. Today, in the culture of the United States, the term is considered inappropriate and is now rarely used and perceived as a pejorative.

The term Negro is largely out of use among the younger black generation, but is still used by a substantial block of older black Americans, particularly in the southern U.S. In Latin America, ''negro'', which translates as ''black'' is the term generally used to refer and describe black people and, similarly to ''mulatto'', it is not considered offensive at all in these regions. However, it is pronounced differently, with the ''e'' (a mid front unrounded vowel in American Spanish: , and a close-mid front unrounded vowel in Brazilian Portuguese: ) being closer to a sound that it is intermediate between phonemes found in English words such as pay and egg (in Spanish) or day, city and item (in Portuguese).

See also

Affirmative action

African-American art

African-American history

African-American literature

African-American music

African American Muslims

African American National Biography Project

African American Vernacular English

African American Women, 1960's

American Black Upper Class

American Civil War

Black church

Black feminism

Black Loyalist

Black nationalism

Military history of African Americans

Slavery in the United States

Diaspora:

African Americans in France

African diaspora

African immigrants to the United States

Afro-Latin American

American Black Indians

Americans of Igbo ancestry

Americo-Liberian

Black Hispanic and Latino Americans

Black Nova Scotians

Black people

Foreign-born Afro Americans

Sierra Leone Creole people

Lists:

Lists of African Americans

List of African-American-related topics

List of topics related to Black and African people

Terminology: Colored, Creole peoples, Negro, Nigger, Nigga

Notes

References

Further reading

Jack Salzman, ed., ''Encyclopedia of Afro-American culture and history'', New York, New York : Macmillan Library Reference USA, 1996.

''African American Lives'', edited by Henry L. Gates, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Oxford University Press, 2004—more than 600 biographies.

''From Slavery to Freedom. A History of African Americans'', by John Hope Franklin, Alfred Moss, McGraw-Hill Education 2001, standard work, first edition in 1947.

''Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia'', Darlene Clark Hine (Editor), Rosalyn Terborg-Penn (Editor), Elsa Barkley Brown (Editor), Paperback Edition, Indiana University Press 2005.

External links

Richard Thompson Ford Name Games, ''Slate'', September 16, 2004. Article discussing the problems of defining ''African American''

"Of Arms & the Law: Don Kates on Afro-American Homicide Rates"

''Scientific American'' Magazine (June 2006) Trace Elements Reconnecting African-Americans to an ancestral past

"The Definition of Political Absurdity", ''San Francisco Chronicle'', March 2, 2007

African American archaeology in Sacramento, California pdf

African American archaeology in Oakland, California —See Part III, Chap 10

Black History related original documents and photos

President Obama's Speech to the NAACP on July 16, 2009—full video by ''MSNBC''

Black or African American?, Frank Newport. Gallup, September 28, 2007

The Long Journey of Black Americans – slideshow by ''The First Post''

Category:African American history Category:Ethnic groups in the United States Category:History of civil rights in the United States Category:Peoples of the African diaspora

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name	Miki Howard
background	solo_singer
birth name	Alicia Michelle Howard
birth date	September 30, 1960
origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
genre	R&B;, soul, Jazz
occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Producer
years active	1979–present
label	AtlanticGiantWarlock RecordsHushPeakShanachieBranicka Records
Associated acts	Side Effect, LevertGerald Levert, Marc GordonAl Jarreau, Chuckii BookerJoy Ride, Roy Ayers
website	Mikihowardmedia.com }}

Miki Howard (born Alicia Michelle Howard, September 30, 1960), in Chicago, Illinois is an American R&B;/jazz singer and actress who had a string of Top 10 hit songs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Howard's string of hits also included Baby,Be Mine", "Come Share My Love" and "Love Under New Management". And hits, "Ain't Nobody Like You" and "Ain't Nuthin' in the World" both peaked at number one on US Billboard's Top R&B; Singles chart.

Early life

Howard was born in Chicago, IL, she grew up in church, were both of her parents were gospel singers. She is the daughter of gospel singer Josephine Howard of The Caravans, and Clay Graham of The Pilgrim Jubilees. Howard's mother being acquainted with various entertainers, she would take Miki to the homes of various stars such as Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples. After staying in Chicago until the age of 9, Howard and her family moved to Los Angeles to be close to Caravans arranger James Cleveland. As a child, Howard would sing often in the family home. She was fortunate to be around music greats visiting the family home from Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, Billy Preston, and Fats Domino. Howard being born from parents, who were singers' she inherited their singing talent. Miki was also influenced by jazz greats, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson. As a teenager, Miki often visit Club Maverick in Los Angeles, a spot music acts played from Rufus and Chaka Khan to Earth Wind & Fire, were influential in her pursuit for a professional singing career.

Music career

1980-85:''Side Effect''

At the age of 16, she performed in a teen pageant. After the show, she met singer Augie Johnson, leader and member of R&B; group Side Effect, who happened to be in the audience and began working with Howard on music. Johnson charmed Miki and later chose her, After a period of time, Howard became a Side Effect member in 1979 -- replacing the departure of Sylvia St. James. Howard's tenure with the group lasted a few years. With Miki as new female vocalist, Side Effect's After The Rain was released in 1980. The album did not do well on the charts as well as the next two Elektra albums "Portraits and All Aboard". As a member of Side Effect, the group's best remembered ''"I Can't Play"'' and a cover of Toto's ''"Georgy Porgy"'' were minor R&B; hits. During this time, she also had two children by Johnson. In addition to singing with Side Effect, she did background vocals for Wayne Henderson, Roy Ayers, Stanley Turrentine, and several other artists. By 1985, Howard decided she was ready to begin a solo career, and left the group. She put together a demo that landed her a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

1986:''Come Share My Love''

Howard begin recording songs for her debut album, Come Share My Love released in 1986. The album was produced by LeMel Humes, would peak to number 19 on Billboard's Top R&B; Albums. The first single, "Come Share My Love" would become her first U.S. hit single. The song peaked to number 5 on ''Billboard's'' R&B; Singles chart. By the fall, the follow up single was a cover version of Glenn Miller's 1940's tune "Imagination", peaked to #13 on the R&B; Singles and would become Miki's first video. With two hit singles from the album, Miki embarked on her first concert tour in 1987, opening for funk band Cameo. The final single, "Come Back to Me Lover" was released charting to no. 33, on R&B; singles chart.

1987-90:''Love Confessions, Miki Howard''

In November 1987, Howard released her second album, ''Love Confessions''. LeMel Humes produced several tracks, and became a close friend, working with Miki on future albums through-out her career. Her success continued with two more Top 10 R&B; singles from the album, Nick Martinelli produced, soul ballad "Baby, Be Mine" climbed to number 5 on the R&B; Singles chart. The second single "That's What Love Is", a duet with hit-making R&B; ''crooner'' Gerald Levert (lead singer of R&B; group Levert), peaked to no. 5 on R&B; Singles chart. Gerald produced the duet and final single "Crazy", which peaked at no. 38 on R&B; singles. Howard and Gerald's group Levert, embarked on a U.S. tour in support of their album's. The pair was also romantically involved, and that romance would spawn one of Howard's biggest hits from her third album. On March 30, 1988, Miki won a Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist.

In November 1989, Howard released her third album, self-titled ''Miki Howard'', which would become her final album on Atlantic Records. Following the release, the album became a hit, charting at no. 4 on Billboard's Top R&B; Albums chart. The album would become Howard's most successful to date. During recording, Miki and Gerald Levert's romantic relationship, spawned the song's ''"I'll Be Your Shoulder"'', ''"Mister"'' and ''"Just The Way You Want Me To"''; written-produced by Levert. Howard secured her first chart-topper, the first single, "Ain't Nuthin' in the World", peaked at number-one on the R&B; Singles. Howard scored 2 more Top 5 R&B; hits from the album. The songs "Love Under New Management'', written during her love affair with ''Levert'', peaked no. 2 and a cover of "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do), at no. 3 on the R&B; singles chart.

1992-93:''Femme Fatale, Miki Sings Billie''

By 1992, Howard was no longer a recording artist with Atlantic, she was now signed on as an artist with Giant Records. On September 15, Howard's forth studio album, ''Femme Fatale'' was released. The album peaked to no. 7 on Billboard's Top R&B; Albums chart. Producer/songwriter LeMel Humes produced majority of the album, including the first single, "Ain't Nobody Like You". The song peaked at no. 1, on R&B; Singles chart, Howards second R&B; chart-topper and no. 64 on Billboard's Hot 100. A second single an music video for "Release Me", was released, the song received modest radio airplay and peaked at 43 on ''R&B; singles'' chart. More singles were released as 'promotional, radio-only', the David Foster produced, "Shining Through" and "But I Love You", produced by LeMel Humes.

Miki, was offered a featured acting role by movie director Spike Lee, Lee directed/produced the 1992 bio-pic film ''Malcolm X''. Howard portrayed jazz singer Billie Holiday, performing Holiday's "I Cover the Waterfront". Howard had always been strongly influenced by Holiday's vocal technique and music. In the fall of 1992, Miki decided to pay tribute to Billie by recording ''covers'' of her favorite classic songs by Holiday. During recording, she also landed a role in John Singleton's 1993 film ''Poetic Justice'' starring pop singer Janet Jackson and hip-hop artist/actor Tupac Shakur. In December 1993, Miki's fifth studio album, ''Miki Sings Billie'' was released under ''Giant Records'', the album peaked at #74 on Billboard's Top R&B; Albums, her lowest charting album. David Foster and LeMel Humes produced the 'cover' tracks. Official singles were not released, only a radio promo of "Don't Explain" was played on R&B; and jazz stations in the U.S.

1997:''Can't Count Me Out''

By 1997, Miki was no longer signed to Giant Records. Her sixth studio album and her first in four years, ''Can't Count Me Out'' was released under a new label, Hush in May. The album was her first, to not chart on Billboard 200 or Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums. The album includes duets, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Love Every Little Thing About You" with singer Terence Trent D'Arby, "Can't Count Me Out" duet with father Clay Graham and a remake of Janis Ian's "At Seventeen". LeMel Humes produced most of the album, including a ''cover'' of the jazz standard "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Sunshine" penned by singer Brenda Russell.

2001-06:''Three Wishes, Pillow Talk''

In March 2001, Miki released her seventh album, ''Three Wishes'' under Peak. Although no official singles were released, ''Nobody'' received radio airplay. The album peaked at No. 60 on Billboard's Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 25 on Independent Albums chart. All the tracks were produced by new producers, except "Bring Your Loving Home" produced by Howard's close friend LeMel Humes. The album received a nomination for Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

After five years had past since Three Wishes, in September 2006 Howard was now signed with Shanachie Records. Her eighth studio album, ''Pillow Talk'' was released. The album peaked at #60 on Billboard's Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. All songs were ''cover'' tracks of her favorite R&B; classic songs, of Ann Peebles, George Benson, Nancy Wilson to Natalie Cole, The Main Ingredient and Boz Scaggs. Miki contributed as album producer, along with Kim Waters, Danny Weiss and Chris Davis.

2008-Present:''Private Collection''

Howard is currently working on regenerating her career after taking some time out to raise her children. She undertook a world tour with Roy Ayers and the Jazz Allstars. In June 2008, she released her ninth studio album, ''Private Collection'' under her legally owned new independent label, Branicka Records. The album contained ten tracks, with five new smooth jazz and R&B; songs co-written and co-produced with Chuckii Booker, and five jazz standards co-produced with Brandon McCune. Besides Booker, composers included on the album included Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer for "Skylark", Sammy Fain and Paul-Francis Webster for "Secret Love", Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for "Days of Wine and Roses", Elisse Boyd and Murray Grand for "Guess Who I Saw Today", and Irving Berlin for "Counting Your Blessings".

On November 1, 2010, ''"Unsung: Miki Howard"'' was televised on TV One. In February 2011, TV One televised ''"Way Black When"'' which showcased African Americans' impact in entertainment through the 1970s, 80's and 90's. Howard was featured during the 80's segment, hosted by comedian Niecy Nash. Howard performed her number-one R&B; hit, "Ain't Nobody Like You". In March she embarked on a U.S. tour ''"Throwback Unplugged Tour"'' with Dru Hill, K-Ci & JoJo and Bell Biv DeVoe.

Discography

Albums

;Studio albums:

''Come Share My Love'' (1986)

''Love Confessions'' (1987)

''Miki Howard'' (1989)

''Femme Fatale'' (1992)

''Miki Sings Billie'' (1993)

''Can't Count Me Out'' (1997)

''Three Wishes'' (2001)

''Pillow Talk'' (2006)

''Private Collection'' (2008)

;Compilation albums

''The Very Best of Miki Howard'' (2001)

;Live albums

''Live Plus'' (1996)

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions			Album
		! width="30"	! width="30"	! width="30"
	align="left"	—	5	—
	align="left"	—	13	—
	—	33	—
align="left"	—	5	—
		—	4	—
align="left"	—	38	—
		—	1	—
	89	2	—
		—	3	67
	—	53	—
		64	1	—
align="left"	—	43	—

Tours

''Cameo Tour'' (1987)

''Jazz AllStars Tour'' (2009)

''Throwback Unplugged Tour'' (2011)

Films

''Malcolm X'' (1992)

''Poetic Justice'' (1993)

Awards and nominations

Soul Train Awards

! Year	! Category	! Album/Track	! Result
1988	Best New R&B;/Soul Artist	Love Confessions	Winner

American Music Awards

! Year	! Category	! Album/Track	! Result
1990	Favorite Female Soul/R&B; Artist		Nominated

Grammy Awards

! Year	! Category	! Album/Track	! Result
2002	Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Album	Three Wishes	Nominated

References

External links

Mikihowardmedia.com

Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:African American singers Category:American female singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois Category:People from Chicago, Illinois

es:Miki Howard

name	Siedah Garrett
background	solo_singer
birth date	June 24, 1960
origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
genre	R&B;/POP
occupation	singer, songwriter
years active	1985–present
label	Qwest Records, Motown Records, FFRR Records
associated acts	Brand New Heavies, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Madonna
website	siedah.com
notable instruments	}}

Siedah Garrett (born June 24, 1960, Los Angeles, California) is an American songwriter and singer.

Biography

She appeared as a contestant on ''Password Plus'' in 1980.

She performed "One Man Woman" on Quincy Jones' Grammy-Award winning "Back on the Block."

She joined the soul / funk outfit Plush, their self titled album was issued in 1982 on RCA Records.

Her hits include "Don't Look Any Further" with Dennis Edwards (#72 pop, #2 R&B; in 1984); "Do You Want It Right Now?" in 1985 from the ''Fast Forward'' soundtrack (#3 Hot Dance Music/Club Play and #63 R&B;), which was covered by Taylor Dayne in 1988 and later covered by Armand Van Helden in 2007 under the title "I Want Your Soul"; "Everchanging Times" from the movie ''Baby Boom'' (#30 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1987), and "K.I.S.S.I.N.G." (#97 in 1988). The latter song went to #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

In 1987 Garrett was involved in Michael Jackson's ''Bad'' album, singing a duet with Jackson on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and co-writing the #1 single "Man in the Mirror". The association with Jackson enabled her to sing on several Quincy Jones albums of the 1980s and 1990s, co-writing his hit songs "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)", "Back On The Block," and "The Secret Garden." Garrett also toured with Michael Jackson from 1992 to 1993 on his Dangerous World Tour, singing backing vocals and duetting with him for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".

In 1991, she became host of the show ''America's Top 10''. In 1995 Garrett was also involved with Maysa Leak's (of the group Incognito) solo debut album as co-writer of the track "Sexy" in which she also sang backing vocals.

In 1996 she joined the Brand New Heavies, collaborating on just one album, 1997's ''Shelter''. As part of the band, she co-wrote their top 5 hit "Sometimes" and enjoyed a minor hit with a cover of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend". Garrett left the group in early 1998 to concentrate on her own songwriting.

Garrett supported Madonna as a backing singer and dancer on The Re-Invention Tour in 2004. Garrett's professional involvement with Madonna goes back some years as she previously supplied backing vocals on some of Madonna's earlier material including ''True Blue'' (1986), and ''Who's That Girl'' (1987).

In 2006, Garrett contributed her songwriting services to Bill Condon's film adaptation of ''Dreamgirls'', providing lyrics for two of the four new songs added to the score. One of her compositions, the Jennifer Hudson solo "Love You I Do", earned Garrett a nomination for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song. At the 50th Grammy Awards Garrett along with Henry Krieger won the Grammy for Best Song-Motion Picture TV, Visual Media for "Love You I Do".

She represented America in the opening ceremony of [(2007 Special Olympics Beijing China)] singing the song "I Know I Can", and in the opening ceremony of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, singing the song "Better City, Better Life" with Jonathan Buck, both songs which she co-wrote with Quincy Jones.

Siedah co-wrote four songs for the current 2011 #1 top grossing film, FoxFilm's ''Rio'', where she is also a featured artist on the soundtrack on the song "Funky Monkey".

In 2011, she appeared on ''American Idol'' singing with contestants Haley Reinhart, and most notably Jacob Lusk, with whom she sang her song "Man in the Mirror". (Air date 04/06/2011)

Siedah is currently represented by Erik Nuri, E. Nuri Management, 2118 Wilshire Blvd, Ste. 206, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Discography

Plush albums

''Plush'' (RCA, 1982)

Solo albums

''Kiss Of Life'' (Qwest, 1988)

''Siedah'' (OmTown, 2003)

Brand New Heavies albums

''Shelter'' (FFRR, 1997)

Singles

"Don't Look Any Further" (Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett) (Motown, 1984)

"Curves" (Qwest, 1985) - from the movie ''Fast Forward''

"Do You Want It Right Now" (Qwest, 1985) - from the movie ''Fast Forward''

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett) (Epic, 1987)

"Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu" - Spanish Version of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett) (Epic, 1987)

"Everchanging Times" (Qwest, 1987) - from the movie ''Baby Boom''

"K.I.S.S.I.N.G." (Qwest, 1988)

"Refuse To Be Loose" (Qwest, 1988)

"I Don't Go For That" (Quincy Jones featuring Siedah Garrett) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1989)

"I'm Yours" (Quincy Jones featuring El DeBarge and Siedah Garrett) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1989)

"Listen Up" (Quincy Jones Featuring Al B Sure, El DeBarge, James Ingram, Karyn White, Ray Charles, Siedah Garrett, Tevin Campbell & The Winans) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1989)

"The Places You Find Love" (Quincy Jones featuring Chaka Kahn, Siedah Garrett & Tevin Campbell) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1990)

"Rain Down Love" (Freemasons featuring Siedah Garrett) (Loaded, 2007)

"I Want Your Soul" (Armand Van Helden featuring Siedah Garrett) samples "Do You Want It Right Now" (SPG Records Canada, 2007)

"Funky Bahia" (Sérgio Mendes featuring Will.i.am & Siedah Garrett) (Concord Music Group, 2008)

Background vocals

"Supernatural Love" (Donna Summer, Cats Without Claws) (Warner Bros. / Polygram, 1984)

"There Goes My Baby" (Donna Summer, Cats Without Claws) (Warner Bros. / Polygram, 1984)

"Fine Fine Fella (Got To Have You)" (Patti Austin, Patti Austin LP) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1984)

"The Collector" (Cerrone EP) (II Discotto Productions, 1985)

"Baby Love" (Regina single) (Atlantic Records, 1986)

"Prove Me Right" (Shannon, Love Goes All The Way CD) (Atlantic Records, 1986)

"Love Goes All The Way" (Shannon, Love Goes All The Way CD) (Atlantic Records, 1986)

"The Flat Horizon" (Wang Chung, Mosaic CD) (Geffen Records, 1986)

"This Is This" (Weather Report, This Is This CD) (CBS Records, 1986)

"Face The Face" (Weather Report, This Is This CD) (CBS Records, 1986)

"Jungle Stuff" (Weather Report, This Is This CD) (CBS Records, 1986)

"Papa, Don't Preach" (Madonna, True Blue CD) (Sire / WB, 1986)

"Where's The Party" (Madonna, True Blue CD) (Sire / WB, 1986)

"True Blue" (Madonna, True Blue CD) (Sire / WB, 1986)

"La Isla Bonita" (Madonna, True Blue CD) (Sire / WB, 1986)

"Love Makes The World Go Round" (Madonna, True Blue CD) (Sire / WB, 1986)

"What I Like" (Anthony And The Camp, What I Like 12") (WB / Jellybean, 1986)

"Man In The Mirror" (Michael Jackson, Bad CD) (Epic / MJJ, 1987)

"Each Time You Break My Heart" (Nick Kamen, Nick Kamen CD) (Sire / WB, 1987)

"Betcha" (Jon Anderson, In The City Of Angels CD) (CBS Records, 1988)

"Right Out Of My Head (Boz Scaggs, Other Roads CD) (CBS Records, 1988)

"Crimes Of Passion" (Boz Scaggs, Other Roads CD) (CBS Records, 1988)

"The Night Of Van Gogh (Boz Scaggs, Other Roads CD) (CBS Records, 1988)

"Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night" (Carpenters, Lovelines CD) (A&M; Records, 1989)

"The Secret Garden" (Quincy Jones featuring Al B. Sure!, El DeBarge, James Ingram and Barry White, Quincy Jones, Back On The Block CD, Qwest/Warner Bros., 1989)

"Higher Than High" (Tony LeMans, Higher Than High 12") (Paisly Park / WB 1989)

"The Best Man" (Glenn Medeiros, Glenn Medeiros CD) (MCA Records, 1990)

"What He Has" (Thelma Houston, Throw You Down CD) (Reprise, 1990)

"Do You Love As Good As You Look" (Jellybean, Spillin' The Beans CD) (Atlantic, 1991)

"Tell Me" (Go West, Indian Summer CD) (Crysalis Records UK, 1982)

"Commitment Of The Heart" (Clive Griffin, Clive Griffin CD) (550 Music / Epic, 1993)

"I Never Even Told You" (Tia Carrere, Dream CD) (Reprise, 1993)

"Love Talk To Me" (Cindy Mizelle, Cindy Mizelle CD) (East West Records, 1994)

"This Too Shall Pass" (Phyllis Hyman, I Refuse To Be Lonely CD) (PIR, 1995)

"Sexy" (Maysa, Maysa CD) (Blue Thumb Records, 1995)

"Jook Joint Intro" (Quincy Jones featuring Barry White, Bono, Brandy, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Gloria Estefan, James Moody, Patti Austin, Ray Charles, Siedah Garrett & Stevie Wonder) (Qwest / Warner Bros., 1995)

"You Put A Move On My Heart" (Tamia, Tamia CD) (Warner Bros., 1998)

"What You Give You Get Back" (Scorpions, Eye To Eye) (EastWest Records, 1999)

"Sweet Freedom" (Michael McDonald, The Voice Of Michael McDonald) (Rhino Records, 2000)

"I Live For Your Love" (Natalie Cole, Love Songs CD) (Elektra Records, 2001)

"On The Way to Love" (Patti Austin, On The Way To Love CD) (Warner Bros., 2001)

"The Game Of Love" (Santana, Shamen CD) (Arista, 2002)

"Seasons Change" (Anastasia, Anastasia CD) (Epic Records, 2004)

"Time" (Anastasia, Anastasia CD) (Epic Records, 2004)

"Are You Man Enough? / Orange Wig Skit" (RuPaul, Red Hot CD) (RuCo Ltd, 2004)

"Superman" (RuPaul, Red Hot CD) (RuCo Ltd, 2004)

"A Public Affair" (Jessica Simpson, A Public Affair CD) (Epic, 2006)

"The Lover In Me" (Jessica Simpson, A Public Affair CD) (Epic, 2006)

Album credits

"Cat's Without Claws" (Donna Summer, Cat's Without Claws CD) (Geffen Records, 1984)

"Pebbels CD" (Pebbles, Pebbles CD) (MCA Records, 1987)

"Harry's Cafe De Wheels" (Peter Blakeley, Harry's Cafe De Wheels CD) (Capitol Records, 1989)

"Stupid Man" (Thomas Helmig, Stupid Man CD) (BMG, 1994)

"Bête Noire" (Bryan Ferry, Bête Noire CD) (Virgin Records, 1999)

"Indestructible" (Rancid, Indestructible CD) (Hellcat Records, 2003)

"I'm Going To Tell You A Secret" (Madonna, I'm Going To Tell You A Secret) all tracks (Warner Bros., 2006)

Brand New Heavies singles

"Sometimes" (Delicious Vinyl, 1997)

"You Are The Universe" (FFRR, 1997)

"You've Got A Friend" (FFRR, 1997)

"Shelter" (FFRR, 1998)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Award 2008 Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - "Love You I Do" from ''Dreamgirls'' (songwriter) (Won)

Academy Award: Best Original Song - Love You I Do (2007) (Nominated)

See also

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

Siedah Garrett Official Website

Siedah Garrett on Discogs

Category:Grammy Award winners Category:American rhythm and blues musicians Category:African American musicians Category:African American singers Category:American female singers Category:American dance musicians Category:Musicians from California Category:Motown artists Category:Living people Category:1960 births

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