Transcending Race in America: Biographie
3 total works
From the earliest moments of her childhood in Houston, Texas, it was clear that Beyonce, of mixed African-American and Louisiana Creole descent, had a special gift when it came to performing in front of a crowd. At the age of seven, she dominated much older kids in a local talent show, and appeared on national television before she was even a teenager. She went on to become a part of the super group Destiny's Child and was one of the key reasons they eventually became one of the most popular female musical groups of all time. The road to success wasn't always easy, however, as Beyonce managed to overcome many obstacles on the road to superstardom, and go on to find both success and happiness in her professional and private lives. Beyonce is a multiple Grammy-award winning superstar, an incredibly talented and successful singer-songwriter, an accomplished actress, and a successful businesswoman. In short, Beyonce is an extraordinary achiever.
David Blaine is one of the world's premiere magicians and escape artists. He has survived being buried alive for an entire week, being frozen in a block of ice for 63 hours, and being submerged for seven days and seven nights. David has also dazzled both live and television audiences with his card tricks and other feats of prestidigitation, while also using his fame and his talents to give back to those in need. Things haven't always been easy for this biracial achiever, though. The son of a father of Puerto Rican and Italian descent and a mother of Russian Jewish descent, David was raised in a single-parent family for much of his childhood. In this book, you'll learn how performing magic helped him deal with the early death of his mother, as well as how he overcame critics and hecklers during some of his recent feats of endurance. His story isn't just inspiring; it's downright magical!
On December 1, 1955, 42-year-old Rosa Parks became the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" in America by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. On that day, Rosa, of mixed African-American, Muscogee Indian, and Scots-Irish ancestry, helped launch one of the most important movements of the 20th century. Born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1913, Rosa attended the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls at the age of 11. Thanks in part to the education she received there, Rosa went from small-town seamstress to the driving force behind the Montgomery Bus Boycotts. A true biracial achiever, Rosa was honored with both a Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal prior to her death in 2005. Her story of trials, tribulations, and success inspires all readers with her strength and courage.