Famous Achievers of Color born in September

1. Jerry Azumah, born September 1, 1977, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, becomes a professional football player for the Chicago Bears. Cuttino Mobely, born September 1, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becomes a professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic. Clinton Portis, born September 1, 1981 , in Laurel, Mississippi, becomes a professional football player for the Denver Broncos from 2002 to 2003 and the Washington Redskins beginning 2004 to present 2009. Jason Taylor, born September 1, 1974 , in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, becomes a professional football player for the Miami Dolphins from 1997 to 2007; the Washington Redskins in 2008 and back to the Miami Dolphins in 2009. Moses Kiptanui, born September 1, 1970 or 1971 , in Kenya, Africa, becomes an Olympic track and field runner, who in 1992 set an Olympic world record. Janice Bryant Howroyd, born one of eleven children, September 1, 1952 , in Tarboro, North Carolina, becomes a business woman and entrepreneur who serves as C.E.O of ACT *1 Personnel Services. Howroyd expanded her small, one-phone-line office into a multimillion dollar business over more than 30 years. She began ACT*1 Personnel Services with $1,500 and perseverance. Billy Blanks, born September 1, 1948(1943 or 1956), one of fifteen children, in Erie, Pennsylvania, becomes a kickboxing champion and an actor. He invented Tae Bo, an aerobic workout that combines moves from ballet, hip-hop, and martial arts.

2. Webster Lewis, born September 1, 1943-November 20, 2002 , in Baltimore, Maryland, becomes a singer, composer and arranger. He has conducted and arranged music for entertainers such as Michael Jackson, Barry White, Tom Jones, Lola Falana, Thelma Houston, and the Jackson’s. At the time this information had been compiled for African American Registry, Lewis’s last record had been one for Barry White, entitled “Welcome Aboard.” He died November 20, 2002. Al Green, born September 1, 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana, becomes a politician who served in the US House of Representatives from Texas 9th District. Green is a former trial lawyer. After college, he co-founded the firm of Green, Wilson, Dewberry, and Fitch. He also served as president of the Houston NAACP, and during his term as the organization's leader, membership increased sevenfold. While serving as NAACP leader, he focused on increasing minority hiring in Texas and formed alliances with Hispanic groups. Ron O’Neal, born September 1, 1937-January 14, 2004, in Utica, New York, becomes an actor, most famous for his portrayal of Super fly, in the 1972 movie entitled “Super Fly.” Lenrie Peters, born September 1, 1932-May 28, 2009, in Bathurst (now Banjul , becomes a Gambian surgeon, novelist and poet. Peters became President of the Historic Commission of Monuments of The Gambia, president of the board of directors of the National Library of The Gambia and Gambia College from 1979 to 1987, and a member and President of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) from 1985 to 1991.

3. Rosa Guy, born September 1, 1925, in Trinidad, West Indies, becomes an author. Some sources indicate Guy to have been born in the year 1928. She wrote books for young adults, usually concerning family conflicts and the realities of life in urban American ghettos as well as in the West Indies. Anita Bush, born September 1, 1883-February 1974, in New York City, New York, becomes a trailblazing actress and dancer who organized the Anita Bush Players, the first professional Black dramatic non-musical theater ensemble in the United States. In 1921, she costarred in “The Crimson Skull,” the first all-Black Western movie. “ Rich Boy,”born Maurice Richards, September 2, 1983, in Mobile, Alabama, becomes a rapper and musician. Richards dropped out of his studies of mechanical engineering at Tuskegee University in order to concentrate on music. He is best known for the hit single "Throw Some D’s.” Fred Kanoute, born September 2, 1977, in Sainte-Foy-les, Lyon, Rhone, becomes a French-born Malian footballer and soccer player . On February 2, 2008, Kanouté became the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, the first foreign-born player to win it. Kanouté has been practicing Islam since around the age of 20. He refused to wear a Sevilla shirt bearing the name of club sponsor 888.com, due to the fact the website is used for gambling. Gambling is against the principles of Islam. Amadou Diallo, born September 2, 1975-February 4, 1999, in Sinoe County, Liberia, becomes a victim, shot and killed on February 4, 1999 by four New York City Police Department plain-clothed officers . Diallo grew up following his family to Togo, Bangkok and Singapore, attending schools in Thailand, and later in Guinea and London, including Microsoft’s Asian Institute. The shooting of Diallo, unarmed at the time of the shooting, released a firestorm of controversy subsequent to the event as the circumstances of the shooting prompted outrage both within and outside New York City.

4. K-Ci Hailey, born Cedric Hailey, September 2, 1969, in Charlotte, North Carolina, becomes and R&B and rap singer, who along with his brother, are members of “Jodeci.” He grew up, along with his brother, JoJo (Joel Hailey), singing in the church, and toured south with their father’s gospel group, before making the change to R&B and rap. Nate Archibald, born September 2, 1948, in New York City, New York, becomes a professional basketball player for the Cincinnati Royals from 1970 to 1972; the Kansas City Kings from 1972 to 1976; the New York Nets (now New Jersey Nets) from 1976 to 1977; the Boston Celtics from 1978 to 1983, and the Milwaukee Bucks from 1983 to 1984. He has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 1991, and honor at being named one of the 50 greatest basketball players in the history of basketball, in 1996. Joe Simon, born September 2, 2943 , in Simmesport, Louisiana, becomes a Grammy-award-winning R&B soul singer. He began his singing career in Gospel with the group known as The Goldentones. A few of his popular recordings include “Drowning in the Sea of Love,” in 1971, “Nine Pound Steel,” in 1968, and “Chokin Kind,” in 1969. Mathieu Ahmed Kerekou, born September 2, 1933, in Kourfa, Benin, becomes the president of the country of Benin from 1972 to 1991, the former French colony of Dahomey, which became independent on August 1, 1960. He brought to Benin much needed stability.