novelistBorn: 1923 Birthplace: Seattle, Wash. John Okada was born in Seattle and attended the University of Washington and Columbia University. Much like other Japanese Americans, he fought for the…
critic, poet, essayistBorn: 1950 Birthplace: Lynn, Mass. A leading art critic, poet, essayist, and prose writer, Yau received a BA from Bard College and an MFA from Brooklyn College. His works…
entrepreneurBirthplace: New York, N.Y. Chuang attended Harvard University, earning both a bachelor's degree and an MBA. In 1986, while running a small print shop as a student, Chuang realized the…
software entrepreneurBorn: 1941Birthplace: Shanghai, China As a young man, Tu left China to live with relatives in Germany, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1970. Tu came to…
actor, comedianBorn: 7/22/1964Birthplace: Bogotá, Colombia Leguizamo moved with his family to New York when he was four. Accepted into Lee Strasberg's actors' studio he studied with the master for…
Born: Jan. 4, 1972Boxer ddefeated Evander Holyfield by decision in 2001 for the WBA heavyweight title; the first-ever Hispanic heavyweight champ; lost belt to Roy Jones Jr. on unanimous dec. in…
artistBorn: 4/13/1924Birthplace: Gastonia, N.C. One of seven children whose father was a school principal, preacher, and basket maker, Biggers decided to become an artist while attending the…
businessmanBorn: 1807Birthplace: Prince Edwards County, Va. Freeman was about 24 when he left Virginia to live in Monroe, Ga. He stayed there for more than ten years before moving to Indianapolis…
novelistBorn: 9/16/1926Birthplace: Fairmont, West Virginia novelist who wrote the coming-of-age classic A Separate Peace (1960), which was based on his experiences as a student at Phillips Exeter…
folk musicianBorn: 8/30/1935Birthplace: Parris Island, S.C. folk musician and songwriter whose band, the Mamas and the Papas, spoke to the '60s generation, with breezy songs that epitomized the…
