Black History Month Great Black Person #3

Black History Month Great Black Person #3 of 29:

Wiz Khalifa

It must be hard to be a wizard and a rapper. Young Wizard "Wiz" Khalifa somehow manages. Something tells me it has a lot to do with that magical plant he smokes with that filtered wand of his. The thing I admire most about Mr. Khalifa (besides the fact that he has more tattoos than an 11-year-old girl in 1995 had Beanie Babies) is that as much as he's done for blacks, he's done equally as much for yellows. I also like that he's a hometown fan... it takes a lot of gumption to support the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Anybody can cheer for the Yankees, Jay-Z.) So here's to you Wiz, someday I hope to be on your level.

Black History Month Great Black Person #2

Black History Month Great Black Person #2 of 29:
Cool Runnings/the Jamaican Bobsled Team

Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up! It's bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS! When I was a kid, this mantra applied to everything. Just replace the word bobsled with any activity and you're instantly pumped. It was the original five-hour energy drink. I've always related to Cool Runnings because like the characters in the movie, I too used to dream of being an Olympic sprinter. Sadly, much like the Jamaicans (who tripped and fell during the Olympic qualifying race), my hopes were also dashed by tragedy (the day I realized I was white). Yes, it's fair to say the Jamaican bobsled team has had a profound impact on my life. They taught me a lot about friendship, a lot about determination, and a little about dreadlocks. So, does Cool Runnings deserve to be on this list? Yeah, mon.

Black History Month Great Black Person #1

Black History Month Great Black Person #1 of 29:
Ray Charles

What better way to kick off Black History Month 2012 than with a guy who can't see anything but black? Despite shamefully endorsing Pepsi instead of Coke (poor guy, no sense of sight or taste), Ray made our home state of Georgia proud. He overcame blindness and social injustices to accomplish some great things: 11 Top Ten hits, three #1 singles, the official state song of Georgia, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he won Jamie Foxx an Oscar, which might be his greatest accomplishment of all. He's living proof that obstacles can be overcome... and that it IS cool to wear sunglasses inside. So thanks Ray, you're always on our minds.