Becky Pringle, President of the largest labor union, the National Education Association (NEA), appeared on Make It Plain with Reverend Mark Thompson to demand...

By April Ryan “A complex reality” is being overlooked by President Donald Trump, with his Friday proposal to send the U.S. military into Nigeria over...

Reverend Crystal Bates is now the Texas NAACP’s assistant secretary. Rev. Bates who is also vice chair of the Environmental & Climate Justice Committee...

People in the News

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

People in the News

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Black history spotlight for Sept. 17, 2012: Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams was born in Tarrytown, New York on March 18, 1963. Her parents are of African-American descent, and Williams grew up in a predominantly white middle-class suburban area in Millwood. Williams is a multi-talented contemporary African-American performer specializing in song, acting, and modeling.

On Sept. 17, 1983, Williams was the first African American to be crowned Miss America. She began her career as an entertainer and has been successful since. She has been nominated for a number of Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Williams is also a part of  a new ABC show that starts soon. Click here to view.