Throughout her life, Mary McLeod Bethune worked tirelessly to increase women's opportunities, from education to the military to the right to vote. Her activism led her to the White House as a consultant for several presidents. There, she helped advance important civil rights agendas.
Marian Anderson broke through discrimination and racism to become one of the greatest classical singers of all time. Her exceptional talent allowed her to travel to many countries to perform, showing the world firsthand that the color of one's skin does not determine one's talent or inner strength.
Madam C. J. Walker's skill as a businesswoman and desire to create products for black women drove her to become the first black female millionaire. While improving women's lives with her products, she employed women as sales agents and hair culturists, all while giving back to her community.
Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass was struck by the unfairness and cruelty of slave life and escaped as a young man to the North. A skilled speaker and writer of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Douglass became a fierce fighter for the end of slavery and later led the early civil rights movement.
As an influential leader in U.S. politics, Condoleezza Rice became one of the foremost authorities on the Soviet Union during the Cold War and served in advisory roles for two presidents. Her intelligence and drive led her to one of the highest-ranking jobs in the White House, secretary of state.
Eighteenth-century inventor and astronomer Benjamin Banneker was widely known and respected in his time. Most of what he knew, he taught himself. His letter to Thomas Jefferson asked the future president to reconsider his racial prejudices. Later, abolitionists would use Banneker as proof that people of any race can be equally intelligent.
From the moment Simon Whitfield burst onto the world stage at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games as triathlon's first Olympic champion, his winning personality and stellar athletic abilities have inspired young people around the globe. In Simon Says Gold, Simon describes his personal journey to Olympic glory as he recounts not only that glorious day in Sydney, but also the anguish of failing to repeat as Olympic champion in Athens in 2004, and his dramatic comeback at the 2008 Beijing Games, when his exhilarating race to a silver medal enthralled millions of fans around the world. Simon's stories of the highs and lows of his running career will captivate readers young and old, but his real message that the simple pursuit of excellence is its own reward will also inspire and motivate. Not everyone can be an Olympian. Simon Whitfield believes that true greatness is in performing to the best of one's ability. The reward is in the effort, not the outcome.
Rafael Furcal has had an amazing career in baseball. He's won a World Series. He's played in the All-Star Game. Besides all that, Furcal has also been able to focus on what is most important to him. He's been able to buy his family the things they couldn't afford when he was growing up. He has helped the people of his hometown in the Dominican Republic. Learn how Furcal has found success in Major League Baseball. Read about his life growing up in the Dominican Republic. Discover the story of how Furcal kept following his dreams even when things were hard.
Nelson Cruz has had an amazing career in baseball. He's played in the World Series. He's played in the All-Star Game. He's broken records and made millions of dollars. Cruz is the only player in baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in a postseason game! Learn about the long path Cruz took to reach his dream of playing baseball. Read how he went from playing in the Dominican Summer League to hitting home runs in the World Series. Discover the story of how Cruz worked hard to make his way through the minor leagues to play in the MLB.
Aramis Ramrez is one of the Dominican players who have made it all the way to the top. Today, he's a great third basemen with a smart and powerful batting style. His career so far has been filled with mostly successes. Read how Ramrez made it big even as the MLB's youngest player. Follow his story from the minor leagues to his latest moves.
Johan Santana is a baseball star from a country better known for its soccer players. But Santana really shines as one of the best pitchers in baseball. His fastballs and changeups keep fans and batters guessing. His talent has made him a fan favorite. Read about how Santana fought his way to the top--from playing ball in the neighborhood to making it in the Big Leagues. His journey to the top hasn't always been smooth, but Johan Santana has fought hard to earn his place in baseball.
Miguel Batista is a pitcher who can enter a game at a moment's notice. He's spent a long time on the field and knows baseball inside and out. He's also an interesting person outside of baseball. Batista spends his time reading, doing charity, and publishing poems and novels. Follow Batista as he makes his way through the game. He's had a long journey--one that isn't over yet!
Francisco Liriano is a powerful Major League pitcher. Fans have watched him overcome injury after injury. He always comes back! His amazing stats and strong pitching arm have earned him awards, as well as millions of dollars. Ever since he was a young baseball player in the Dominican Republic, Liriano has been one of a kind. Find out more about his road to the Big Leagues--and discover what it takes to be a baseball superstar!
Bartolo Colón is an amazing pitcher. His arm has earned him awards and millions of dollars. At the same time, he's started his own family and helped his homeland, the Dominican Republic. Colón may be a superstar, but he's never forgotten his roots, and he's always stayed true to himself. Discover how he went from living in a house without electricity . . . all the way to the Big Leagues!
Carlos Beltrán was a boy who wanted to be a baseball star. He worked hard in Puerto Rico to achieve his dream. Today, he's a professional baseball player with impressive accomplishments. As a batter and centerfielder, Beltrán lights up the game. Follow Beltrán's journey from amateur to minor leaguer to professional player. Beltrán has played for four different major league teams--and he has shown them all just what he can do on the field. Fans everywhere can't get enough of Carlos Beltrán!
Yadier Molina is part of a trio of brothers that are taking the baseball world by storm. Yadier, the youngest, might also be the best player. He's one of the best catchers in baseball today. During his decade with the St. Louis Cardinals, Molina has had an impressive career. Base stealers rarely have a chance when Molina is behind the plate! He can catch every ball thrown to him, and he's helped the Cardinals win game after game. Discover how Yadier Molina got so good!
José Bautista has only been in the Major Leagues a few years. But he's already had an amazing career in baseball. He's played in the All-Star Game, he's won awards, and he's made millions of dollars. Bautista even hit more than 50 home runs in one season! Fans love to see him knock a ball out of the park! Learn how Bautista spent years in the minor leagues before making it to the Majors. Discover the story of how Bautista never gave up on his dream of playing in the Major Leagues, even when things were tough.
Jhonny Peralta has had an amazing baseball career. He's played in playoff series and in the All-Star Game. He's won awards and made millions of dollars. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Peralta dreamed of playing under stadium lights wearing an MLB uniform. Today, Peralta has lived those dreams. Read about Peralta's path from the Dominican Republic to the Major Leagues. Discover how Peralta worked hard to reach his goals while staying true to himself.
Hanley Ramírez has become one of baseball's biggest stars. The young player has only been in the Majors since 2005, but he's already done many things other players only dream of doing. He was named Rookie of the Year, he's played in the All-Star Game three times, he has won awards, and he's made millions playing in the Major Leagues. Read about Ramírez's journey from the Dominican Republic to the MLB. Learn how Ramírez became the player fans love to watch today!
Today, José Valverde is one of baseball's best relief pitchers. Valverde has pitched in the All-Star game. He's won awards and made millions of dollars. Valverde even had a perfect regular season in 2011! Valverde's path to finding success in the MLB was a long one, though. He had to work hard to make it to where he is today. Read how Valverde started playing baseball thanks to his uncle, former MLB pitcher José Mercedes. Learn about Valverde's success in the minor leagues and find out how he became one of baseball's best pitchers.
Carlos González is a baseball star that crosses borders. He appears in games in Venezuela and in the United States, winning fans everywhere. "Cargo," as he's known to fans, has made an impression on the baseball world. Singles, doubles, homeruns--González keeps the other team on their toes. González is still at the beginning of his career, so who knows what he'll do next. His awards are adding up, and he's sure to win more awards and honors in the future.
Francisco Cordero--or "Coco", as his fans and teammates know him--is a top-notch pitcher. He strikes out batters with his fastballs and sliders. He's racked up a lot of saves over the years as a closing pitcher for teams like the Rangers, the Brewers, and the Reds. Although when Cordero was a child, his family struggled with poverty, Cordero now does his part to help others who are struggling. He's a Big League player with character!
During his career as a professional wrestler, Dwayne The Rock Johnson thrilled wrestling fans everywhere. Known as the People's Champion, the Rock was a wrestling superstar whose dynamic and colorful personality attracted attention both inside and outside the ring. His feuds with other wrestling greats resulted in some of the most talked-about matches in wrestling history. He became the first African American to hold the World Wrestling Entertainment World Championship title, one he went on to capture six more times. This book describes how Dwayne Johnson, the son and grandson of professional wrestlers, became the Rock and, in his own words, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. It details his failed ambition to become a professional football player and how that failure led him into the family business of wrestling. Eventually, the Rock built a successful wrestling career, and ultimately became a movie star as well.
Adrián Beltré has had an amazing career in baseball. Since starting in the Majors in 1998, he has become one of baseball's best players. He's won many awards for fielding and batting, he's played in the All-Star Game, and he even won the Babe Ruth Home Run Award. Beltré is an amazing baseball star! Find out how Beltré became the player fans know today. Discover the story of how Beltré became one of baseball's best players!
In the past ten years, Albert Pujols has become one of the brightest stars in the baseball world. He's broken records and won awards--and all the while he achieved his dreams, he held on tight to his faith and his family. He became the player he is today by working hard and always doing his best. Get a glimpse of Albert's life, from his childhood in the Dominican Republic all the way through his amazing career in Major League Baseball. Find out what it takes to be a superstar!
