Whether it’s music, movies, television, stage, or the pulpit, Clifton Davis is a gifted performer. The preacher’s kid and ordained minister was born in Chicago and rose to fame in the mid-1960s starring in the original Broadway production of "Hello, Dolly!" A talented singer and songwriter, he wrote the hit "Never Can Say Goodbye" for the Jackson 5 in 1971. He’s appeared in numerous movies, and millions came to know him through his weekly starring roles in the TV sitcoms "That's My Mama" and "Amen." This month Davis returns to television as the patriarch of the Dupree family in the new soap opera Beyond the Gates. Clifton Davis continues to inspire with his diverse talents and contributions.
Chicago Black History Maker Clifton Davis
Reverend Ivory Jean Nuckolls' angelic voice and heart have touched countless individuals over her decades-long service as an evangelist and social worker. Rev. Nuckolls was born to sing and serve. She studied at the American Conservatory of Music and, as an assistant pastor at the Apostolic Church of God, she uses her Bachelor's Degree in Counseling and Therapy and her Master's Degree in Education, Human Services, and Counseling, both from DePaul University, to lead the church’s Personal Services Department and Pastoral Care team. Rev. Ivory Jean Nuckolls continues to inspire with her dedication and service.
Chicago Black History Maker Rev Ivory Jean Nuckolls
Whether it’s as an educator, political consultant, activist professor, or journalist, Robert Terry Starks excels in all these roles. Starks earned his B.S. degree in 1968 and his M.A. degree in 1971, both from Loyola University Chicago. In the late 1960s, he was a research specialist for the Chicago Urban League. In the early 1970s, he served as Director of Black Studies at Northern Illinois University and later joined the faculty of Northeastern Illinois University’s Center for Inner City Studies in 1976. Starks was an issues advisor to Reverend Jesse L. Jackson and a political advisor to the late Chicago mayor, Harold Washington. He also was a weekly columnist for N’Digo news magazine and hosted a show on WVON Radio.
Chicago Black History Maker Robert Starks
Brilliant is a wonderful adjective to describe the acting talents of Chicago native Tamberla Perry. Perry stars as "Dr. Carol Pierce" in NBC’s TV series "Brilliant Minds." An accomplished stage and screen actress, she’s received critical acclaim for roles in "They Cloned Tyrone," "Bosch," "How to Get Away With Murder," and "The Tam and Kevin Show." On stage, she’s worked with Congo Square Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and the Goodman Theatre. Illinois lottery players will remember her as the Illinois Lottery hostess on WGN-TV.
Chicago Black History Maker Tamberla Perry
Glenn Davis is the Co-Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company — the first person of color to hold the position. Davis grew up in Chatham and attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where he currently sits on the Alumni Association Executive Board. He earned his BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is the first African American graduate of the Birmingham Conservatory of Classical Theatre at the Stratford Festival. Davis is a partner at Cast Iron Entertainment with Sterling K. Brown, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Michael Hill, Andre Holland, and Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Chicago Black History Maker Glenn Davis
Renaissance woman is a good way to describe the multi-talented Hermene Hartman. Born and raised in Chicago, Hartman holds master’s degrees in sociology and philosophy of education, as well as an MBA from the University of Illinois. Hartman began her career working for Operation Breadbasket with Reverend Jesse Jackson. From there, she produced public service programming for WBBM-TV and served as vice chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago. In 1989, she founded N'DIGO magapaper to reflect the interests of Chicago's Black middle class. She also hosts "N'DIGO Studio" on TV.
Chicago Black History Maker Hermene Hartman
For 25 years, Brenda Palms Barber has offered second chances and new beginnings for Chicago residents as the Founder, President, and CEO of the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN). Under her leadership, NLEN is now housed in an award-winning, state-of-the-art multipurpose Westside campus that employs around 50 people. The campus also hosts Sweet Beginnings, LLC, a social enterprise using urban beekeeping to create jobs, and the Beelove Café. A national thought leader on providing jobs for the hard-to-employ, Brenda is a graduate of Harvard’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management program and holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute in Chicago.
Chicago Black History Maker Brenda Palms Barber