''Profiles of African-American Success'' is an American documentary

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produced by Frances Presley-Rice and filmmaker Bayer Mack for their

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Block Starz Music Television. The documentary series features short biographies of African-American businesses and entrepreneurs.

Development

''Profiles of African-American Success'' was originally developed by executive producer Frances Presley-Rice in conjunction with ''

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'' as a ten-part weekly video series for Dr.

Ben Carson Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. (born September 18, 1951) is an American retired neurosurgeon and politician who served as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. A pioneer in the field of neurosurgery, he ...

's digital magazine, ''American CurrentSee''. The series is now distributed exclusively by BSMTV through its official website,

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and

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channels and on various

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stations. During the promotion for his documentary film, '' The Czar of Black Hollywood'', director Bayer Mack said his goal with ''Profiles of African-American Success'' was to carry on ''The Czar of Black Hollywood's'' theme of celebrating black Americans who succeeded in the face of Jim Crow and other challenges.

Featured profiles

''Profiles of African-American Success'' has featured the following black entrepreneurs and institutions: * '' Junius G. Groves: Gilded Age Business Magnate'' * '' Robert S. Abbott: Millionaire Newspaper Publisher'' * '' Jeremiah G. Hamilton: The Dark Prince of Wall Street'' * '' Harry H. Pace: America's First Black Record Label Owner'' * '' Frederick D. Patterson: America's Only Black Car Manufacturer'' * '' Homer B. Roberts: America's First Black Auto Dealer'' * '' Reginald F. Lewis: America's First Black Billion Dollar Businessman'' * '' Paul R. Williams: Architect to the Stars'' * ''

Don H. Barden Don Hamilton Barden (December 20, 1943 – May 19, 2011) was an American casino executive. Barden was the manager, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, from its formation, with responsibility for key ...

: King of Detroit'' * '' Richard "Dick" Griffey: Music Industry Kingpin'' * '' Alpha Kappa Alpha: A Legacy of Sisterhood and Service'' * '' Sylvia Robinson: Mother of Hip-Hop'' * '' Gamble and Huff: The Sound of Philadelphia'' * '' The Million Man March: 20 Year Anniversary'' * ''

Miss Black America The Miss Black America beauty contest is a competition for young African-American women. The pageant has garnered the support of artists, activists and performers including Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, and Oprah Winfrey. After 40 years, in 200 ...

: The Pageant Changed History'' * ''

Vee-Jay Records Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a ...

: Most Successful Black Owned Label Before Motown'' * '' George E. Johnson, Sr.: First Black Company on American Stock Exchange'' * '' Cathy L. Hughes: First Black Woman to Head a Publicly-traded Company'' * '' Jerry Lawson: A Black Man Developed the First Cartridge Video Game Console'' * '' Black Journal: America's Most Dangerous Public Television Show''

Narrators

Season 1 of ''Profiles of African-American Success'' was presented by William Bell, who had worked with the producers on ''The Czar of Black Hollywood''. Seasons 2 and 3 employed relatively unknown African-American voice actors and actresses. The premiere episode for Season 4 features narration by noted media professional Dyana Williams in a tribute to her friend, Radio One founder Cathy Hughes.

Reception

The critical and public response to the documentary series has been generally favorable with many praising its effort to showcase positive aspects of the African-American experience.

References

External links

* * 2014 web series debuts 2010s American documentary television series English-language television shows American non-fiction web series Viral videos {{US-culture-stub