1) Barack Obama: Hail to the chief. President Obama, whether you love him or hate him, has positioned himself as one of the most significant Americans in the history of our nation. This is going to be an interesting year for Obama, as the economy will likely rebound, improving his chances at reelection. At the same time, the growth in Republican power can be a thorn in his side. Obama must be given credit for the fact that he has remained cool under pressure and has become as much of a social icon as a leading political figure.
2) Stephen Stafford: The 13-year-old straight-A Morehouse student (he may be 14 years old by now) reminds us of what we can all become if we put our minds to it. So many of us are accustomed to seeing black males become maestros on the basketball court and simpletons in the classroom. Stephen should be celebrated as much as he would be if he averaged 35 points per game. All of our kids should be like Stephen, for excelling in college is only about hard work and not much else.
3) Michael Vick: Everyone loves a comeback story, and Vick's is second to none. Big Mike spent 21 months in prison and has seen the depths of bankruptcy only to emerge as arguably the leading quarterback in the NFL. Vick reminds us that millions of men and women who've been incarcerated can be successful if given another chance. Instead, we work as hard as we can to make sure that those who've been convicted have no other choice but to continue engaging in illegal behavior. Tucker Carlson on Fox News seemed to believe that Vick deserved the death penalty for his dogfighting conviction, but dogfighting or not, Vick's life is worth more than that of an animal. Let's hope that he stays out of trouble and serves as a role model for other young knuckleheads who mess up on the weekend.
4) Oprah Winfrey: Oprah would normally be a candidate for a list like this just because she's Oprah. In fact, I consider her to be more effective than President Obama, in large part because her career has more longevity. At any rate, this is a special year for Oprah because she is taking off to start her own network. Her massive move should be applauded because she reminds all of us about the value of having your OWN stuff. She is the Madam CJ Walker of the new millennium and should be applauded for her achievements.
5) Steve Harvey: I don't like Steve Harvey's book about women thinking like men to get a man to date them. I've never wanted to date another man, so a woman who thinks like a man is not appealing to me. Also, the dysfunctional nature of African American relationships dictates that a more productive approach to sustainable love and family might involve getting advice from an actual professional and not a comedian. But putting all that aside, Harvey can call my cell phone and tell me to shut up right now. Why? Because both of the books he released this year were best sellers. For that, I must give him major props. Also, I've never seen a man on the cover of Essence magazine more times than Harvey. Did he buy the company or something?
6) The men and women who participated in the Georgia prison strike: In case you thought slavery was abolished in 1865, you're dead wrong. The 13th Amendment leaves a clause that allows for slavery as long as you've been convicted of a crime. The men and women in Georgia who coordinated the largest and most significant prison strike in US history made a very good point: When you leave an industry relatively unregulated for a long period of time, corruption and abuse will become rampant. The use of slave labor in prisons has become a multibillion-dollar cash cow for many major corporations, and it's no coincidence that a disproportionate number of those affected are black and brown. Given that one out of every three black boys is expected to go to prison during his lifetime, all of us have a stake in providing avenues for rehabilitation. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to free the Scott Sisters this week should be applauded, but freeing two people is nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of other African Americans who've been given life sentences.
7) LeBron James: LeBron's well-publicized jump to the Miami Heat, for some reason, led to him becoming one of the most hated athletes in America. He did nothing wrong, but the world treated him as if he were a criminal. But LeBron is getting the last laugh, as his Miami Heat is now one of the top teams in the NBA.
8) Lil Wayne: I can't stand Lil Wayne as a human being, but I love the depth of his talent. Whether we like it or not, Weezy has stepped to the top of the hip-hop universe as a force to be reckoned with. He has also hogged up the headlines with prison stints, missing concerts after passing out drunk, getting arrested for drug possession, and having underage girls on stage while rapping about how he wants to have sex with every girl on earth. One of the most destructive things that the powers that be could do to the African American male is to give such a powerful platform to an individual who is as disturbed, misguided and self-destructive as Lil Wayne. We must also realize, at the same time, that our commitment to black male marginalization is what created Weezy in the first place, so we only have ourselves to blame.
9) Tyler Perry: Tyler Perry's films have become required viewing for nearly every black woman in America. When his movies are released, women gather with their girlfriends and show up to the flick as if it is a class being taught at the community college. Tyler's power and prowess must be respected, and his penchant for resurrecting the careers of many forgotten black actors and actresses must also be acknowledged. Tyler is a beast (I've defended him in the past against critics, even though I don't care for most of his films) and represents the future of filmmaking, even if he is a black man in a dress.
10) Shirley Sherrod: Shirley Sherrod was forced to resign from her post within the United States Department of Agriculture after the right decided to splice together some videos to make her look like a racist. The NAACP and President Barack Obama made themselves look even sillier by throwing poor Shirley under the bus before she'd even had a chance to plead her case. Fortunately, truth and honesty prevailed, and the Fox News shenanigans were exposed to the world. President Obama apologized to Shirley directly, but I am not sure what happened with the NAACP. At the very least, this incident showed us the potentially destructive power of online media.
Honorable mention:
1) Michael Steele - Head of the Republican National Committee. I have nothing more to say about the man that many black Americans want to slap on a daily basis. But Steele has certainly made his mark on the world.
2) Nicki Minaj - The woman who broke down barriers for women in hip-hop. Hopefully, we'll see more women rocking the mic without having to wear a G-string.
3) First lady Michelle Obama - Michelle Obama is the most intelligent, capable and elegant first lady in American history. In fact, she's the only first lady who might be a better president than her husband and who could also take a second job as a swimsuit model. She's simply amazing.