* Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker:
The senior pastor of Harlem’s Canaan Baptist Church was one of the chief architects of the Civil Rights Movement. As executive director of the Southern Leadership Conference, Walker was the Rev. Martin Luther King’s right-hand man, steering the course of countless strategy sessions. He currently chairs the board of the National Action Network, a social activist group.
* The Rev. Calvin O. Butts III
As pastor of the Harlem’s famed Abyssinian Baptist, Butts sits in the same pulpit as the legendary congressman, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Butts, active in politics and social causes, was recently named president of SUNY-Old Westbury.
* Russell Simmons
The president and CEO of Def Jam Productions has reigned in the hip-hop world for almost two decades. A pioneer in the rap music industry, Simmons also has a fashion empire, and served as the host of the career-launching Def Comedy Jam.
* Gil Noble
The veteran broadcaster has interviewed almost everybody on this and any other list of notable African-Americans from his perch at the ABC program “Like it Is,” a weekly public affairs series. On his program, which is the longest African-American produced program in the country, Noble has discussed everything from voter registration to jazz.
* Sue Simmons
As a member of the WNBC anchor team for more than 20 years, Simmons is one of the most recognized faces in the city. Simmons anchors the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts, and has hosted the station’s live coverage of the National Puerto Rican Day parade for the past three years in a row.
* Earl Graves
This pioneering publisher gave black magazines a whole new life with the debut of Black Enterprise nearly 30 years ago. The magazine has since carved out a niche that has yet to be surrendered, and Graves remains one of the leading spokesmen of the black business community.
* H. Carl McCall
This trail-blazer continues to pursue history. The state comptroller recently announced his campaign for governor, even as he completes his term as black to be elected statewide. He previously served as the president of New York City’s Board of Education.
* Harry Belafonte
From “Carmen Jones” to “Cotton Comes to Harlem” this charismatic leading man has made an indelible mark on the film industry. But it is his music for which he is most remembered, with such classics as “Banana Boat Song” and “Matilda.” Ask him what he’s proudest of, though, and he is likely to tell you his civil rights activism.
* Rep. Charles Rangel
The dean of New York’s congressional delegation is biding is time until the Democrats regain control of congress so he can become chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel, a Harlem legislator, has performed admirably in the footsteps of Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. for nearly 30 years.
* David N. Dinkins
The courtly tennis fan is one of only two former living mayors, and the only African-American to ever run the country’s largest city. Dinkins, a former City Clerk, and former Manhattan Borough president, remains active in city politics.
* C. Virginia Fields
In 1997 Fields made history, becoming the first African-American woman to become Manhattan Borough President. She served two terms on the New York City Council, and lists education, economic development and health care among her priorities.
* Kenneth Chenault
Chenault was named Black Enterprise’s 1999 Corporate Executive of the Year after he became president and chief operating officer of American Express Company. This year, he took over as chief executive officer, becoming one of the few black CEOS of a Fortune 500 company.
* Richard Parsons
As a member of the management team at AOL Time Warner, Parsons oversees the company’s content businesses–Warner Bros., Warner Music Group and Time Warner Trade Publishing. Recently, Parsons served on the transition committee during the AOL Time Warner merger.