A pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s. He died on this day in 2004. “Georgia on My Mind” is one of his best.
Malcolm X – No. 105
An African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy. After he left the Nation of Islam in 1964, he became a Sunni Muslim, but was assassinated a few months later while giving a speech. Here is a relevant song: “Wake Up” by Rage Against the Machine.
Martin Luther King Jr. – No. 104
Prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He worked to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience. When he was assassinated in 1968, his efforts had been refocused on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War. Watch King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech or listen to “Let Freedom Ring” by Flocabulary.
P.S. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Muammar Gaddafi – No. 103
The ruler of Libya since a military coup in 1969, when he overthrew King Idris and established the Libyan Arab Republic. In early February 2011, major political protests against Gaddafi’s government broke out in Libya and turned into a civil war. Four months later, the situation in war-torn Libya hasn’t improved. But today is Gaddafi’s 69th birthday.
Update: At a press conference today, President Obama said it’s “just a matter of time” before Gaddafi is removed from power.
Julius Caesar – No. 102
Roman general who played a critical role in building the Roman Empire. He had a long-term relationship with Cleopatra but could not marry her under Roman law. He was assassinated by a group of senators, led by Brutus, on the Ides of March. Et tu, Brute?
Cleopatra – No. 101
The last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s death. She had a long-term relationship with Julius Caesar and represented herself as the reincarnation of the Egyptian goddess Isis.
Marilyn Monroe – No. 97
Norma Jeane was born on this day in 1926. She became a cultural icon and American sex symbol. Yankees star Joe DiMaggio was one of her three husbands. She allegedly had affairs with both John and Robert Kennedy. She died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962, but conspiracy theories about the nature of her death abound.
Audrey Hepburn – No. 96
A glamorously elfin British actress and UNICEF humanitarian. She was a film and fashion icon of the 20th century and possibly the loveliest actress to ever grace the silver screen.
Joan of Arc – No. 95
A peasant girl who became a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint. Claiming divine guidance, she led the French army to important victories during the Hundred Years’ War. She was burned at the stake on this day in 1431.
John F. Kennedy – No. 94
The 35th President of the United States. JFK was born on this day in 1917. He was assassinated in 1963 as he traveled in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. I remain fascinated by the many conspiracy theories.
Conan O’Brien – No. 90
I almost had to draw a bearded Conan, but Will Ferrell helped him out with his facial hair three weeks ago. In May of last year, Conan performed on The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour after his settlement with NBC. I am a fan of Team Coco.
I am attending WebVisions 2011 in Portland, Oregon this week.
Bettie Page – No. 87
Bettie Page was an American model from Tennessee who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. After her sexual revolution days, she converted to born-again Christianity and spent time in a state psychiatric hospital.
A resident of Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood painted Page’s image on the side of a house just off of Exit 170 on I-5. It’s pretty cool.
André the Giant – No. 84
This French professional wrestler and actor has a posse. Billed at 7′ 4″ and 520 pounds, he was born on this day in 1946 and died in 1993. Artist Shepard Fairey raised the Obey Giant image of André to iconic status.
Pope John Paul II – No. 83
Reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City for over 26 years. He was born on this day in 1920. His beatification ceremony took place just 17 days ago.
Albert Einstein – No. 82
German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity and revolutionized physics. He’s a popular model for depictions of mad scientists and absent-minded professors.
Muhammad Ali – No. 81
Born in Kentucky as Cassius Clay, this cultural icon was one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Michael Jordan – No. 80
Air Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and holds the NBA record for highest career scoring average (among many statistical feats).
In my childhood bedroom, Jordan’s “Soaring” poster is still on the wall.
Frank Sinatra – No. 79
Ol’ Blue Eyes died on this day in 1998. The American singer was also a founding member of a group of actors known as the Rat Pack.
Joseph Smith – No. 77
Founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and publisher of the English translation of the golden plates known as the Book of Mormon.
Benjamin Franklin – No. 100
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and inventor of the lightning rod and bifocals. Now he is on the $100 bill, so I’m making him my 100th 8-bit character. It’s all about the benjamins.
In mostly unrelated news, I launched my first website exactly 14 years ago today.