Russell Wendell Simmons was born in Queens, New York on October 4, 1957, the middle of three sons to bless the marriage of Daniel and Evelyn Simmons, a public school administrator and NYC parks administrator, respectively. Russell and Rick Rubin co-founded Def Jam Records, the legendary hip-hop label, in 1984.

The King Arts Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave. in Columbus, will host a tribute to legendary African-American artist Romare Bearden on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The evening will feature an exhibit of Bearden’s works and will feature a musical performance in the Pythian Theater titled “Jazz on the Avenue: A Melodious Celebration of the Art of Romare Bearden.”

Dr. Cornel West delivered the keynote address at Columbus State Community College’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Jan. 10.

It’s frequently expressed that individuals of so-called privileged means have had their mouths amply furnished with a silver spoon in life and thus have had an easy street to travel. But, this weekend Cleveland is going to get the Witherspoon treatment and have its road made that much funnier.

“My life after childhood has two main stories: the story of the hustler and the story of the rapper, and the two overlap as much as they diverge. I was on the streets for more than half of my life from the time I was thirteen years-old... The feelings I had during that part of my life were burned into me like a brand….

Edwidge Danticat was born in Haiti in 1969 and moved to the United States when she was twelve. She is the author of two novels, two collections of stories, two books for young adults, and two nonfiction books, one of which, "Brother, I'm Dying," was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. In 2009, she received a MacArthur Genius Fellowship.