E-mail a friendNovember 3, 2004
Illinois Senator-elect Barack Obama wants to overcome the bitter partisanship that's been taking place in the U.S. Senate. Musical legend Isaac Hayes discusses his road to success.
Sen. Barack Obama
Sen. Barack Obama
After months of speculation on whether he would run in '08, Illinois' junior senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy for the White House in February ‘07. He's proven to be a stellar fund-raiser and a popular candidate. The only African American in the U.S. Senate, Obama is a Harvard Law School grad—and the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review—a former civil rights lawyer and former state senator. His committee assignments include Foreign Relations, Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security.
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes' career is a testament to perseverance. He grew up picking cotton in Tennessee and spent his early years playing keyboards in Memphis clubs. He played in the house band at Stax Records and wrote a string of hits with David Porter. Hayes became a successful solo artist and composer and the first African American to win a best-song Oscar (for the Shaft theme). With his role as the voice of Chef on TV's South Park, he expanded his fan base. Hayes is a tireless philanthropist and champion of human rights.