E-mail a friendMarch 30, 2005
Harvard economist Roland Fryer discusses whether his work takes the focus off the race problem in America. Talented actress Regina King reflects on being an L.A. native, and Tavis pays a final tribute to celebrated attorney Johnnie Cochran.
Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Tribute
On his way to becoming one of America's best lawyers, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. represented his share of heavyweights. But what made him so special was his fierce defense of folk whom the system regarded as lightweights. And because of his fierce defense of those people, Cochran will be remembered as one of the best advocates that Black America has ever produced…and for his legacy and his example.
Dr. Roland Fryer
Dr. Roland Fryer
At age 27, Dr. Roland Fryer is an assistant professor of economics at Harvard and a Junior Fellow in its Society of Fellows. He applies economics tools to issues of race and inequality and has co-authored work on the Black-White achievement gap, causes and consequences of distinctively Black names and color-blind affirmative action. Fryer earned an economics degree in 2 years and completed his doctoral dissertation in three. He says he's probably the only economist at Harvard who reads VIBE and listens to hip-hop.
Regina King
Regina King
Regina King's career is on a roll. On the heels of her sizzling performance in Ray, she co-stars in Miss Congeniality 2 and will soon be heard as the voice of two characters in the animated TV series, The Boondocks. The L.A. native has spent much of her life in front of a camera, starting at age 14 in the '80s sitcom, 227. Since then, she's built a diverse film résumé, including Boys N the Hood, Friday and a career-turning-point role in Jerry Maguire. King may be back on series TV; she stars in a CBS pilot, The Unit.