Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South -- and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served as the basis of an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father -- a crusading local lawyer -- risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.•  Harper Lee Books

A retired American track and field athlete who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold, in a career that spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired. Lewis is now an actor and has appeared in a number of films. Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s, was named Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News in 1982, 1983 and 1984, and set world records in the 100 m, 4 x 100 m and 4 x 200 m relays. His world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984 and his 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks. • Carl Lewis Books

Probably the greatest boxer of all time, was the Michael Jordan of sports when sports were affiliated more closely with American national identity than with the New York Stock Exchange. Although his celebrity status was largely the work of the media and of gangster managers, Louis received public attention unheralded for a black man at that time. His iconic shaping was defined by the only other black heavyweight champion before him, Jack Johnson. Louis was modest and compassionate where Johnson was ostentatious and prone to alcohol-induced violence (Johnson spent many years in exile after his 1913 conviction under the Mann Act for transporting a white woman across state lines for immoral purposes). After proving himself the best fighter in the world, Louis was conditionally allowed the status of celebrity and star symbol. Even so, the subtitle is somewhat deceiving in that Mead's research demonstrates that Louis faced the animosity of white writers and the general public throughout his career. Paradoxically, what propelled Louis to the status of American hero was nationalism • Joe Louis Books

The story of Willie Mays's rookie year with the Negro American League's Birmingham Black Barons, the Last Negro World Series, and the making of a baseball legend Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays is one of baseball's endearing greats, a tremendously talented and charismatic center fielder who hit 660 career homeruns, collected 3,283 hits, knocked in 1,903 runs, won 12 Gold Glove Awards and appeared in 24 All-Star games. But before Mays was the "Say Hey Kid", he was just a boy. Willie's Boys is the story of his remarkable 1948 rookie season with the Negro American League's Birmingham Black Barons, who took a risk on a raw but gifted 16-year-old and gave him the experience, confidence, and connections to escape Birmingham's segregation, navigate baseball's institutional racism, and sign with the New York Giants. Willie's Boys offers a character-rich narrative of the apprenticeship Mays had at the hands of a diverse group of savvy veterans who taught him the ways of the game and the world. • Willie Howard Mays Books

Though best known for his portrayal of Gomer Pyle, Nabors became a popular guest on variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s (including two specials of his own in 1969 and 1974) after revealing a rich baritone voice. He subsequently recorded numerous albums and singles, most of them containing romantic ballads. • Jim Nabors Books • Jim Nabors Show

The tenth child of Henry and Emma Alexander Owens was named James Cleveland when he was born in Alabama on September 12, 1913. "J.C.", as he was called, was nine when the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where his new schoolteacher gave him the name that was to become known around the world. The teacher was told "J.C." when she asked his name to enter in her roll book, but she thought he said "Jesse". The name stuck and he would be known as Jesse Owens for the rest of his life. James Cleveland Owens was born in Lawrence County, Alabama, in the Oakville community, to Henry and Emma Owens. When Owens was nine, he moved to the Glenville section of Cleveland, Ohio. Owens was called Jesse by a teacher in Cleveland who did not understand his Southern drawl when the young boy said he was called J.C. Owens – i.e. James Cleveland Owens • Jesse Owens Books

Grade 4-6-- This well-known story is considerably refreshed by Parks's personal narrative, punctuated by numerous black-and-white photographs. In simple, gracious, compelling language she describes her childhood, family life, and elusive educational opportunities. She explains how her husband encouraged and supported her participation in civil rights activities, and provides with clarity the generally paltry regard for the contributions of black women by the movement's organizers. In this recounting of her life, she corrects some media-created distortions of events. Her references to so many people may overwhelm some readers at times, but this does not diminish the overall impact of a wonderful, warm autobiography. - Helen E. Williams, formerly at University of Maryland, College Park • Rosa Parks Books

Jimmie Rodgers' traditional birthplace is usually given as Meridian, Mississippi; however, in documents signed by Rodgers later in life, his birthplace was listed as Geiger, Alabama, the home of his paternal grandparents. Rodgers' mother died when he was very young, and Rodgers, the youngest of three sons, spent the next few years living with various relatives in southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama, near Geiger. He eventually returned home to live with his father, Aaron Rodgers, a foreman on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, who had settled with a new wife in Meridian. • Jimmie Rodgers Books • Jimmie Rodgers Discography

Satcher was born in Anniston, Alabama. At the age of two, he contracted whooping cough. A black doctor, Jackson, came to his parents' farm, and told his parents he didn't expect David to live, but nonetheless spent the day with him, and told his parents how to give him the best chance he could. Satcher said that he grew up hearing that story, and that inspired him to be a doctor. • David Satcher Books

The stories in this landmark volume were collected from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, one of eight Choctaw bands in the state, by Mould, a professor of folklore, and his fieldworkers. Teachers, health workers, counselors at a Choctaw language camp, artists, basket makers, and elders--some speaking only Choctaw--contributed stories that have been passed on for centuries. These include two creation stories, one telling of the tribe's migration to Mississippi from the west, the other telling of its emergence from a sacred mound, led by divine providence. Then there are the shukha anumpa ("hog talk"), humorous stories that are either exaggerations of human foibles, often with a Christian moral, or animal stories, where cleverness is rewarded and pride punished. There are supernatural stories revolving around the devil, historical legends recounting the Choctaw removal to Oklahoma in 1830, and prophetic tales telling of coming disasters. Included are short biographies of all the storytellers and 16 tales transcribed in Choctaw as well as English--making them especially valuable for future scholars. Deborah Donovan • Tuscaloosa Books

The first of four children, Wallace was a native of Barbour County, Alabama. He was born in the town of Clio, in rural southeast Alabama, to George Corley Wallace and Mozell Smith Wallace. He was the third of four generations to use the name George Wallace, but as neither parent liked the name "Junior", he was called George C. to distinguish him from his father, George, and his grandfather, Dr. Wallace. Wallace's father had dropped out of Southern University to pursue a life of farming when prices were high during World War I, but Mozell had to sell their farmland just to pay existing mortgages when George Sr. died in 1937. Despite his impoverished background, Wallace was fascinated with politics from the age of ten, winning a contest to serve as a page for the Alabama Senate in 1935 and confidently predicting that he would one day be governor. • George Wallace Books

Heather Whitestone was born and raised in Dothan for the first seven years of her life. She lost her hearing when she was only 21 months old. She had meningitis and was rushed to the hospital hours away from death. In order to save her life, doctors gave her strong antibiotics which left her with a profound hearing loss. Her mother, Daphne Gray discovered her deafness. She had dropped pans on the kitchen floor and Heather did not respond. She had a 120 decibel hearing loss in her right ear and a 90 decibel loss in her left ear. Heather's mom, Daphne, decided that her daughter would read lips and learn to speak instead of learning sign language. Heather commented in her book, "Today's Heroes", that she was criticized in the deaf community for the decision not to learn sign language. She does know sign language now, but is reported to speak out against it. • Heather Whitestone Books

Williams was born in a log cabin in Mount Olive, Alabama, to Elonzo Huble "Lon" Williams and Jessie Lillybelle "Lillie" . .An American singer and songwriter and musician who has become an icon of country music and one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century. A leading pioneer of the honky tonk style, he had numerous hit records, and his charismatic performances and succinct compositions increased his fame. His songbook is a backbone of country music, and several of his songs are pop standards as well. He has been covered in a range of pop, gospel, blues and rock styles. His death at the age of 29 helped fuel his legend. His son Hank, Jr., daughter Jett, and grandchildren Hank Williams III, Holly Williams, and Hilary Williams are also professional singers. He was ranked 27th in Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers of All Time.• Hank Williams Sr. Website • Hank Williams Sr. Discography • Hiram “Hank” Williams Books