Reshma Saujani is a New York City-based Indian American advocate and the founder of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young women in their pursuit of education and careers in the traditionally male-dominated technology industry. In 2010 Saujani launched an unsuccessful bid to become the youngest woman ever to be elected to U.S. Congress. Prior to her congressional candidacy and the founding of Girls Who Code, Saujani worked in New York's Wall Street financial district and for the City of New York.
Reshma Saujani. (2013). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650008881/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=57020dbd
Profession: CEO of Girls Who Code, Author
American Like Me Story Traits: Name, Authenticity, Bravery
Best known as the Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Al Madrigal has made a name for himself in stand-up comedy, acting and as a writer. He stars in the movie Night School with Kevin Hart, The Way Back with Ben Affleck and the upcoming Morbius for SONY with Jared Leto. On the TV side, Al was a series regular and writer on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here and most recently worked as a writer, actor and producer on the CBS sitcom Broke. His critically acclaimed hour special, “Shrimpin’ Ain’t Easy” premiered on Showtime in 2017. He is also the co-founder of the All Things Comedy network, alongside fellow comic Bill Burr.
Bio. (n.d.). Al Madrigal. https://www.almadrigal.com/bio/
Profession: Actor, Comedian, Writer
American Like Me Story Traits: Money/Frugal
Writer. Poet. Essayist. Worked previously as a union organizer for Chinese home healthcare workers, San Francisco;an organizer for writing non-profit 826 Valencia, San Francisco; a high school teacher in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn; a teacher at the New School for Social Research and Sackett Street Writers' Workshop; a contributor to Rookie, 2011-14.
Jenny Zhang. (2018). In Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/H1000325367/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=394696c9
Profession: Poet, Writer
American Like Me Story Traits: Food, Money/Frugal
From The LA Times: "Bambadjan Bamba has only the fondest memories of growing up in the African country of Cote D'Ivoire. But in 1993, after that nation’s first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, died and it became politically unstable, Bamba’s family fled to the United States for protection. At 10, America became his new home. Twenty-five years later, however, the actor perhaps best known for his recurring role on NBC’s “The Good Place” doesn’t quite feel like an American. Sure, he’s perfected the accent and erased every hint of foreign-born-ness from his speech. But since high school, he’s carried around a secret burden he’s ready to reveal: He’s undocumented. Bamba is one of the estimated 11 million undocumented Americans living in the United States, according to Pew research. He’s told very few people of his citizenship status — until now."
Anderson, T. (2017, November 28). Q&A: actor Bambadjan Bamba comes out as undocumented: ‘We just can’t be scared anymore.’ The Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20191029204143/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-bambadjan-bamba-undocumented-20171128-htmlstory.html
Profession: Actor, Filmmaker, Activist
American Like Me Story Traits: Immigration, Language barriers, Conformity
Indian-born American television personality and author Padma Lakshmi (born 1970) became best known as the host of the long-running reality cooking competition Top Chef. After joining the program’s cast during its second season, Lakshmi garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy nominations. She also created and presented the critically acclaimed Hulu series Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, for which she won a James Beard Foundation award. Along with her television work, Lakshmi has written several books and advocated for causes including endometriosis awareness and immigrant rights.
Padma Lakshmi. (2023). In Encyclopedia of World Biography Online. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/QYBNAW056167515/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=e9792473
Profession: Author, Host, Executive Producer of Top Chef
American Like Me Story Traits: Religion
Park was born in 1974 in Los Angeles and grew up on the city's ethnically diverse Westside. His parents were émigrés from South Korea, and he was the second of their two sons. His mother eventually worked as an accountant on the University of California--Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, and Park would later graduate with a degree in English from UCLA. Park's father ran a photo-processing business--at which Park worked during his teenage years--and later worked in one of the tourist-focused souvenir shops that dot Hollywood Boulevard. Park attended Alexander Hamilton High School's specialized magnet program, where he chose humanities as his area of concentration. After earning his undergraduate degree at UCLA, he spent another year pursuing a master of arts (M.A.) in Asian-American studies. While at UCLA, Park co-founded the LCC Theater Company in the mid-1990s. It was originally known as Lapu the Coyote That Cares, after nicknames he and his friends gave one another. It was here that some of Park's first forays into playwriting and comedy skits came to life. He had no plan to pursue acting as a career and had enrolled in the Asian-American graduate program with the idea of becoming a college professor. There was also a period in which he wanted to apply to architecture school, but he was unable to pass the requisite physics courses for the masters in architecture program. For several years, he worked as a graphic designer for newspapers and weeklies, including the New Times LA, an alternative weekly. "Acting was always something that I did at night," he told Grierson in the Back Stage interview. "I'd tell my parents, 'Don't worry, it's a hobby.'"
Randall Park. (2015). In Newsmakers (Vol. 2). Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1618006278/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=10e95510
Profession: Actor, Comedian, Writer, Director
American Like Me Story Traits: Parent-child relationship
A provocative author, activist, and educator, Roxane Gay provides sharp commentary and interesting perspectives on such topics as feminism, sexuality, gender, race, body image, violence, rape culture, and how culture considers women. Known for having a clear writing style and distinctive voice, Gay has been a New York Times best-selling author. Though she has considered herself awkward, shy, and a loner, her revealing vulnerability in such books as 2014's Bad Feminist and 2017's Hunger were considered deeply moving to readers and critics alike. In 2020 Queerty recognized her as a writer who gives voice to diversity.
Roxane Gay. (2017). In Newsmakers (Vol. 3). Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1618006713/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=432089c6
Profession: Author, Writer
American Like Me Story Traits: Duel existence, Family, Boundaries
Carmon Beatrice Perez is a political activist from Santa Cruz, California. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and then became involved with the activist organization the Gathering for Justice. Perez rose through the ranks of the Gathering for Justice and was eventually promoted to executive director. She then continued organizing activists, working to found Justice League NYC, an organization dedicated to criminal justice reform within New York. Recently, Perez played a key role in the organization of the Women's March Foundation, which helps advance women's rights in the United States. The Women's March Foundation helped elect 103 women to Congress.
Carmen Perez. (2020). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650012127/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=cb50c145
Profession: Activist, Executive Director of The Gathering for Justice
American Like Me Story Traits: Identity, Basketball, Family language barriers, Gang violence, Sibling loss
Issa Rae is a Black American actress, writer, director, and producer, primarily known for her YouTube series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. The show garnered millions of views on YouTube, and Rae used her popularity to challenge the stereotypes associated with Black people in entertainment. Rae later developed a television series titled Insecure, which premiered on HBO in 2016. The show earned her several Golden Globe and Emmy nominations and completed its fifth and final season in 2021. In 2023, she co-starred in the film Barbie in the role of President Barbie and the animated superhero film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Spider-Woman.
Issa Rae. (2023). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650010479/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=4415c318
Profession: Actor, Writer
American Like Me Story Traits: Religion, Family, Adolescence
Diane Guerrero was born on July 21, 1986, in New Jersey. Her family lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents were illegal immigrants from Colombia who were unable to become American citizens. Guerrero feared that her parents would be deported one day. When she was 14 years old, her parents and brother were sent back to Colombia. The young Guerrero had nowhere to go, and family friends took her in and looked after her. She kept in touch with her parents through phone calls and summer visits. She graduated from the Boston Arts Academy and attended college. Guerrero received a degree in political science and communication and then decided to pursue an acting career.
In addition to her acting career, Guerrero volunteered with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that worked on immigration issues. She also worked with Mi Familia Vota to encourage citizenship and voter registration. She was named a White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization in 2015. Her memoir, In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, was scheduled for publication in May of 2016. Guerrero was also chosen as a featured speaker at the 2016 American Library Association summer conference.
Diane Guerrero. (2016). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650010130/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=d3beb4f8
Profession: Actor, Activist, Author
American Like Me Story Traits: Diversity in media, the American dream
Oh Joy! founder and Creative Director, Joy Cho, has authored seven books and consulted for hundreds of creative businesses around the world. Joy has given keynote speeches on entrepreneurship, leadership, and business at many conferences and companies including Alt Summit, Pinterest HQ, Target HQ, and Hallmark HQ. For two years in a row, Joy was named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential People on the Internet and has the most followed account on Pinterest with over 15 million followers. Most recently, Joy’s house and studio have been featured in House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino Magazines.
Hi, I’m joy! (2023). Oh Joy! https://ohjoy.com/about
Profession: Graphic designer, Author, Entrepreneur
American Like Me Story Traits: Conformity, Culture
Liza Koshy is a breakout YouTube star and social media sensation who established herself as one of the world's best-known Internet personalities and a budding actress and television host. Since her 2015 YouTube debut, Koshy has amassed a following of more than 16 million subscribers who have earned her more than a billion views. Koshy's rapid ascent as an online superstar eventually helped her transition into mainstream acting and hosting work. Among other projects, she has appeared in feature films such as Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) and as the host of Nickelodeon's All New Double Dare.
Liza Koshy. (2018). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650011324/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=ecbd5188
Profession: Actor
American Like Me Story Traits: Ethnicity, Diversity, Adolescence
Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani American actor and comedian. He is known for his roles on television shows such as Silicon Valley and Franklin & Bash Alongside his acting and stand-up career, Nanjiani has written material for television and hosted several comedy podcasts. Nanjiani also lent his voice to animated projects such as the series Adventure Time and Bob's Burgers. Nanjiani forayed into screenwriting, in partnership with his wife, with the 2017 film The Big Sick, a romantic comedy based on the couple's relationship. In 2020 Nanjiani finished work on the film The Eternal, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the film's release was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kumail Nanjiani. (2017). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650010632/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=775780e3
Profession: Actor, Writer, Comedian
American Like Me Story Traits: Immigration, the American dream
The most decorated American figure skater in the sport's history, Michelle Kwan became one of the most respected and admired athletes of her generation for her grace on and off the ice. First making headlines in 1994 when she was named an alternate to the American team at the Lillehammer Olympics during the Tonya Harding scandal, Kwan was a national silver medalist at the age of thirteen. At fifteen, she claimed her first U.S. and World Championship titles and at the 1998 National Championship delivered performances in the short and long programs that received the highest-ever marks in the modern history of the sport. Already something of a legend when she competed at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games, Kwan finished second in a surprising upset to Tara Lipinski, who performed two triple-jump combinations to take the gold medal. Ironically, the loss served to increase Kwan's popularity for her gracious comments and philosophical outlook after the event. Reigning as U.S. Champion from 1998 to 2002, Kwan also picked up gold medals at the World Championship in 1998, 2000, and 2001. As in 1998, Kwan was disappointed at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, where she finished third after a fall in the free skate. Once again Kwan won the public's sympathy and respect through her disappointment, which did little to diminish her impact on the sport and her status as one of the most popular athletes in North America. In January of 2021, she was nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to Belize.
Michelle Wing Kwan. (2004). In D. R. Barnes (Ed.), Notable Sports Figures. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K2440301292/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=418707ad
Profession: retired Figure Skater, serves on the board of directors of Special Olympics International
American Like Me Story Traits: Figure skating, the American dream, Money, Resilience
Geena Rocero is a Filipino-American model and activist who revealed in a 2014 TED Talk that she was transgender. Prior to her revelation, her secret was only known to close friends and family, and most of the fashion industry--including her modelling agency--was unaware of her trans identity. She decided to reveal her gender identity in part to help heighten the visibility of trans people, while showing that they are capable of achieving their goals, even in such a body-image-conscious industry as the fashion world. To help support her cause, she founded Gender Proud, a media production group that seeks to promote stories about the transgender community. Since 2019, she has been a participant in the United Nations' Free and Equal Campaign in support of the global LGBTI community.
Geena Rocero. (2019). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650011821/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=5257bcf1
Profession: Model, Host, Producer, Advocate
American Like Me Story Traits: Finding identity, Culture, Transgender, Immigration
Frank Waln is a award winning Lakota multi-genre music artist, public speaker and curator representing the Lakota Nation from on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. With a Bachelor of Arts in Audio Arts & Acoustics from Columbia College Chicago, he has garnered recognition for his commitment to building community through his work and has received numerous awards, including three Native American Music Awards and fellowships from NDN Collective and the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. Frank Waln’s creative contributions have graced museums and art institutions worldwide, and he currently holds artist residencies at the University of South Dakota and Harvard University. As a devoted advocate for Native art, Frank has passionately shared his story, performed for diverse student audiences, and conducted Indigenous songwriting workshops around the world. He has made appearances on MTV, CNN and ESPN for his work, making him a leading voice in fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture and art. His role as a curator and his dedication to preserving cultural heritage have left an undeniable mark, most notably seen in the music interactive exhibit he curated at the Field Museum in Chicago. Frank Waln’s music is available on all streaming platforms.
About. (n.d.). Frank Waln. Retrieved May 24, 2024, from http://frankwaln.com/
Profession: Artist, Musician, Public Speaker
American Like Me Story Traits: Resilience, Perseverance
American teen Auli'i Cravalho had no professional experience when she auditioned for the role of a Disney heroine in a new animated film. The character, Moana, lives on an island in the Pacific and longs to explore. Cravalho got the starring role and began recording the songs for the film in late 2015.
Auli'i Cravalho. (2015). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650009967/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=fa57404e
Profession: Actor, Singer
American Like Me Story Traits: Finding identity, Ethnicity
Jeremy Lin is an American professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Beijing Ducks. After failing to be drafted out of college, he mostly sat on the bench with the New York Knicks before leading the team to victory against the New Jersey Nets in 2012. The sudden success made Lin a star, and after several more months of play with the Knicks, he was signed as a point guard with the Houston Rockets. After two seasons with the Rockets, Lin was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014 and then the Charlotte Hornets in 2015. After leaving Charlotte the following year, Lin spent time playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks before eventually signing with the Toronto Raptors and winning an National Basketball Association (NBA) title with the team in 2019. Lin subsequently put his NBA career on hold, signing a contract to play for the Chinese Basketball Association's (CBA) Beijing Ducks in August of 2019.
Jeremy Lin. (2012). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650008113/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=7cb4f270
Profession: Basketball player
American Like Me Story Traits: Basketball, Stereotypes, Confidence
America Ferrera broke the mold for Latina film stars thanks to her acclaimed performance in 2002’s Real Women Have Curves. Ferrera’s figure perfectly embodied the title’s sentiment, and she went on to appear in a number of films and her own television series Ugly Betty. The daughter of Honduran immigrants, Ferrera is happy to serve as a role model for women of all shapes and colors, especially when she recalled her own formative years. Speaking to Elizabeth Weitzman about her younger years in Interview, the actress said, “I went through a lot of self‐doubt. I never turned on the TV and saw a Latina woman with an average body.”
America Ferrera. (2023). In Newsmakers. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1618004261/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=b7eb01fe
Profession: Actor, Director, Television Producer, Activist
American Like Me Story Traits: Finding identity, Family reconnection
Ravi made his directorial debut with Meet the Patels, which led to a writing/directing deal for a feature film adaptation for Fox Searchlight.
As an actor, Ravi is most recognized for his work on Scrubs, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Transformers, Powder Blue, The New Normal, and, most recently, the Fox series Grandfathered starring John Stamos. Ravi also serves as Co-CEO of THIS BAR SAVES LIVES, which he founded with actors Ryan Devlin, Todd Grinnell, Kristen Bell, Jimmy Kimmel, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Kunal Nayyar, Alyssa Milano, Susan Sarandon, and many others. TBSL gives a life-saving meal packet to a child in need for every fruit and nut bar sold. Ravi also co-manages an investment group that focuses primarily on health, wellness, and social enterprises.
Prior to joining the entertainment industry, Ravi was an investment banker and later founded the popular poker magazine All In. He graduated from The University of North Carolina with double majors in Economics and International Studies. In 2016, Ravi traveled as guest of the US State Department on a diplomatic film program to Egypt and Japan.
Ravi V. Patel - Director/Writer/Editor/Subject. (n.d.). Meet the Patels Film. Retrieved May 24, 2024, from https://www.meetthepatelsfilm.com/ravivpatel
Profession: Actor, Director, Writer, Entrepreneur
American Like Me Story Traits: Culture, Family, Money/Frugal
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American playwright, actor, composer, and performer. His 2007 play In the Heights helped to launch his career and shoot him to stardom. He became best known, however, as the creator of the critically acclaimed and popular musical Hamilton, for which he received various awards, including two Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 2018, he costarred in the Disney live-action musical Mary Poppins Returns. He then signed on to star in the adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy novel series His Dark Materials, which began airing on HBO in 2019. He reprised his portrayal of Alexander Hamilton in a film of the stage version Hamilton, which streamed on Disney+ in the spring of 2020. In 2021, Miranda performed at Celebrating America, an event honoring President Joe Biden’s inauguration. He was tapped to compose original songs for the 2023 live-action adaptation of a Disney classic.
Lin-Manuel Miranda. (2023). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650009986/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=972c796f
Profession: Actor, Playwright, Composer
American Like Me Story Traits: Culture
Tanaya Winder is an author, singer / songwriter, poet, motivational speaker, artist educator, and coach who comes from an intertribal lineage of Southern Ute, Pyramid Lake Paiute, Diné and Duckwater Shoshone Nations where she is an enrolled citizen. Her heritage also includes African American. Tanaya’s performances and talks emphasize the importance of “heartwork” – the life path one is meant to follow by using his/her/their gifts and passions. She blends storytelling, singing, and spoken word to teach about different expressions of love (self love, intimate love, social love, community love, and universal love). She is a published author who travels sharing her music, poetry, and writing/empowerment workshops.
About Tanaya - Bio. (n.d.). Tanaya Winder. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://tanayawinder.com/
Profession: Poet, Vocalist, Writer, Educator, Motivational Speaker, Founder of Dream Warriors
American Like Me Story Traits: Culture, Family, Music/Singing, Stories
Wilmer Valderrama is an American actor. He rose to fame and is best known for starring as Fez in the television sitcom That '70s Show from 1998 to 2006 and for voicing the character Manny on the children's television series Handy Manny from 2006 to 2013. Valderrama has also starred in films, including 2006's Unaccompanied Minors, 2006's Fast Food Nation, 2011's From Prada to Nada, 2015's The Adderall Diaries and 2021's Encanto. He also hosted and co-created the MTV series Yo Momma (2006-2007) and, since 2016, has been part of the cast of the television drama NCIS. Valderrama is also known for his high-profile relationships with Mandy Moore (2001-2002), Lindsay Lohan (in 2004) and singer Demi Lovato (2010-2016).
Wilmer Valderrama. (n.d.). People. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://people.com/tag/wilmer-valderrama/
Profession: Actor, Producer, Activist
American Like Me Story Traits: Learning English, Acting, Immigration
Anna Akana can currently be seen on Comedy Central's Corporate. She stars in the film Go Back to China, which premiered in the Narrative Competition at 2019's SXSW film festival. She is the lead and executive producer of Youtube RED's Youth & Consequences, and can be seen in Marvel's Ant-man, Netflix's You Get Me and Freeform's Stitchers.
She's most known for her online weekly show with 2.8 million subscribers and has sold out two North American tours as a stand-up comic playing comedy songs on guitar. Expanding on her passion for music, she released Casualty, a visual album in 2019, followed by the EP No Longer Yours in 2020.
Anna Akana. (n.d.). Anna Akana. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://annaakana.com/
Profession: Actor, Director, Producer, Comedian
American Like Me Story Traits: Child of immigrants, Childhood
New Jersey-born Hernandez was one of the first generation of athletes born in the 21st century to win an Olympic gold medal – just under a month after her 16th birthday. The 5ft (1.5m) tall gymnast was part of the USA’s remarkable “Final Five” team at Rio 2016 – alongside brilliant teammates MyKayla Skinner, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, and Simone Biles, herself already considered possibly the best gymnast of all time.
In Rio, Hernandez bagged a gold medal in the team event, and later in the Games secured an individual silver medal in the balance beam, beating Biles who placed third. Hernandez, who now trains in California, loves the apparatus. “Beam routines are a minute and 30 seconds long, and that’s a minute and 30 seconds that I really get to zone in on what I'm doing,” she said. “It feels good.”
Post-Games, Hernandez became something of a celebrity back home. She competed on – and won – series 23 of Dancing with the Stars, partnering Val Chmerkovskiy and becoming the youngest winner in the show’s history. She called the experience “a crazy roller-coaster” after being described as ‘Little Miss Dynamite’ by head judge Len Goodman. “My goal is to inspire others as I go on with my journey,” said Hernandez. She’s since forged something of a second career as a TV star – co-hosting American Ninja Warrior Junior and starring in the Nickelodeon series Middle School Moguls.
Lauren Hernandez - Biography. (n.d.). Olympics. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/athletes/lauren-hernandez
Profession: Gymnast
American Like Me Story Traits: Ethnic representation in gymnastics, Culture, Grandparents
Kal Penn (né Kalpen Suresh Modi) is an American actor and former White House staff member in President Barack Obama's administration. He rose to fame starring in the popular comedy movies Van Wilder (2002) and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) and the television series House from 2007 to 2009. He is also well known for taking a hiatus from acting to work in several roles in President Barack Obama's administration. After his hiatus, he appeared on the television series How I Met Your Mother from 2011 to 2014, Designated Survivor (2016-2019) and Clarice (2021).
Kal Penn. (n.d.). People. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://people.com/tag/kal-penn/
Profession: Actor, Producer, Former Obama White House aide
American Like Me Story Traits: Resilience
Anjelah Johnson is an American actress, comedian, and former professional cheerleader for the National Football League (NFL). She is known for her comedic impressions, mainly her character Bon Qui Qui. She was a cast member of the comedy series MADtv beginning in 2007. She has starred in a number of stand-up comedy specials throughout her career. Johnson has also acted in several films and television shows, and she has released songs and music videos as Bon Qui Qui. She released her fourth stand-up special, Anjelah Johnson: Mahalo & Good Night, in 2017.
Anjelah Johnson. (2018). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650011319/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=dd5cb9d7
Profession: Actor, Comedian
American Like Me Story Traits: Finding identity, Adolescence, Culture
Martin Sensmeier is part of the Tlingit and Koyukon/Athabaskan tribe of Alaska. He was raised in a Tlingit Coastal community in southeast Alaska and grew up learning and participating in the traditions of his people, while carrying on the native subsistence lifestyle that has been sustained for thousands of years. He is an ambassador for both the Native Wellness Institute, where he advocates for wellness amongst native people of all nations, as well as The Boys and Girls Club of America.
While attending high school, he qualified as a welder and at age 21 he was hired as a roughneck on the Doyon Rig, drilling the North Slope in Alaska. Martin also attended the University of Alaska for two years before coming to Los Angeles to pursue his passion.
Martin’s breakout role came alongside Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt as the warrior Red Harvest in Antoine Fuqua’s “The Magnificent Seven” for Sony/MGM. Other credits include feature films “Encounter” and “Puberty,” opposite Abbie Cornish and Garrett Wareing and “Wind River” directed by Academy Award nominated Taylor Sheridan, starring opposite Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olson.
He starred in the leading role as Montford in “Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher,” a film based on the novel by Neil R. Johnson, which debuted on Netflix in 2021.
Martin has been featured in numerous television roles as well, reuniting with Taylor Sheridan for multiple episodes of “Yellowstone,” and most recently as fan-favorite Sam in “1883.”
Martin does numerous speaking engagements around the country sharing his experience as a First American actor.
Martin Sensmeier as Montford Johnson. (n.d.). Chickasaw Nation Productions. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://www.chickasawrancher.com/Cast-Crew/Cast/Martin-Sensmeier
Profession: Actor, Ambassador for the Native Wellness Institute and the Boys & Girls Club of America
American Like Me Story Traits: Growing up in poverty, Storytelling, Moving to the big city, Culture
American model and actress Carmen Carrera drew attention for her appearances on RuPaul's Drag Race and related series. At that time, she identified as a gay male drag queen. Carrera later began transitioning to a woman. She appeared on a number of reality shows and in several acting roles. She also became an activist, working to help those with HIV/AIDS and educate the public about the trans community.
Carmen Carrera. (2018). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650011403/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=ceccec31
Profession: Actor, Activist
American Like Me Story Traits: Finding identity, Childhood, Transgender
Udo Aduba is an American actress best known for her role on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black. The role earned her an Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series. Aduba only had one TV credit to her name before being cast in Orange. She was expected to make her film debut in 2015 in Pearly Gates. In 2020, Aduba won an Emmy Award for her performance in the hit mini-series Mrs. America (2020) She followed that performance by starring as Dr. Brooke Taylor in the television series In Treatment (2021).
Uzo Aduba. (2014). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650009399/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=fc822ebf
Profession: Actor
American Like Me Story Traits: Culture, Family
Linda Sarsour is a Palestinian-American political activist best known for her work with the Women's March and the Arab American Association of New York. Her activism primarily focuses on civil rights and social issues including the U.S. immigration policy, the treatment of Muslim Americans in the post-9/11 world, feminist causes, and social justice intersectionality. Named to the 2017 edition of TIME magazine's annual "100 Most Influential People" list, Sarsour is a polarizing figure. She has strong support in some left-wing and progressive circles but has also attracted criticism from across the political spectrum for her controversial opinions on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Linda Sarsour. (2020). In Gale Biography Online Collection. Gale. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1650012131/BIC?u=nclivecoacc&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=4f21d067
Profession: Activist
American Like Me Story Traits: Community, Radical love, Diversity, Family, Racial profiling
Joaquin Castro was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 16, 1974. A second generation Mexican American, he was raised on the city's west side and is a proud product of the public school system. Joaquin has worked hard to seize the opportunities created by the sacrifices of his grandmother and prior generations. After finishing high school a year early, Joaquin left San Antonio to graduate with honors from Stanford University in 1996. He then went on to attend Harvard Law School where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2000. Upon his return to San Antonio at 28 years old, Joaquin joined a private law practice and was elected to the Texas Legislature. He served five terms as state representative for District 125. In 2012, Joaquin was elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives as representative of Texas' 20th Congressional District, which covers a large portion of San Antonio and Bexar County.
Meet Joaquin. (n.d.). Joaquin Castro Congressman for the 20th District of Texas. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://castro.house.gov/about
Profession: US Congressman
American Like Me Story Traits: Immigration, Politics