Photos: Those We've Lost From Breast Cancer
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June Jordan - 1936 – 2002<br><br>The award-winning poet, activist and UC Berkeley professor was a fierce advocate for women’s rights and spoke passionately about politics, gender and sexuality through her literary works. Jordan was known as a tireless fighter of injustice, yet no fight was strong enough to save her from her own decade-long battle with breast cancer. She died at 65.
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Hattie McDaniel - 1895 – 1952<br><br>Hattie McDaniel is best known as the first African American to win an Academy Award for her iconic performance in “Gone with the Wind.” She paved the way for minority actresses to break into mainstream movies, but few know the battle that McDaniel fought with breast cancer that ultimately claimed her life at 57 years old.
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Karen Fraction - 1958 - 2007<br><br>The celebrated Broadway and television actress had credits that included “The Wiz,” “Cabaret” and the “Tap Dance Kid.” Once she hung up her dancing shoes and decided to start a family, Fraction forged a career on the silver screen. She could be seen in “My Brother and Me,” “SeaQuest 2032,” “Sheena” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” In October 2007, she died after battling breast cancer for five years. She was 49.
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Patricia Roberts Harris - 1924 - 1985<br><br>Harris was one of the more accomplished women of her time, and did not let her race and gender stop her from achieving success. She was the first Black woman to enter the presidential line of succession under President Jimmy Carter. She served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and was also the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Ambassador under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Harris died of breast cancer in
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Shirley Horn - 1934 - 2005<br><br>The Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and pianist, who was discovered by Miles Davis, was described as having a gorgeous, smoky contralto voice, and the ability to play the piano while singing as if she were two different people. During her career she collaborated with jazz legends like Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and Dizzy Gillespie, and had the distinguished honor of performing for many U.S. presidents. She battled cancer until her death at 71.
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