Lists of African Americans
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African Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, also known as Black Americans or Afro-Americans. African Americans are an
ethnic group An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...
consisting of
citizens of the United States Citizenship of the United States is a citizenship, legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by t ...
who have full or partial ancestry of any
black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
racial groups of Africa. African Americans form the third largest racial and ethnic group in the United States, behind
White Americans White Americans are Americans who identify as and are perceived to be white people. This group constitutes the majority of the people in the United States. As of the 2020 Census, 61.6%, or 204,277,273 people, were white alone. This represented ...
and
Hispanic and Latino Americans Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spanish and/or Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include all Americans who identify as ...
. African Americans are mostly descendants of enslaved black people from the United States. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article and references showing the person is African-American.


Actors, actresses, and comedians


A

*
Quinton Aaron Quinton Aaron (born August 15, 1984) is an American actor. He made his film debut in Michel Gondry's ''Be Kind Rewind''. His first lead role was as Michael Oher in the 2009 film ''The Blind Side (film), The Blind Side''. Early life Aaron was bo ...
, actor *
Ira Aldridge Ira Frederick Aldridge (July 24, 1807 – August 7, 1867) was an American-born British actor, playwright, and theatre manager, known for his portrayal of Shakespearean characters. James Hewlett and Aldridge are regarded as the first Black Ameri ...
, actor * Flex Alexander, actor * Khandi Alexander, actress *
Ajiona Alexus Ajiona Alexus Brown (born March 16, 1996) is an American actress known for her roles in ''The Rickey Smiley Show'', ''Empire'', ''13 Reasons Why'', ''Acrimony'', and '' Breaking In''. She started her career in 2008, at the age of 12. Early lif ...
, actress *
Mahershala Ali Mahershala Ali (; born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore, February 16, 1974) is an American actor. He has received multiple accolades, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. ''Time'' magazine named him one of th ...
, actor *
Debbie Allen Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an ...
, actress *
John Amos John Allen Amos Jr. (born December 27, 1939) is an American actor known for his role as James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series ''Good Times''. Amos's other television work includes ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', a recurring role as Admir ...
, actor * Anthony Anderson, actor * Eddie Anderson, actor *
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and ...
, actress * Tichina Arnold, actress *
Essence Atkins Essence Uhura Atkins (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She began her career appearing on television sitcoms, before her regular role on the short-lived first African-American prime-time drama '' Under One Roof'' ( CBS, 1995). Atkin ...
, actress *
Sharif Atkins Sharif Atkins (born January 29, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. Michael Gallant on '' ER'' and for his role as FBI Agent Clinton Jones on '' White Collar''. Early life Atkins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva ...
, actor *
Patti Austin Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter. Music career Austin was born in Harlem, New York, to Gordon Austin, a jazz trombonist. She was raised in Bay Shore, New York on Long Island. Quincy ...
, singer * James Avery, actor *
Margaret Avery Margaret Avery (born April 15, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She began her career appearing on stage and later had starring roles in films including '' Cool Breeze'' (1972), ''Which Way Is Up?'' (1977), ''Scott Joplin'' (1977), and ''T ...
, actress *
Rochelle Aytes Rochelle Aytes is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as April Malloy on ABC drama series ''Mistresses'' (2013–16) and as the voice of Rochelle in the critically acclaimed video game ''Left 4 Dead 2'' (2009). Aytes al ...
, actress


B

* Anita Baker, singer * Jaylen Barron, actress (half Afro-American, half Mexican) *
Michael Boatman Michael Patrick Boatman (born October 25, 1964) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his roles as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom ''Spin City'', as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama ser ...
, actor and sitcom comedian *
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
, actress and singer *
Leslie David Baker Leslie David Baker (born February 19, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for playing disgruntled paper salesman Stanley Hudson in ''The Office'' for nine seasons (2005–2013). Early life Baker was born on February 19, 1958 in Chicago, Il ...
, actor * Tyra Banks, actress, model * Spencer Bell, actor * Cleveland Berto, actor * B.G., rapper * Peabo Bryson, singer * Louise Beavers, actress * Birdman, rapper *
Everett Brown Everett G. Brown (January 1, 1902 – October 14, 1953) was an American actor. Biography Born in Texas, Brown appeared in about 40 Hollywood films between 1927 and 1953. His roles were small most of the time and most of his film appearances were ...
, actor *
Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...
, actor * Malcolm Barrett, actor *
Philip Bailey Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, Wi ...
, singer * Toni Braxton, singer * James Baskett, actor *
Roscoe Lee Browne Roscoe Lee Browne (May 2, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American actor and director. He resisted playing stereotypically black roles, instead performing in several productions with New York City's Shakespeare Festival Theater, Leland Hayward's ...
, actor * Avery Brooks, actor * LeVar Burton, actor *
Tony Burton Anthony Mabron Burton (March 23, 1937 – February 25, 2016) was an American actor and boxer. He was known for his role as Tony "Duke" Evers in the ''Rocky'' films. Early life Burton was born in Flint, Michigan. He had a younger sister named ...
, actor * Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer *
Angela Bassett Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an American actress. She had her breakthrough with her portrayal of singer Tina Turner in the biopic ''What's Love Got to Do with It'' (1993), which garnered her a nomination for the Academy Award ...
, actress *
Troian Bellisario Troian Avery Bellisario (born October 28, 1985) is an American actress. A graduate of the University of Southern California, in 2010, she received her breakthrough role as Spencer Hastings in the Freeform drama series ''Pretty Little Liars'' ( ...
(mother is part African-American descent), actress *
Steelo Brim Sterling "Steelo" Brim (born June 5, 1988) is an American television personality, comedian, and actor. He is a co-host and producer of MTV's ''Ridiculousness (TV series), Ridiculousness. Biography Brim was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. H ...
actor, comedian * Lloyd Banks, actor * George Benson, singer *
Michael Beach Michael Anthony Beach (born October 30, 1963) is an American actor. He has appeared in films '' Lean on Me'' (1989), ''One False Move'' (1992), ''Short Cuts'' (1993), ''Waiting to Exhale'' (1995), ''A Family Thing'' (1996), ''Soul Food'' (1997), ...
, actor *
Richard Brooks Richard Brooks (May 18, 1912 – March 11, 1992) was an American screenwriter, film director, novelist and film producer. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, Oscars in his career, he was best known for ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955), ''Cat on a ...
, actor * Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress *
Darryl M. Bell Darryl M. Bell (sometimes credited as Daryl Bell; born May 10, 1963) is an American actor best known for his role as Big Brother X-Ray Vision in the 1988 Spike Lee film ''School Daze'' and as Ron Johnson Jr. on the NBC sitcom ''A Different World'' ...
, actor *
Paul Benjamin Paul Benjamin (February 4, 1938 – June 28, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned six decades. Benjamin appeared in dozens of films and television shows beginning in the late 1960s. Biography Born to Fair, a Baptist preacher (1890– ...
, actor * Wayne Brady, actor, comedian * Todd Bridges, actor * Fred Berry, actor *
Halle Berry Halle Maria Berry (; born Maria Halle Berry; August 14, 1966) is an American actress. She began her career as a model and entered several beauty contests, finishing as the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and coming in sixth in the Mis ...
, actress *
Lisa Bonet Lilakoi Moon (born Lisa Michelle Bonet; November 16, 1967), known professionally as Lisa Bonet (), is an American actress. She is known for playing Denise Huxtable on the sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread a ...
(African-American father), actress * Stephen Bishop, actor * Billy Blanks, actor *
Golden Brooks Golden Brooks is an American actress. She began her career with starring role in the Showtime comedy series, ''Linc's'' (1998–2000), and later has appeared in films ''Timecode'' (2000) and ''Impostor'' (2001). From 2000 to 2008, Brooks st ...
, actress *
Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...
, actor *
De'Aundre Bonds De'Aundre Bonds is an American actor. Career Bonds has mostly appeared as a guest actor on television shows; however, he was also featured in the Spike Lee film ''Get on the Bus'', in ''Tales from the Hood'' and in the Rick Famuyiwa film ''The Wo ...
, actor * Joy Bryant, actress * Chadwick Boseman, actor *
Sterling K. Brown Sterling Kelby Brown (born April 5, 1976) is an American actor. He has portrayed Christopher Darden in the FX limited series '' The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story'' (2016) and stars as Randall Pearson in the NBC drama series '' ...
, actor * Mehcad Brooks, actor *
Neil Brown Jr. Cornelius C. Brown Jr. (born June 19, 1980), better known as Neil Brown Jr., is an American actor. His most recognizable role may be in the television series '' The Walking Dead'' as Guillermo, leader of the Vatos and as Felix on the short-lived ...
, actor * Logan Browning, actress *
Trai Byers Trai Byers (born July 19, 1983) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Andre Lyon in the Fox television series ''Empire'' (2015–2020). Early life Trai Byers was born in Kansas City, Kansas. After a year of high school in Kansas Ci ...
, actor *
Danielle Brooks Danielle Brittany Brooks (born September 17, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson on the comedy-drama series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019) and Leota Adebayo on the super ...
, actress * Cocoa Brown, actress * Rob Brown, actor *
Zazie Beetz Zazie Olivia Beetz ( ; ; born June 1, 1991) is a American actress. She stars in the FX comedy-drama series ''Atlanta'' (2016–22), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy ...
(African-American mother), actress * Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress * Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress *
Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...
, rapper * Yvette Nicole Brown, actress *
Big Gipp Cameron Gipp (born April 28, 1973), better known by his stage name Big Gipp, is an American rapper from Atlanta. He is best known for his work as a founding member of Goodie Mob, which he has gone on to release six studio albums. Aside from Go ...
, rapper *
Roger Aaron Brown Roger Aaron Brown (born June 12, 1949) is an American character actor known for his role as Deputy Chief Joe Noland on the hit CBS drama television series ''The District'' from 2000 to 2004, and for his minor role in the 1988 science fiction film ...
, actor *
Hannibal Buress Hannibal Amir Buress ( , born February 4, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper and writer. He started performing comedy in 2002 while attending Southern Illinois University. He starred on Adult Swim's ''The Eric Andre Show'' f ...
, actor and comedian * BabyFace, singer * Sharon Bryant, R&B singer * Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper * Bryshere Y. Gray, Hip Hop rapper, actor *


C

* Judy Cheeks, singer * Nick Cannon, actor * CL Smooth, actor * Nell Carter, actress *
Amanda and Samuel Chambers Amanda Leggroan and Samuel Chambers were early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah and former enslaved persons. The Chambers relocated to Utah where they owned a very successful farm and were prominent members in th ...
, early members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
in
Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
* Bill Cobbs, actor * Bill Cosby, actor *
Common Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally com ...
, actor *
Deon Cole Deon Anthony Cole (born January 9, 1972) is an American comedian, actor, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role in the sitcom ''Black-ish'' (2014–2022), which earned him nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and two SAG Awards. On Ju ...
, actor * Natalie Cole, actress * Nat King Cole, actor * Olivia Cole, actress *
Chad L. Coleman Chad L. Coleman (born September 6, 1967) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Dennis "Cutty" Wise on the HBO series ''The Wire'' (2004–08), Tyreese on the AMC (TV channel), AMC series ''The Walking Dead (TV series), The Wa ...
, actor * Gary Coleman, actor, comedian *
Monique Coleman Adrienne Monique Coleman (born November 13, 1980) is an American actress known for her role in Disney's ''High School Musical'' movies, in which she plays Taylor McKessie. Early life and education Adrienne Monique Coleman was born in Orangebu ...
, actress * Mike Colter, actor * Sean Combs, actor * Alvin Childress, actor *
L. Scott Caldwell L. Scott Caldwell (born Laverne Scott; April 17, 1950) is an American actress perhaps best known for her roles as Deputy U.S. Marshall Erin Poole in '' The Fugitive'' (1993) and Rose on the television series ''Lost''. Early life Born the mid ...
, actress *
Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...
, actor *
Vanessa Bell Calloway Vanessa Bell Calloway ( Bell; born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway became known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy ''Coming to America'', as well as for her roles ...
, actress *Charlie Brown, rapper and actor * Scatman Crothers, actor *Cut Monitor Milo, actor *
Rupert Crosse Rupert may refer to: People * Rupert (name), various people known by the given name or surname "Rupert" Places Canada *Rupert, Quebec, a village *Rupert Bay, a large bay located on the south-east shore of James Bay *Rupert River, Quebec *Rupert' ...
, actor *
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
, (African-American father) actress *
Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll (; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer, model, and activist. She rose to prominence in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts, including ''Car ...
, actress *
Rocky Carroll Roscoe "Rocky" Carroll (born July 8, 1963) is an American actor and director. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the Fox comedy-drama '' Roc'' (1991–94), as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the CBS medical drama ''Chicago Hope'', and as NCIS Direc ...
, actor * Bernie Casey, actor *
Rosalind Cash Rosalind Theresa Cash (December 31, 1938October 31, 1995) was an American actress. Her best-known film role is in the 1971 science-fiction film ''The Omega Man''. Cash also had another notable role as Mary Mae Ward in ABC's ''General Hospital'', ...
, actress and singer *
Reg E. Cathey Reginald Eurias Cathey (August 18, 1958 – February 9, 2018) was an American character actor. He was best known for his roles as Norman Wilson in ''The Wire'', Martin Querns in '' Oz'', the game show announcer in ''Square One Television'', Dr. ...
, actor *
Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
, actor *
Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known for his satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006), which he starred in until quitting in the middle of p ...
, actor and comedian * Don Cheadle, actor * Bill Cosby, actor and comedian * Laverne Cox, transgender actress * Tony Cox, actor *
Rusty Cundieff George Arthur "Rusty" Cundieff (born December 13, 1960) is an American film and television director, actor, and writer known for his work on ''Fear of a Black Hat'' (1993), ''Tales from the Hood'' (1995), and ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006). ...
, actor * Mark Curry, actor *
Lavell Crawford Lavell Crawford (born November 11, 1968) is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Huell Babineaux in ''Breaking Bad'' (2011–2013) and its spin-off ''Better Call Saul'' (2017–2022). He also played the role of ...
, actor and comedian *
Chi-Ali Chi-Ali Griffith (born May 27, 1976), better known by his stage name Chi-Ali, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York City, best known for his debut album, '' The Fabulous Chi-Ali'', released in 1992, and as a member of hip-hop collectiv ...
, rapper * Kim Coles, actress *
Ice Cube An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be produc ...
, actor * Morris Chestnut, actor * Chingy, rapper * Frances Callier, actress * Wyatt Cenac, (African-American Father) *
Zendaya Coleman Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( ; born September 1, 1996) is an American actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards. ''Time'' magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the ...
(African-American father), actress and singer


D

*
Deezer D Dearon Thompson (March 12, 1965 – January 7, 2021), known professionally as Deezer D, was an American actor, rapper and Christian motivational speaker. He is best known for his role as Nurse Malik McGrath in the American medical drama televisi ...
, actor, rapper *
Dr. Dre Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and ...
, actor *
Jude Demorest Claire Jude Demorest (born March 11, 1992) is an American actress and singer who is known for her roles in ''Dallas'' and ''Star''. Early life Demorest was born in Michigan, and grew up in a very religious family. She said in an interview "I ...
, actress * Dres, rapper *
DJ Yella Antoine Carraby (born December 11, 1961), better known by his stage name DJ Yella, is an American DJ, rapper, record producer and film director from Los Angeles, California. DJ Yella began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru a ...
, disc jockey and rapper * Ava DuVernay, film director *
Danny Boy "Danny Boy" is a ballad, written by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly in 1913, and set to the traditional Irish melody of "Londonderry Air". History In 1910, in Bath, Somerset, the English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly initial ...
, rapper *
Darryl McDaniels Darryl Matthews McDaniels (born May 31, 1964), better known by his stage name DMC, is an American rapper. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Run-DMC, and is considered one of the pioneers of hip hop culture. Early life McDaniels grew ...
, actor * DJ Kay Gee, rapper * Teala Dunn, actress *
Yaya DaCosta Camara DaCosta Johnson (born November 15, 1982), better known as Yaya DaCosta, is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of ''America's Next Top Model''. DaCosta eventually went to star in ABC's daytime drama series ''All ...
, actress *Dinco D, actor *
Daveed Diggs Daveed Daniele Diggs (born January 24, 1982) is an American actor, rapper, and singer-songwriter. He is the vocalist of the experimental hip hop group Clipping, and in 2015, he originated the dual roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jeffer ...
(African-American father), actor * Da'Vinchi, actor and rapper * Colman Domingo (African-american mother), actor * Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor *
Taye Diggs Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American stage and film actor. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals ''Rent'' and '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', the TV series ''Private Practice'' (2007-2013), ''Murder in the ...
, actor * Hugh Dane, actor *DJ Alamo, disc jockey and rapper * Tommy Davidson, actor * Keith David, actor, comedian * Stacey Dash (African-American father), actress * Doug E. Fresh (Brazilian-African-American sister), beatboxer and rapper * Viola Davis, actress * D-Nice, actor *
LaVan Davis LaVan Davis is an American actor who played the character Curtis Payne on Tyler Perry's TV shows ''House of Payne'' and ''The Paynes'' TBS Network (2007–2012), OWN Network (2018) and BET Network (2020–present). Career Davis' acting career ...
, actor *
Cassi Davis Cassandra Davis-Patton (born July 31, 1964) is an American actress best known for her role as Ella Payne on ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne'' and its spin-off series ''The Paynes''. She is also known as Aunt Bam in the ''Madea'' franchise since ...
, actor *
DMX Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998, to both critical acclaim ...
, actor, rapper *
Gary Dourdan Gary Dourdan (born Gary Robert Durdin: December 11, 1966) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Warrick Brown on the television series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,'' Shazza Zulu on the television series ''A Different World'' and ...
, actor * Michael Dorn, actor * Tommy Davidson, actor, comedian * Omar Dorsey, actor *
Nate Dogg Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American singer and rapper. He gained recognition for providing guest vocals for a multitude of hit rap songs between 1992 and 2007, earning the ...
, actor *
Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, actor *
Michael Clarke Duncan Michael Clarke Duncan (December 10, 1957September 3, 2012) was an American actor. He was best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in '' The Green Mile'' (1999), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor a ...
, actor * Suzzanne Douglas, actress * Denise Dowse, actress and director * Ja'Net DuBois, actress *
Charles S. Dutton Charles Stanley Dutton (born January 30, 1951) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his roles in the television series ''Roc (TV series), Roc'' (1991–1994) and the television film ''The Piano Lesson (film), The Piano Lesson'' ...
, actor * Loretta Devine, actress *
Ivan Dixon Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III (April 6, 1931 – March 16, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer best known for his series role in the 1960s sitcom ''Hogan's Heroes'', and for his starring roles in the 1964 independent drama '' Not ...
, actor, director, producer *
Ruby Dee Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (19 ...
, actress * Ossie Davis, actor *
Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
, actor


E

*
Michael Ealy Michael Brown (born August 3, 1973), professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor. He is known for his roles in '' Barbershop'' (2002), '' 2 Fast 2 Furious'' (2003), ''Takers'' (2010), ''Think Like a Man'' (2012), ''About Last Ni ...
, actor *
Nelsan Ellis Nelsan Ellis (November 30, 1977 – July 8, 2017) was an American actor and playwright. He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO television series ''True Blood'' (2008–2014), for which he won a Satel ...
, actor *
Cedric the Entertainer Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964), better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He hosted BET's ''ComicView'' during the 1993–1994 season and ''Def Comedy Jam'' in 1995. He is bes ...
, actor and comedian *
Mike Epps Michael Elliot Epps (born November 18, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He played Day-Day Jones in ''Next Friday'' and its sequel, ''Friday After Next'', and also appeared in ''The Hangover'' and ''The Hangover Part III'' as "Bla ...
, comedian and actor * Omar Epps, actor * E-40, actor * Art Evans, actor *
Eric B. Louis Eric Barrier (born November 8, 1963) is an American rapper, producer and DJ for the golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. Eric B. & Rakim's album '' Paid in Full'' was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV in 2006, and ...
, actor *
Damon Evans Damon M. Evans is the athletics director/chief financial officer at the University of Maryland. Since October 2017, Evans has served as the interim athletic director at Maryland and in June 2018, was named the permanent athletic director. Afte ...
, actor * Mike Evans, actor


F

*
David Fagen David Fagen (born 1875, date of death unknown) was an African-American soldier who defected during the Philippine–American War. He acquired the rank of captain in the Philippine Revolutionary Army. Service A native of Tampa, Florida, Fagen se ...
, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist *
Dave Fennoy Dave Fennoy is an American voice actor. His video game roles have included Lee Everett in '' The Walking Dead'', Bluebeard in ''The Wolf Among Us'', Finch in ''Tales from the Borderlands'', Gabriel the Warrior in '' Minecraft: Story Mode'', and ...
, actor *
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson Jessie Lawrence Ferguson (June 8, 1941 – April 26, 2019) was an Americans, American actor. He was best known for playing the self-hating racist police officer in John Singleton's Academy Award-nominated film ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991). Biograph ...
, actor * Jordan Fisher, actor *
Edwina Findley Edwina Findley, also known as Edwina Findley Dickerson, is an American actress. In 2014, Findley began starring as one of lead characters in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, ''If Loving You Is Wrong''. Findley is also known for her recurr ...
, actress * Laurence Fishburne, actor *
Freddie Foxxx James Campbell (born March 27, 1969), better known by his stage names Freddie Foxxx and Bumpy Knuckles, is an American rapper and music producer from Long Island, New York. Biography Foxxx got his start rapping in the early 1980s. In 1986, he ...
, actor * Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian *
Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a sol ...
, actor *
Ken Foree Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in t ...
, actor * Jamie Foxx, actor *
Jaimee Foxworth Jaimee Monae Foxworth (born December 17, 1979) is an American actress, model, and former pornographic actress. She is best known for her role of Judy Winslow, the youngest daughter of Carl and Harriette Winslow on the ABC sitcom ''Family Matter ...
, actress *
Redd Foxx John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil rights movement. ...
, comedian, actor *
Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the Billboard Magazine, ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", "Feel Like M ...
, singer * Al Freeman Jr., actor, director *
Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, and narrator. He is known for his distinctive deep voice and various roles in a wide variety of film genres. Throughout his career spanning over five decades, he has received ...
, actor * Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), actress *
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
, actress *Sheila Frazier, actress *Kim Fields, actress *Vivica A. Fox, actress *Mario Hernandez Sanchez, actor


G

*Larry Graham, singer *Johnny Gill, singer *Roy Glenn, actor *Robert Guillaume, actor *Ron Glass, actor *Grandmaster Flash, rapper and disc jockey *Marla Gibbs, actress *Tyrese Gibson, actor *Seth Gilliam, actor *Lawrence Gilliard Jr., actor *Clarence Gilyard, actor *Robin Givens, actress *Danny Glover, actor *Donald Glover, actor *Cuba Gooding Jr., actor *Cuba Gooding Sr., actor *Omar Gooding, actor *Whoopi Goldberg, actress *Grand Puba, rapper *Carl Gordon (actor), Carl Gordon, actor *GZA, rapper *Louis Gossett Jr., actor *Ghostface Killah, rapper *Robert Gossett, actor *Kat Graham, actress *Sonequa Martin-Green, actress *David Alan Grier, actor *Pam Grier, actress *Rosey Grier, actor *Teresa Graves, actress *Dick Gregory, comedian, actor *Eddie Griffin, actor *Lance Gross (African-American mother), actor *Bill Gunn (writer), Bill Gunn, actor, director *Moses Gunn, actor *Jasmine Guy, actress


H

*D'atra Hicks, actress, singer *Taral Hicks, actress, singer *Karim Hill, actor and tap dancer *Steve Harvey, comedian, actor *Hill Harper, actor *Corey Hawkins, actor *D.L. Hughley, comedian, actor *Dorian Harewood, actor *Kadeem Hardison, actor, director *Jackee Harry (African-American father), actress *Brian Tyree Henry, actor *Telma Hopkins, actress and singer *Tiffany Haddish (African-American mother), actress *Cory Hardrict, actor *Kene Holliday, actor *André Holland, actor *Kevin Hart, actor *Arsenio Hall, actor *Pooch Hall, actor *Regina Hall, actress *Vondie Curtis-Hall, actor *Sherman Hemsley, actor *Darrin Henson, actor *Taraji P. Henson, actress *Russell Hornsby, actor *Omari Hardwick, actor *Terrance Howard, actor *Dennis Haysbert, actor *Isaac Hayes, actor *Lloyd Haynes, actor *William Jackson Harper, actor and comedian *Robert Hooks, actor *Gregory Hines, actor *Marques Houston, actor *Whitney Houston, actress *Paige Hurd (African-American father), actress *Ernie Hudson, actor *Jennifer Hudson, actress *Dennis Haysbert, actor


I

*Rex Ingram (actor), Rex Ingram, actor *Inspectah Deck, rapper *Ida B. Wells, author


J

*Brandon T. Jackson, actor *Janet Jackson, actress and singer *Jermaine Jackson, actor *La Toya Jackson, actress *Michael Jackson, King of pop and actor *Paris Jackson, actress *Samuel L. Jackson, actor *Michael B. Jordan, actor *Skai Jackson, actress *Trevor Jackson (performer), Trevor Jackson, actor *Jackson family, entertainment *Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor *Ralph Johnson (musician), Ralph Johnson, singer *Raymond St. Jacques, actor *Jazze Pha, rapper and Hip Hop producer *Bryton James, actor *Jay-Z, rapper *Roy Jones Jr., actor *Duane Jones, actor *Rashida Jones, actress *Tamala Jones, actress *Ja Rule, rapper *April Parker Jones, actress *Anne-Marie Johnson, actress *Dwayne Johnson, actor *Rafer Johnson, actor *Orlando Jones, actor *James Earl Jones, actor *Nadji Jeter, actor *Barry Jenkins, director, producer, screenwriter *Larry "Flash" Jenkins, actor, director, producer, screenwriter *Terrence Jenkins, actor *Anne-Marie Johnson (African-American father), actress *Kristoff St. John, actor *LL Cool J, actor *J-Bo, Crunk rapper


K

*Chaka Khan, singer *R. Kelly, former singer and actor *Jim Kelly (martial artist), Jim Kelly, actor *Khujo, rapper *Malcolm David Kelley, actor *Killer Mike, rapper *Keegan-Michael Key, actor, comedian *Wiz Khalifa, actor *Christel Khalil (African-American mother), actress *Kool G Rap, rapper *Aja Naomi King, actress *Regina King, actress *Kap G, actor *Eartha Kitt, actress *KRS-One, actor *Gladys Knight, actress *Jak Knight, actor, comedian and writer *The Kidd Creole, rapper *Boris Kodjoe, Austrian-American actor of German and Ghanaian descent *Lenny Kravitz, actor *Zoe Kravitz, actress


L

*Patti LaBelle, actress *Phil LaMarr, actor, comedian *Ted Lange, actor *Tina Lifford, actress *Sanaa Lathan, actress *Jacob Latimore, actor *Martin Lawrence, actor, comedian *Scott Lawrence, actor *Bianca Lawson, actress *Lauren London (African-American mother), actress *Sharon Leal (African-American father), actress *Spike Lee, film director, producer, writer, actor *John Legend, actor, producer *Harry Lennix (African-American mother), actor *Dawnn Lewis, actress *Phill Lewis, actor, comedian *Jenifer Lewis, actress *Tommy Lister Jr., actor *Darlene Love, actress *Loni Love, comedienne *Lord Jamar, actor *Ludacris, actor *Lil Jon, rapper *Ed Lover, rapper and actor


M

*Anthony Mackie, actor *Method Man, actor *David Mann (actor), David Mann, actor *Tamela Mann, actress *Mannie Fresh, Hip Hop producer *John Marriott (actor), John Marriott, actor *Don Marshall (actor), Don Marshall, actor *William Marshall (actor), William Marshall, actor, director *Jesse L. Martin, actor *Marsai Martin, actress *Tisha Campbell-Martin, actress *Vincent Mason, disc jockey and actor *Christopher Massey, actor *Kyle Massey, actor *Masta Killa, rapper *Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor *Al Matthews (actor), Al Matthews, actor *Chi McBride, actor *Darius McCrary, actor and singer *Shane Paul McGhie, (African-Americans mother), actor *Brian McKnight, singer *Tim Meadows, actor *Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (African-American mother), actress and humanitarian, wife of Prince Harry, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex *Melle Mel, actor and rapper *Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor *Method Man, actor *Draya Michele (African-American father), actress *Windell Middlebrooks, actor *Mike Gee, rapper *Omar Benson Miller, actor *Wentworth Miller, actor *Daryl Mitchell (actor), Daryl Mitchell, actor *Jason Mitchell, actor *Monica (singer), Monica, actress *Victoria Monét(African-American mother), R&B singer *Paul Mooney (comedian), Paul Mooney, comedian and actor *Juanita Moore, actress *Shemar Moore, actor *Debbi Morgan, actress *Tracy Morgan, actor *Garrett Morris, comedian, actor *Greg Morris, actor *Lamorne Morris, actor *Joe Morton, actor *Phil Moore (actor), Phil Moore, actor and TV host *Charlie Murphy (actor), Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian *Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian *Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor *Lou Myers (actor), Lou Myers, actor


N

*Niecy Nash, actress *Tariq Nasheed, film producer *Naturi Naughton, actress *Nichelle Nichols, actress *Nelly, rapper *Maidie Norman, actress *Normani, singer *Brandy Norwood, actress *Bill Nunn, actor


O

* Jeffrey Osborne, singer * Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian * Shaquille O'Neal, actor


P

*LaWanda Page, actress *Keke Palmer, actress *John Paris, singer *Kyla Pratt, actress *Allen Payne, actor *Jo Marie Payton, actress *Pete Rock, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer *Tyler Perry, actor, comedian, filmmaker *Melvin Van Peebles, actor, filmmaker *Holly Robinson Peete, actress *Brock Peters, actor *Jo Marie Payton, actress *Khary Payton, actor *Angel Parker, actress *Nicole Ari Parker, actress *Teyonah Parris, actress *Paula Patton (African-American father), actress *Jordan Peele, actor, comedian *Nathan Pelle, actor *Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist *Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, model *Wendell Pierce, actor *Jay Pharoah, actor *Glenn Plummer, actor *Clifton Powell, actor *Kyla Pratt, actress *Billy Preston, actor *J. A. Preston, actor *Prince (musician), Prince, actor *Joan Pringle, actress *Richard Pryor, actor and comedian *Mekhi Phifer, actor


Q

* Q-Tip (musician), Q-Tip, actor and Hip Hop producer * Questlove, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer * Queen Latifah, rapper, actress


R

*Issa Rae (African-American mother), actress, comedienne *Dianne Reeves, singer *Marion Ramsey, actress *Gina Ravera (part African-American descent) actress *Lou Rawls, actor *Gene Anthony Ray, actor *Lance Reddick, actor *Della Reese, actress, singer *Rakim, rapper *Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian *Chance The Rapper, rapper *Tim Reid, actor *Corey Reynolds, actor *James Reynolds (actor), James Reynolds, actor *Ving Rhames, actor *Rihanna, singer *Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer *Tequan Richmond, actor *Little Richard, actor *LaTanya Richardson, actress *Kevin Michael Richardson, actor *Sam Richardson (actor), Sam Richardson, actor and comedian *Lionel Richie, actor, composer, singer *Lauren Ridloff, actress *Leonard Roberts, actor *Paul Robeson, actor *Bumper Robinson, actor *Charlie Robinson (actor), Charlie Robinson, actor *Craig Robinson (actor), Craig Robinson, actor, comedian *Jimmy Robinson (actor), Jimmy Robinson, actor *Leon Robinson, actor *Matt Robinson (actor), Matt Robinson, actor, producer *Roger Robinson (actor), Roger Robinson, actor *Raekwon, rapper *Smokey Robinson, singer *Chris Rock, actor and comedian *Timmie Rogers, comedian, actor *RZA, actor *Roxie Roker, actress *Joseph Simmons, actor *Esther Rolle, actress *Howard Rollins, actor *Anika Noni Rose, actress *Diana Ross, actress and singer *Evan Ross (African-American mother), actor *Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian *Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress *Richard Roundtree, actor *RuPaul, actor *Nipsey Russell, comedian *Trevante Rhodes, actor


S

*Shanice, singer *Sisqo, rapper singer *Zoe Saldana, actress *Amanda Seales (African American father), actress, comedian *Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian *Brandon Scott (actor), Brandon Scott, actor *Beanie Sigel, rapper *Yara Shahidi (African American mother), actress and Harvard College, Harvard student *Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper *Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian *O. J. Simpson, actor *Sadat X, rapper *Sinbad (comedian), Sinbad, actor and comedian *John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter *IronE Singleton, actor *Slick Rick, rapper, actor and beatboxer *Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor *Bubba Smith, actor *Brian Michael Smith, actor *Jada Pinkett Smith (African-American father), actress, singer-songwriter *Justice Smith, actor *Jaden Smith, actor *Will Smith, actor and rapper *Willow Smith, actress *Jussie Smollett, actor *J. B. Smoove, actor and comedian *Wesley Snipes, actor *Sonja Sohn (African-American father), actress and director *Jordin Sparks, actress *Octavia Spencer, actress *Bern Nadette Stanis, actress *Woody Strode, actor *Tika Sumpter, actress *Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian *Jessica Szohr, actress *Carly Simon, singer *Lil Scrappy: Hip hop


T

*Larenz Tate, actor *Mr. T, actor *Meshach Taylor, actor *T.I., actor *Nathaniel Taylor (actor), Nathaniel Taylor, actor *Ron Taylor (actor), Ron Taylor, actor *Lynne Thigpen, actress *David Jude Jolicoeur, actor *Cora Ann Pair Thomas, missionary *T-Mo, rapper *Leon Thomas III, actor *Treach, rapper *Michelle Thomas, actress, comedian *Tony Yayo, actor *Ernest Lee Thomas, actor *Kenan Thompson, actor, comedian *Tony Todd, actor *Berlinda Tolbert, actress *Chris Tucker, actor, comedian *Glynn Turman, actor *The Game (rapper), The Game, rapper *Tina Turner, actress, singer *Tyler, the Creator, actor


U

*Blair Underwood, actor *Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian *Usher (musician), Usher, actor, singer


V

*Courtney B. Vance, actor *Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, singer *Vin Rock, rapper *Reginald VelJohnson, actor


W

*Eugene Wilde, singer *Jimmie Walker, actor *Bill Walker (actor), Bill Walker, actor *Stevie Wonder, singer *Vincent M. Ward, actor *Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor *Dionne Warwick, actress and singer *Denzel Washington, actor, director and producer; winner of three Golden Globe Awards *Isaiah Washington, actor *John David Washington, actor *Kerry Washington (African-American father), actress *Marlon Wayans, actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer *Damon Wayans, comedian, actor, writer and producer *Damon Wayans Jr., actor, comedian *Shawn Wayans, actor, comedian, writer, producer *Lil Wayne, actor *Carl Weathers, actor *Forest Whitaker, actor *Charles Malik Whitfield, actor *Lynn Whitfield, actress *Jaleel White, actor, comedian *Billy Dee Williams, actor *Deniece Williams, singer *Clarence Williams III, actor *Gary Anthony Williams, actor *Hal Williams, actor *Kellie Shanygne Williams, actress *Michael K. Williams, actor *Tyler James Williams, actor *Vanessa Williams, actress *Fred Williamson, actor *Mykelti Williamson, actor *Larry Wilmore, actor and comedian *Rutina Wesley, actress *Debra Wilson, actress and comedian *Demond Wilson, actor *Flip Wilson, actor and comedian *Nancy Wilson (jazz singer), Nancy Wilson, actress *Reno Wilson, actor and comedian *Theodore Wilson, actor *Yvette Wilson, actress and comedian *Paul Winfield, actor *Oprah Winfrey, actress, media executive *Jeffrey Wright, actor *Samuel E. Wright, actor *John Witherspoon (actor), John Witherspoon, actor, comedian *Alfre Woodard, actress *Verdine White, singer, bassist


Y

*Yo-Yo (rapper), Yo-Yo, rapper *Lee Thompson Young, actor *Young Buck, rapper


Artists


B

* Romare Bearden, painter


C

* Allen 'Big Al' Carter, painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer


D

* Rosetta DeBerardinis, painter * Cheryl Derricotte, glass artist, printmaker


G

* Sam Gilliam, painter, printmaker


H

*Barkley L. Hendricks, painter and photographer *Nestor Hernández, Nestor Hernandez, photographer


J

* Suzanne Jackson (artist), Suzanne Jackson, artist, gallery owner


L

* Jacob Lawrence, painter, printmaker


M

* Percy Martin (artist), Percy Martin, printmaker * Evangeline Montgomery, metal art, printmaker


P

* Norman Parish, painter, muralist and art dealer * Jefferson Pinder, performance


S

* Susan Smith-Pinelo, video, performance * Renee Stout, sculptor * Lou Stovall, printmaker


T

* Alma Thomas, painter


W

* Carrie Mae Weems, photographer, video * Kehinde Wiley, portrait painter * Wilmer Wilson IV, performance, photographer


Astronauts

*Michael P. Anderson, NASA Astronaut, Air Force officer *Guion Bluford, NASA Astronaut, aerospace engineer, Air Force officer, fighter pilot *Charles Bolden, NASA Astronaut, administrator *Robert Curbeam, NASA Astronaut *Alvin Drew, NASA Astronaut, Air Force officer *Victor J. Glover, NASA Astronaut *Frederick D. Gregory, NASA Astronaut, administrator *Bernard A. Harris Jr., NASA Astronaut, First African American to walk in space *Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., USAF Astronaut, First African-American astronaut *Joan Higginbotham, NASA Astronaut, engineer *Mae Jemison, NASA Astronaut, engineer, physician, First African-American woman in space *Leland D. Melvin, NASA Astronaut, engineer *Ronald McNair, NASA Astronaut, physicist *Robert Satcher, NASA Astronaut, physicist, engineer *Winston E. Scott, NASA Astronaut *Stephanie Wilson, NASA Astronaut, engineer


Beauty queens and fashion models

*Kimberly Clarice Aiken, Miss America 1994 *Karen Alexander (fashion model), Karen Alexander, fashion model *K. D. Aubert, fashion model * Tyra Banks, fashion model *J. Alexander (model), J. Alexander, fashion model *Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016 *Dorothea Church, fashion model *Pat Cleveland, model *Lynnette Cole, Miss USA 2000 *
Yaya DaCosta Camara DaCosta Johnson (born November 15, 1982), better known as Yaya DaCosta, is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of ''America's Next Top Model''. DaCosta eventually went to star in ABC's daytime drama series ''All ...
, fashion model *Bruce Darnell, male model *Jordan Emanuel, Miss Black America New York 2018 *Tomiko Fraser, fashion model *Lakita Garth, Miss Black California 1995 *Carole Gist, Miss USA 1990 *Quiana Grant, model *Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002 *Tanisha Harper, model *Chanel Iman (African-American father), fashion model *Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019 *Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993 *Kara McCullough, Miss USA 2017 *Nana Meriwether (African-American father), Miss USA 2012 *Sofia Richie (African-American father), fashion model *Chelsi Smith (African-American father), Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995 *Kimora Lee Simmons (half Korean, half African American) *Darine Stern, first African-American to be on the cover of Playboy magazine *Renee Tenison, first African-American to be selected Playboy Playmate of the year *Jasmine Sanders, model *Eva Marcille, fashion model *Blac Chyna, model *Draya Michele, model *Toccara Jones, model


Fashion designers

*Virgil Abloh *Karl Davis *Kanye West *Rasheeda *Mychael Knight *Pepper LaBeija *Willi Smith *Kimora Lee Simmons *Stephen Burrows (designer), Stephen Burrows


Food

*Edna Lewis *B. Smith *Hercules Posey *Mashama Bailey


Businesspeople and entrepreneurs


Sports executives and businesspeople

*Katrina Adams, current president of the United States Tennis Association *Koby Altman, current General manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers *Anucha Browne Sanders, former executive of the New York Knicks *Pinball Clemons, current vice-chairman for the Toronto Argonauts *Dell Demps, current vice president and general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans *Joe Dumars, former President of Basketball Operations of the Detroit Pistons *Wayne Embry, first African-American General manager and team president in NBA history, 2x NBA Executive of the Year *Rube Foster, former executive of the Chicago American Giants *Rod Higgins, former president of Basketball Operations for the Charlotte Bobcats *Billy Hunter (basketball), Billy Hunter, former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association *Al Haymon, manager and adviser to Floyd Mayweather Jr. *Michael Huyghue, former Commissioner of the United Football League (2009–12), United Football League *Stu Jackson, former executive vice president of the National Basketball Association, current associate Commissioner of the Big East Conference *Magic Johnson, current president of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, owner of the Los Angeles Sparks, and co-owner of the Los Angeles Football Club *Michael Jordan, current principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. *Billy King (basketball), Billy King, former general manager of the Brooklyn Nets *Don King (boxing promoter), Don King, former boxing promoter *Billy Knight, former general manager and executive vice president of the Atlanta Hawks *Billy McKinney (basketball), Billy McKinney, former vice president of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons, Executive vice president for both Seattle SuperSonics and Seattle Storm *Steve Mills (sports executive), Steve Mills, current executive of the New York Knicks *Ozzie Newsome, current general manager of the Baltimore Ravens *Jerry Reese, former general manager of the New York Giants


Businesspeople

*Alton Abraham, former social entrepreneur and business manager for Sun Ra *Wally Amos, founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie brand *Donna Auguste, former founder of Freshwater Software *Leonard C. Bailey, business owner and inventor * Tyra Banks, television personality, former model *LaVar Ball, owner of the Big Baller Brand sports apparel *Christiana Carteaux Bannister, hairdressing business *ASAP Bari, co-founder of ASAP Mob and VLONE Clothing *Andre Barnett, founder of the Information Technology Company WiseDome INC *
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
, co-founder of Tidal (service), Tidal *Sarah Bickford, former owner of Virginia City Water Company *Dave Bing, owner of Bing Steel *Chris Brown, founder of the record label CBE *Herman Cain, business executive *Demmette Guidry, music industry executive *Kerry S. Harris, entrepreneur *Robert L. Johnson, co-founder of BET and RLJ Companies *Lisa S. Jones, founder and CEO of EyeMail Inc. *Walter P. Lomax Jr., founder of Lomax Health Systems *Mary Ellen Pleasant, real estate magnate *Henry A. Tandy, founder Tandy&Burns stone masonry and construction firm *Vertner Woodson Tandy, first African American architect State of New York and founder of Kappa Phi Alpha fraternity *Madam C. J. Walker, businessperson, hair care entrepreneur, Philanthropy, philanthropist, and Activism, activist *Gertrude Pocte Geddes Willis, owner of the ''Gertrude Geddes Willis Life Insurance Company'' and ''Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home''


Cinematographers


B

*Charles Burnett (director), Charles Burnett, cinematographer, director


D

*Ernest Dickerson, cinematographer


H

*James E. Hinton, cinematographer


J

*Arthur Jafa, cinematographer


K

*Kira Kelly, cinematographer


M

*Jessie Maple, cinematographer *Janks Morton, cinematographer


S

*Malik Hassan Sayeed, cinematographer


Y

*Bradford Young, cinematographer


Civil rights leaders and activists


A

*Ralph Abernathy, civil rights activist and minister *Muhammad Ali, civil rights activist *
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and ...
, civil rights activist, writer, poet


B

*Ella Baker, civil rights activist *James Baldwin, civil rights activist, novelist, playwright *Marion Barry, civil rights activist, politician *Daisy Bates (activist), Daisy Bates, civil rights activist, publisher, journalist, lecturer *Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist, educator *James Bevel, minister, leader of the civil rights movement *Sojourner Truth, civil rights activist *Gloria Blackwell, civil rights activist, educator *Unita Blackwell, civil rights activist *W. E. B. Du Bois, civil rights activist *Julian Bond, civil rights activist, professor and writer *Ruby Bridges, civil rights activist *Ralph Bunche, civil rights activist, scientist, academic, diplomat


C

*Beatrice Morrow Cannady, civil rights activist, publisher *Bunchy Carter, civil rights activist *Jeannette Carter (1886–1964), lawyer, labor organizer, and suffragist *Julius L. Chambers, civil rights activist *Fannie Lee Chaney, civil rights activist *James Chaney, civil rights activist *Shirley Chisholm, civil rights activist, educator *Xernona Clayton, civil rights activist *Septima Poinsette Clark, civil rights activist, educator *Eldridge Cleaver, civil rights activist *Kathleen Cleaver, civil rights activist *Charles E. Cobb Jr., civil rights activist, journalist, professor *John Conyers, civil rights activist *Vivian E. J. Cook, educator and activist *Marvel Cooke, civil rights activist *Annie Lee Cooper, civil rights activist *Dorothy Cotton, civil rights activist *Claudette Colvin, civil rights activist, nurse *Elijah Cummings, civil rights advocate


D

*Angela Davis, civil rights activist, academic, and author * Ossie Davis, civil rights activist *
Ruby Dee Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (19 ...
, civil rights activist *Doris Derby, civil rights activist, photographer *Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, black rights activist, women's rights activist, organizer


E

*Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights activist *Charles Evers, civil rights activist *Medgar Evers, civil rights activist *Myrlie Evers-Williams, civil rights activist


F

*James Farmer, James L. Farmer Jr., civil rights activist *Walter Fauntroy, Walter E. Fauntroy, civil rights activist *Sarah Mae Flemming, civil rights activist *James Forman, civil rights activist *
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
, civil rights activist *C. L. Franklin, civil rights activist, minister *Elizabeth Freeman, first former slave to win a freedom suit in Massachusetts *Frankie Muse Freeman, civil rights activist, attorney


G

*Fred Gray (attorney), Fred Gray, civil rights lawyer *Dick Gregory, civil rights activist


H

*Vincent Harding, civil rights activist, historian *Curtis W. Harris, civil rights activist, minister, politician *Fannie Lou Hamer, civil rights activist *Fred Hampton, civil rights activist *Lorraine Hansberry, civil rights activist, playwright, author *Robert Hayling, civil rights activist, dentist *Lola Hendricks, civil rights activist, secretary *Aaron Henry (politician), Aaron Henry, civil rights activist, politician *Dorothy Height, educator and civil rights activist *Benjamin Hooks, civil rights activist, minister, attorney *Lena Horne, civil rights activist *Elbert Howard, civil rights activist *T. R. M. Howard, civil rights leader, entrepreneur, surgeon *Bobby Hutton, civil rights activist


J

*George Jackson (activist), George Jackson, civil rights activist, author *Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist *Murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson, Jimmie Lee Jackson, civil rights activist *Mahalia Jackson, civil rights activist *Richie Jean Jackson, civil rights activist, author, teacher *T. J. Jemison, civil rights activist, minister *James Weldon Johnson, writer of Black National Anthem *Clarence B. Jones, civil rights activist *Barbara Jordan, civil rights activist *Vernon Jordan, civil rights activist


K

*A. D. King, civil rights activist *Alveda King, civil rights activist, author, politician *Bernice King, civil rights activist, minister *Coretta Scott King, civil rights activist *Dexter King, civil rights activist *Martin Luther King III, civil rights activist *Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader and pastor *Martin Luther King Sr., civil rights leader, pastor and missionary *Alberta Williams King, civil rights activist *Yolanda King, civil rights activist *Eartha Kitt, civil rights activist


L

*Bernard Lafayette, civil rights activist, organizer *Sarah Willie Layton, suffragist, civil rights activist *James Lawson (activist), James Lawson, civil rights activist, professor *John Lewis, congressman, Nashville Student Movement, organizer *Joseph Lowery, civil rights activist and minister *Julius Lester, civil rights activist, author, professor *Conrad Lynn, civil rights activist, lawyer


M

*Thurgood Marshall, civil rights activist, lawyer, judge *Benjamin Mays, civil rights activist, minister *Franklin McCain, civil rights activist *Floyd McKissick, civil rights activist, lawyer *James Meredith, civil rights figure, writer, political adviser *Anne Moody, civil rights activist, author *Harry T. Moore, civil rights activist, educator *Harriette Moore, civil rights worker, educator *Amzie Moore, civil rights leader, entrepreneur *Bob Moses (activist), Bob Moses, civil rights activist, educator *Elijah Muhammad, civil rights leader *Pauli Murray, civil rights activist, lawyer, author, priest


N

*Diane Nash, civil rights activist *Huey P. Newton, civil rights activist *Denise Nicholas, civil rights activist *Nellie B. Nicholson, suffragist *E. D. Nixon, civil rights activist, NCAAP official


O

*James Orange, civil rights activist


P

*Rosa Parks, activist, NCAAP official, Montgomery Bus Boycott inspiration *James Peck (pacifist), James Peck, civil rights activist *Adam Clayton Powell Jr., civil rights activist, pastor *Gloria Johnson-Powell, civil rights activist


R

*Lincoln Ragsdale, civil rights activist, aviator *A. Philip Randolph, civil rights activist *George Raymond, civil rights activist *George Raymond Jr., civil rights activist *Frederick D. Reese, civil rights activist, educator, minister *Gloria Richardson, civil rights activist *David Richmond (activist), David Richmond, civil rights activist *Paul Robeson, civil rights activist *Amelia Boynton Robinson, civil rights activist *Jackie Robinson, civil rights activist *Jo Ann Robinson, civil rights activist *Bayard Rustin, civil rights activist *Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, civil rights activist


S

*Cleveland Sellers, civil rights activist, educator *Betty Shabazz, civil rights activist *Al Sharpton, civil rights activist, minister *Charles Sherrod, civil rights activist, minister *Fred Shuttlesworth, civil rights activist *Nina Simone, civil rights activist *Mavis Staples, civil rights activist *Charles Kenzie Steele, civil rights activist *Charles Steele Jr., civil rights activist, politician


T

*Harriet Tubman, abolitionist and humanitarian *Samuel Wilbert Tucker, civil rights activist, lawyer


V

*C. T. Vivian, civil rights activist, author, minister


W

*Wyatt Tee Walker, pastor, civil rights leader *Booker T. Washington, educator, founder of Tuskegee University *Ida B. Wells, civil rights activist *Cornel West, civil rights activist, philosopher, author, minister *Roy Wilkins, civil rights activist *Hosea Williams, civil rights activist, minister, businessman, philanthropist, scientist, politician *Robert F. Williams, civil rights leader, author *Myrlie Evers-Williams, civil rights activist


X

*Malcolm X, human rights activist, minister


Y

*Andrew Young, politician, diplomat, and activist *Whitney Young, civil rights activist *Sammy Younge Jr., civil rights activist


Government and politics

* African Americans in the United States Congress * African-American officeholders in the United States, 1789–1866 * List of African-American jurists * List of African-American leftists * List of African-American officeholders during Reconstruction * List of African-American United States Cabinet members * List of African-American United States presidential and vice presidential candidates * List of African-American United States representatives * List of African-American United States senators * List of first African-American mayors


President

* Barack Obama, (Kenyan-American father) 2009–2017, 44th president of the United States


Vice president

* Kamala Harris, (Jamaican-American father) 2021–present, 49th vice president of the United States


Supreme Court Justices

* Thurgood Marshall, 1967-1991 * Clarence Thomas, 1991–present * Ketanji Brown Jackson, 2022–present


Governors

*Archie Alexander, former governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands *David Paterson (African-American mother), served as the 55th Governor of New York. *Deval Patrick, served as the 71st Governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015, so far the only African American to serve as Governor of Massachusetts. *P.B.S. Pinchback, served as the 24th Governor of Louisiana from 1872 to 1873, the first African American to become governor of a U.S. State. *Douglas Wilder, served as the 66th Governor of Virginia, became the first elected African-American governor, became the first African American to serve as governor of U.S. State since Reconstruction era, Reconstruction.


Other political fields

*Perry B. Jackson, first African American elected judge in the state of Ohio. *Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to former president Barack Obama, and co-chair of the Obama-Biden Transition project. * Mazi Melesa Pilip, Ethiopian-born American politician


Historical

* List of African-American abolitionists * List of African-American officeholders during Reconstruction


Journalism and media

*Al Roker, journalist *Daisy Bates (activist), Daisy Bates, journalist *Ed Bradley, former host of 60 Minutes, on CBS *James Brown (sportscaster), James Brown, host of ''The NFL Today'' on CBS *Victor Blackwell, CNN news anchor *Cari Champion, journalist, host of ESPN's SportsCenter. *Ta-Nehisi Coates, author, journalist *Sway Calloway, journalist, radio personality. *Elle Duncan (African-American father), sports anchor for ESPN's ''SportsCenter''. *Harris Faulkner, television host and anchor for Fox News. *Bryant Gumbel, host of HBO's ''Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel'' *Charlamagne tha God, radio personality, television personality, radio host of ''The Breakfast Club (radio show), The Breakfast Club.'' *Greg Gumbel, sportscaster for NFL on CBS *Nia-Malika Henderson, CNN political reporter *Lester Holt, journalist and anchor for NBC News *Marc Lamont Hill, journalist, political commentator *Jemele Hill, sports journalist for ESPN's The Undefeated (website), The Undefeated *Jay Harris (sportscaster), Jay Harris, journalist and anchor for ESPN *Omar Jimenez, journalist *Jason Johnson (professor), Jason Johnson, writer, political commentator *Van Jones, CNN political commentator *Sheinelle Jones, journalist and news anchor for NBC News and MSNBC *Gayle King, journalist, television personality, co-anchor of ''CBS This Morning'' *Don Lemon, journalist, author, CNN anchor *Craig Melvin, news anchor for NBC News and MSNBC *Curt Menefee, host of ''Fox NFL Sunday'' *Michelle Miller, national correspondent for CBS News *Roland Martin (journalist), Roland Martin, commentator for TV One (US TV network), TV One *Zerlina Maxwell, MSNBC political analyst *Sophia A. Nelson, columnist *Candace Owens, conservative commentator, regularly appears on Fox News *Rob Parker (sports journalist), Rob Parker, sports analysis for Fox Sports *Leonard Pitts, journalist for the ''Miami Herald'' *April Ryan, journalist *Eugene Robinson (journalist), Eugene Robinson, 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner, columnist and associate editor of ''The Washington Post'' *Max Robinson, broadcast journalist for ''ABC World News Tonight'' *Angela Rye, CNN political commentator *Omari Salisbury, independent journalist and founder of Converge Media in Seattle, Washington *David Swerdlick (African-American mother), journalist for the ''Washington Post'' *Al Sharpton, host of MSNBC's ''PoliticsNation'' *Bernard Shaw (journalist), Bernard Shaw, former lead news anchor for CNN *Sara Sidner, journalist, correspondent for CNN *Michael Smith (sports reporter), Michael Smith, ESPN commentator *Stuart Scott, former sports anchor for ESPN's ''Sports Center'' *Stephen A. Smith, journalist, radio host for ESPN *Symone Sanders, CNN political commentator *Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator *Kristen Welker (African-American mother), MSNBC White House Correspondent for NBC News *Fredricka Whitfield, news anchor for ''CNN Newsroom'' *LeRoy Whitfield, journalist *Jason Whitlock, sports journalist *Michael Wilbon, journalist, columnist


Lawyers

*Robert Sengstacke Abbott, lawyer, newspaper publisher, editor *Raymond Pace Alexander, lawyer, politician, civil rights activist *Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, lawyer *Anita L. Allen, lawyer, professor *Helen Elsie Austin, lawyer *Ferdinand Lee Barnett (Chicago), Ferdinand Lee Barnett, lawyer, journalist *Derrick Bell, lawyer, professor, civil rights activist *Tom Bradley (American politician), Tom Bradley, lawyer, politician *Roland Burris, lawyer, politician *Eunice Carter, lawyer *William Calvin Chase, lawyer, newspaper editor *Julius L. Chambers, lawyer, civil rights activist, educator *Laura Coates, attorney, law professor *Johnnie Cochran, lawyer *William Thaddeus Coleman Jr., lawyer, politician *Mo Cowan, lawyer, politician *Christopher Darden, lawyer, author, actor, lecturer, practicing attorney *Artur Davis, lawyer, politician *Gordon Davis, lawyer *James Dean (judge), James Dean, lawyer, activist, businessperson, deacon, first African-American appointed as a judge in Florida *Carl E. Douglas, lawyer *B. Kwaku Duren, lawyer, educator, writer, editor *Larry Elder, lawyer, author, radio show host *Keith Ellison, lawyer, politician *Karen Freeman-Wilson, lawyer, judge *Walter A. Gordon, lawyer *Fred Gray (attorney), Fred Gray, civil rights lawyer *Al Green (politician), Al Green, lawyer, politician *A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., lawyer, author, civil rights advocate, federal court judge *Anita Hill, lawyer, academic *Curtis Hill, lawyer, prosecutor *Eric Holder, lawyer, 82nd United States Attorney General *Sunny Hostin (African American father), lawyer *Benjamin Hooks, lawyer, minister, civil rights activist *Valerie Jarrett, lawyer, businesswoman, government official *Jeh Johnson, lawyer, government official *Barbara Jordan, lawyer, educator, politician, civil rights activist *Eddie Jordan (attorney), Eddie Jordan, lawyer *Vernon Jordan, lawyer, business executive, civil rights activist *Florynce Kennedy, lawyer, civil rights advocate *Leondra Kruger, lawyer *Reginald Lewis, lawyer, businessman *William H. Lewis, lawyer *Lori Lightfoot, lawyer, politician *Loretta Lynch, lawyer, 83rd United States Attorney General *Conrad Lynn, lawyer, civil rights activist *Thurgood Marshall, lawyer, judge *Thurgood Marshall Jr., lawyer *Wade H. McCree, lawyer, judge, professor *Robert Morris (lawyer), Robert Morris, lawyer *Constance Baker Motley, lawyer, judge, politician, civil rights activist *Pauli Murray, lawyer, author, priest, civil rights activist *Ronald Noble, lawyer *Barack Obama, former president of the United States *Deval Patrick, lawyer, author, businessman, politician *Charlotte E. Ray, lawyer, first African-American female lawyer *Terri Sewell, lawyer, politician *Bryan Stevenson, lawyer, professor *Clarence Thomas, lawyer, judge, government official *Jordan A. Thomas, lawyer, writer *Larry Thompson, lawyer *Samuel Wilbert Tucker, lawyer *Mel Watt, lawyer, politician *Tony West (attorney), Tony West, lawyer


Military

* List of African-American Medal of Honor recipients


Ministers and other religious leaders

* Ralph Abernathy * Richard Allen (bishop), Richard Allen * Thea Bowman * Alexander Crummell * Henriette DeLille * Louis Farrakhan * Henry Highland Garnet * Julia Greeley * Wilton Gregory * Jesse Jackson * Mother Mary Lange * Martin Luther King Jr. * Malcolm X * Warith Deen Mohammed * Elijah Muhammad * Al Sharpton * Augustus Tolton * Pierre Toussaint, Pierre and Juliette Toussaint * T. D. Jakes * Benjamin Hooks * Vashti Murphy McKenzie * Raphael G. Warnock * Calvin O. Butts III * Kirbyjon Caldwell * Joseph H. Walker III * J. Edgar Boyd * Delman Coates * Fred Luter Jr. * Michael Todd (pastor), Michael Todd


Novelists and poets

* Ron Allen (playwright), Ron Allen, poet, playwright * Elizabeth Alexander (poet), Elizabeth Alexander, poet, essayist, playwright *
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and ...
, novelist, poet, and activist * James Baldwin, novelist, playwright, and activist * Amiri Baraka, poet, writer, activist, and essayist * Gwendolyn B. Bennett, poet, writer, journalist, and artist * Arna Bontemps, poet, novelist, and librarian * Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, author, teacher * Lucille Clifton, poet, writer, and educator * Jayne Cortez, poet, activist, publisher * Katherine Jackson, writer and novelist * Countee Cullen, poet, novelist, and playwright * Frank Marshall Davis, poet, journalist * Samuel R. Delany, novelist, author, editor, professor, and literary critic * Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet, novelist * Ralph Ellison, novelist, literary critic, and scholar * Percival Everett, novelist * Nikki Giovanni, poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator * Alex Haley, novelist, author * Lorraine Hansberry, playwright * Frances Harper, poet * Yona Harvey, poet, professor * Robert Hayden, poet, essayist, and educator * Gil Scott-Heron, poet, author * Chester Himes, novelist * Langston Hughes, poet, activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist * Erica Hunt, poet, essayist, and teacher * Zora Neale Hurston, novelist * Nella Larsen, novelist, librarian, and nurse * Brent Leggs, historian and preservationist, writer, academic * Alain LeRoy Locke, writer * Louise Meriwether, novelist, essayist, journalist and activist * Toni Morrison, novelist, essayist, editor, teacher and professor * Walter Mosley, novelist * Walter Dean Myers, novelist * Marilyn Nelson, poet, translator, professor * Pat Parker, poet, activist * Leonard Pitts, novelist, commentator, journalist, and columnist * Kevin Powell, poet, activist * Ishmael Reed, poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor, and publisher * Shawn Stewart Ruff, novelist * Sonia Sanchez, poet, playwright, essayist, educator, and activist * Patricia Smith (poet), Patricia Smith, poet, playwright, author, teacher, and journalist * Tracy K. Smith, poet, educator * Ntozake Shange, novelist, playwright and poet * Natasha Trethewey, poet, professor * Alice Walker, novelist, writer, poet, and activist * Margaret Walker, novelist, poet and writer * Dorothy West, novelist, columnist * Phillis Wheatley, poet * Colson Whitehead, novelist * John Edgar Wideman, novelist, author, and professor * John A. Williams, novelist, journalist, and academic * Harriet E. Wilson, novelist * Richard Wright (author), Richard Wright, novelist, poet, and essayist * Sarah E. Wright, novelist * Frank Yerby, novelist * Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor * Kevin Young (poet), Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic


Publishers

* W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press * Jayne Cortez, founder of Bola Press * Charles F. Harris, founder of Amistad Press * John H. Johnson * Naomi Long Madgett, poet and founder of Lotus Press * Haki Madhubuti, co-founder of Third World Press * Dudley Randall, founder of Broadside Press * Ishmael Reed * Glenn Thompson (publisher), Glenn Thompson, co-founder of Writers and Readers Cooperative


Singers and musicians


A

*Aaliyah: R&B, pop *Johnny Ace: R&B *Armenta Adams: Classical pianist *Arthur Adams (singer), Arthur Adams: Blues, R&B *Johnny Adams: Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz *Yolanda Adams: Gospel, R&B *Nat Adderley: Jazz *Cannonball Adderley: Jazz *Jhene Aiko: R&B, hip hop *Akon: R&B, pop, hip hop, dancehall *Sasha Allen: R&B, rock, soul *Luther Allison: Blues *Amil: Hip hop *Cat Anderson: Jazz *Ivie Anderson: Jazz *Louis Armstrong: Jazz *Billy Boy Arnold: R&B *Dorothy Ashby: Jazz *
Patti Austin Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American R&B, pop, and jazz singer and songwriter. Music career Austin was born in Harlem, New York, to Gordon Austin, a jazz trombonist. She was raised in Bay Shore, New York on Long Island. Quincy ...
: R&B, pop, jazz *Roy Ayers: Jazz, funk, disco, R&B, hip hop *Ayo & Teo: (African American father) Hip hop, dance, trap *Ashanti (singer), Ashanti: R&B


B

*Cardi B: Hip hop *Babyface (musician), Babyface: R&B *Anthony Brown (gospel musician), Anthony Brown: Gospel *Erykah Badu: Neo soul, R&B, funk, hip hop *Kim Burrell: Gospel *Lil Baby: Hip hop *Mildred Bailey: Jazz *Pearl Bailey: Vaudeville * Anita Baker, R&B, soul *Josephine Baker: Pop, jazz *Lavern Baker: R&B * Lloyd Banks: Hip hop *Azealia Banks: Hip hop *Dave Bartholomew: R&B, R&R *Florence Ballard: R&B, pop, soul * Fantasia Barrino: R&B, soul, gospel *Count Basie: Jazz *Swizz Beatz: Hip hop (African-American and Eritrean descent) *Sidney Bechet: Jazz *Madeline Bell: Soul *Carey Bell: Blues *Eric Benet: R&B, neo soul * George Benson: Jazz, R&B, soul, funk *Denee Benton: Broadway, pop *Chuck Berry: Rock and roll *Frankie Beverly: R&B, soul, funk *
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
: R&B, pop *Cindy Birdsong: R&B, soul, pop * Birdman: rapper *Kodak Black: Hip hop *Mykki Blanco: Hip hop *Bobby Bland: Blues, R&B, soul *Blind Blake: Ragtime, blues *Art Blakey: Jazz *Mary J. Blige: R&B, hip hop, soul *Joe Budden: Hip hop *Lucille Bogan: *Buddy Bolden: Jazz, blues *Bobby Bradford: Jazz *Charles Bradley (singer), Charles Bradley: Funk, soul, R&B *Tamar Braxton: R&B, soul, pop, gospel * Toni Braxton: R&B, soul, pop *Traci Braxton: R&B, soul, pop *Trina Braxton: R&B, soul, pop *Dee Dee Bridgewater: Jazz *Bobby Brown: R&B, soul, pop *Charles Brown (musician), Charles Brown: Blues, R&B, rock, soul, jazz *Chris Brown: R&B, hip hop, pop *Chuck Brown: Funk, hip hop, blues *Clifford Brown: Jazz *James Brown: Soul, funk *Oscar Brown, Jr: Jazz * Peabo Bryson: Soul, R&B *Elbridge "Al" Bryant: R&B, pop, soul *Solomon Burke: Blues, gospel, R&B, soul, rock and roll *Metro Boomin: Hip hop *Jerry Butler: Soul, funk, R&B *Rich Boy: Hip hop *Soulja Boy: Hip hop *Donald Byrd: Jazz, funk, soul, R&B *B.o.B: Hip hop *Bow Wow (rapper), Bow Wow: Hip hop *Boosie Badazz: Southern hip hop *Rich Boy: Hip hop *Young Buck: Hip hop *Joe Budden: Hip hop


C

*Ca$h Out: Hip hop *C-Murder: Hip hop *Cassidy (rapper), Cassidy: Hip hop *Doja Cat: Hip hop, R&B, pop *Erica Campbell: Gospel *Tina Campbell (musician), Tina Campbell: Gospel *
Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...
: Jazz *2 Chainz: Hip hop, dirty South/Southern hip hop *Cam'ron: Hip hop *
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
: R&B, pop, Hip hop, soul *Benny Carter: Jazz *Betty Carter: Jazz *Ron Carter: Jazz *Jay-Z, Shawn Carter, known as Jay-Z: Hip hop *Playboi Carti: Hip hop, trap, SoundCloud rap *Tracy Chapman: Folk *Paul Chambers: Jazz *
Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
: R&B, soul, blues, gospel, country, jazz, rock and roll, pop *Chubby Checker: Rock and roll, R&B *Cyrus Chestnut: Jazz *Charlie Christian: Jazz *Milan Christopher: Rapper *Blac Chyna: Hip hop *Ciara: R&B, Hip hop, pop *Robert Cray: Blues *Otis Clay: R&B, soul, blues, gospel *Eddy Clearwater: Blues *Clarence Clemons: Rock, R&B *James Cleveland: Gospel, soul *George Clinton (funk musician), George Clinton: Funk, rock, soul *Keyshia Cole: R&B, soul, hip hop * Nat King Cole: Jazz, pop * Natalie Cole: R&B, pop *Ornette Coleman: Jazz, free funk *Daryl Coley: Gospel *Albert Collins: Blues *Bootsy Collins: Funk, soul, rock, R&B *Mitty Collier: R&B, soul, gospel *Alice Coltrane: Jazz *John Coltrane: Jazz *Ravi Coltrane: Jazz * Sean Combs: Hip hop, R&B *Sam Cooke: Soul, gospel, R&B *James Cotton: Blues, jazz *Randy Crawford: Jazz, R&B, disco *J. Cole: Hip hop (African-American father) *
Ice Cube An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be produc ...
: Hip hop *Kid Cudi: Rapper who is African American and Mexican *King Curtis: Soul, R&B, rock, funk, jazz *Evelyn Simpson Curenton: various *Chamillionaire: Hip hop * Chingy: Hip hop, rap *Canon (rapper), Canon: Christian hip hop


D

*Roscoe Dash: Hip hop *Miles Davis: Jazz *
Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
: Pop, jazz *Jimmy Dawkins: Blues *DDG (rapper), DDG: Hip hop *Mos Def: Hip hop *Famous Dex, Chicago hip hop *Bo Diddley: R&B, rock and roll *Ricky Dillard: Gospel *Willie Dixon, Blues, R&B, rock and roll, gospel *Johnny Dodds: Jazz *Baby Dodds, Warren "Baby" Dodds: Jazz *Young Dolph: Hip hop *Eric Dolphy: Jazz *Donnis: Hip hop *
Nate Dogg Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American singer and rapper. He gained recognition for providing guest vocals for a multitude of hit rap songs between 1992 and 2007, earning the ...
: Hip hop, gangsta rap, R&B *
Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
: Hip hop, funk, gangsta rap *Fats Domino: Rock and roll, R&B *
Dr. Dre Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and ...
: Hip hop *42 Dugg: Hip hop, trap *Lil Durk: Hip hop, drill *Desiigner: Hip hop, trap *Derek Minor: Christian hip hop *Dorrough: Hip hop *Duke Deuce: Hip hop


E

* E-40: Hip hop, rap *Eazy-E: Hip-hop, rap *Dennis Edwards: R&B, soul *Billy Eckstine: Jazz, pop *Roy Eldridge: Jazz *Duke Ellington: Jazz *Betty Everett: soul *Faith Evans (African-American mother): R&B, soul, hip-hop


F

*Art Farmer: Jazz *Mickey Fields: Jazz *Ella Fitzgerald: Jazz *
Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the Billboard Magazine, ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", "Feel Like M ...
: Jazz, pop *Eddie Floyd: R&B, soul *
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
: Soul * BabyFace: R&B singer *Kam Franklin: Soul *Kirk Franklin: Gospel, Christian hip hop *Melvin Franklin: R&B, soul *Bankroll Freddie: Hip hop *Lowell Fulson: Blues *Future (rapper), Future: Hip hop, trap, R&B *Fabolous: Hip hop *Flo Rida: Hip hop *Sonny Fortune: Jazz *Jaime Foxx: R&B *Flavor Flav: Hip hop *Fivio Foreign: Hip hop *Big Freedia: Bounce *Flame (rapper), Flame: Christian hip hop *Finesse2tymes: Hip hop *Foogiano: Hip hop *Fredo Bang: Hip hop


G

*Polo G: Hip hop, drill *Slim Gaillard: Jazz *Marvin Gaye: R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop *Gloria Gaynor: Disco, R&B *The Game (rapper), The Game: Rapper *EST Gee: Hip hop *Tyrese Gibson: Hip hop, R&B *Dizzy Gillespie: Jazz *Ginuwine: R&B *City Girls: Hip hop *GloRilla: Hip hop *GlokkNine: Hip hop *Ugly God: Hip hop, SoundCloud hip hop *Benny Golson: Jazz *Dexter Gordon: Jazz *Berry Gordy: R&B, soul, pop, R&R *Al Green: R&B, soul *CeeLo Green: R&B, Hip hop, soul, funk *Thomasina Talley Greene: Classical pianist *Johnny Griffin: Jazz *Lil Gotit, Hip hop *Tee Grizzley, Rapper *Childish Gambino: Hip hop, R&B *Gucci Mane: Hip hop *Gunna (rapper), Gunna: Hip hop * George Benson: Singer *Buddy Guy: Blues *Phil Guy: Blues


H

*Andrew Hill (jazz musician), Andrew Hill: Jazz *Adelaide Hall: Jazz *Edmond Hall: Jazz *Willie Hall (drummer), Willie Hall: R&B, soul, funk *Halsey (singer), Halsey: Pop *Charles Hamilton (rapper), Charles Hamilton: Hip hop *Chico Hamilton: Jazz *Jimmy Hamilton: Jazz *Lionel Hampton: Jazz *Deitrick Haddon: Gospel *Herbie Hancock: Jazz, funk, electro *Donny Hathaway: Soul, jazz, R&B *Edward W. Hardy: Classical, pop, theatre music *Roy Hargrove: Jazz, soul *Damon Harris: R&B, soul, pop *Richie Havens: Funk, soul *Coleman Hawkins: Jazz *Isaac Hayes: Blues, jazz, soul *MC Hammer: R&B *Fred Hammond: Gospel *Fletcher Henderson: Jazz *Michael Henderson: R&B, jazz, funk, soul, pop *Jimi Hendrix: Rock, blues, R&B *Jon Hendricks: Jazz *Nona Hendryx: Funk, soul *G Herbo: Hip hop, drill *Gil Scott-Heron: Soul, funk, R&B *Skinny Hightower: Jazz *Lauryn Hill: R&B, neo soul, folk *Earl Hines, Earl "Fatha" Hines: Jazz *Johnny Hodges: Jazz *Billie Holiday: Jazz, blues *Jennifer Holliday: R&B, soul, pop *John Lee Hooker: Blues *Hopsin: Hip hop *Lena Horne: Jazz, pop *Cissy Houston: Soul, disco *Thelma Houston: R&B, soul *Whitney Houston: R&B, soul, pop *Freddie Hubbard: Jazz *Jennifer Hudson: R&B, soul, pop *Nipsey Hussle: Hip hop, rap *Phyllis Hyman: R&B, jazz *H.E.R.: R&B *Koryn Hawthorne: Gospel *Keri Hilson: R&B *Hitmaka: Hip hop *Huey (rapper), Huey: Hip hop *Hurricane Chris: Hip hop


I

*James Ingram: R&B, pop, soul *Luther Ingram: R&B, soul *Ronald Isley: R&B, soul *T.I.: Hip hop *Ice-T: Hip hop


J

*Ray J: R&B *Stevie J: Hip hop, R&B *Bernard Jackson (singer), Bernard Jackson: R&B *Chuck Jackson: R&B *Freddie Jackson: Soul *Jackie Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul *Janet Jackson: R&B, pop *Jeremih: R&B *Jermaine Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul, funk *La Toya Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul, dance *Marlon Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul *Michael Jackson: Pop, soul, R&B, soul, funk, rock *Randy Jackson (The Jacksons), Randy Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul *Rebbie Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul *Tito Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul, blues *Mahalia Jackson: Gospel *Millie Jackson: Soul, disco, R&B *Milt Jackson: Jazz *Etta James: Blues, R&B, soul, jazz *Rick James: R&B, soul, funk, rock *Al Jarreau: Jazz, R&B, soul *BlocBoy JB: Hip hop *Young Joc: Hip hop *Booker T. Jones: R&B, soul, blues *Elvin Jones: Jazz *Etta Jones: Jazz *Hank Jones: Jazz *Howard Jones (American musician), Howard Jones: Rock, metal *Quincy Jones: R&B, funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, rock and roll, pop *Louis Jordan: Jazz, blues, R&B *Steve Jordan (drummer), Steve Jordan: Pop, rock, R&B *J. J. Johnson: Jazz *Robert Johnson: Blues *Syl Johnson: R&B, blues *Little Willie John: R&B, soul *Charles Jenkins (American Gospel musician), Charles Jenkins: Gospel *Leroy Jenkins (jazz musician), Leroy Jenkins: Jazz *Valerie June: Folk, blues, soul, pop *Jeremih: Hip hop, R&B *LL Cool J: Hip hop *Scott Joplin: Ragtime *Lil Jon: Hip hop *Jadakiss: Hip hop *J-Kwon: Hip hop *Mike Jones (rapper), Mike Jones: Hip hop *Jibbs: Hip hop *Juelz Santana: Hip hop


K

*Lil Keed: Hip hop *Eddie Kendricks: R&B, soul, disco *Alicia Keys (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop *Gladys Knight: soul, R&B, pop *Chief Keef, rapper *Kelis: Hip hop (African American, Chinese and Puerto Rican) *R Kelly: R&B, soul, gospel, hip hop *Wynton Kelly: Jazz *Khalid (singer), Khalid: R&B, pop *Wiz Khalifa: Hip hop *Kid Cudi: Hip hop *Kehlani (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop *Solange Knowles: R&B, soul, funk *Rich the Kid: Hip hop, trap *Albert King: Blues *B.B. King: Blues, R&B *Ben E. King: R&B, soul, pop *Freddie King: Blues *Eartha Kitt: Vocal jazz, cabaret, dance, torch *Maxo Kream: Hip hop (Nigerian and African-American) *KB (rapper), KB: Christian hip hop


L

*Big L: Hip hop *Patti LaBelle: R&B, soul, disco, dance, funk *Denise LaSalle: Blues, R&B, soul *Bettye LaVette: Soul, blues, R&B, funk, rock, country, gospel *John Legend: R&B, soul, pop *Lakeyah: Hip hop *Kendrick Lamar: Hip hop, rap *John Larkin (actor, born 1877), John Larkin: Vaudeville *Lynda Laurence: R&B, pop, jazz *Lecrae: Christian hip hop *Huddie Ledbetter: Folk, blues *Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Gospel *Eddie Levert: R&B, soul, blues, gospel *Gerald Levert: Soul, R&B *Frankie Lyman: R&B, pop *Swae Lee, Rapper *Coi Leray: Hip hop *Booker Little: Jazz *Barbara Lynn: R&B *Cheryl Lynn: Disco, R&B, soul, pop *Lisa Lopes: R&B, rap, pop *Lecrae: Christian hip hop *Ledisi: R&B, soul, jazz *Logic (musician), Logic: Hip hop *Dej Loaf: Hip hop, R&B *Ludacris: Hip hop *Lil Uzi Vert: Hip hop *Lil Nas X: Hip hop, country *Lizzo: R&B *Lloyd (singer), Lloyd: R&B *Trip Lee: Christian hip hop, Southern hip hop *Lil Scrappy: Hip hop


M

*Young M.A: Hip hop *Mandisa: Gospel, Christian *Christian McBride: Jazz *Gene McDaniels: Jazz, pop *Donnie McClurkin: Gospel *Betty McGlown: R&B, pop *Joe McPhee: Jazz *Remy Ma: Hip hop *Lee Michelle: (African-American Father) K Pop singer *Buddy Miles: R&B, funk, soul *Meek Mill: Hip hop *Stephanie Mills: R&B, soul, gospel *Nicki Minaj: Hip hop, pop, R&B *Blue Mitchell: Jazz *Barbara Martin (singer), Barbara Martin: R&B, pop *Johnny Mathis: Pop, jazz *Curtis Mayfield: Soul, funk, R&B *Taj Mahal (musician), Taj Mahal: Blues, R&B, jazz *Hank Mobley: Jazz *Thelonious Monk: Jazz *Wes Montgomery: Jazz *Melba Moore: Soul, disco, gospel *Lee Morgan: Jazz *Wanya Morris: R&B, soul *Migos: Hip hop, trap *Gucci Mane: Hip hop, trap *Miguel (singer), Miguel (African-American Mother): Hip hop, R&B *Janelle Monae: Funk, R&B *Tamela Mann: Gospel *Mulatto (rapper), Mulatto: Hip hop *Matt "Guitar" Murphy: Blues *Mýa: R&B (African American father, Italian mother) *Monica (singer), Monica: R&B *Mario (singer), Mario: R&B *Lil' Mo: R&B, hip hop *Method Man: Hip hop *Post Malone: Hip hop *Maliibu Miitch: Hip hop (African American, Vietnamese and Filipino) *Mims (rapper), Mims: Hip hop *Maino (rapper), Maino: Hip hop *Money Man: Hip hop


N

*Tech N9ne: Hip hop *Nas (rapper), Nas: Hip hop *Rico Nasty: Hip hop *Nathan Morris: Vocal, singer *Nelly: Hip hop *Meshell Ndegeocello: Funk, soul, jazz *Oliver Nelson: Jazz *Art Neville: Funk, R&B, soul *Aaron Neville: R&B, soul *Cyril Neville: R&B, funk, blues *Charles Neville (musician), Charles Neville: R&B, jazz, funk, pop *David "Fathead" Newman: Jazz *Ne-Yo: R&B *Jessye Norman: Opera *Brandy Norwood: R&B *Queen Naija (African-American mother): *Normani: R&B *Noname Gypsy: Hip hop


O

*Frank Ocean: LGBT R&B *Jeffrey Osborne: Soul, R&B *Odetta: Blues, jazz *Offset (rapper), Offset: Hip hop *Omarion: R&B *OJ da Juiceman: Hip hop *OMB Peezy: Hip hop


P

*Pastor Troy: Hip hop *Keke Palmer: R&B, hip hop, pop *Charlie Parker: Jazz *Ray Parker Jr.: R&B, pop *Billy Paul: Soul, R&B, jazz *Scherrie Payne: R&B, pop, disco *Teddy Pendergrass: R&B, soul, disco *Phemza The Kween: Christian hip hop, hyphy, bounce, trap, R&B, Hip hop soul, gospel *Wilson Pickett: R&B, soul *Playboi Carti: Hip hop *Plies (rapper), Plies: Hip hop *Billy Preston: R&B, soul, funk *Prince (musician), Prince: Pop, rock, R&B, soul *Leontyne Price: Opera *Kelly Price: R&B, soul *Charley Pride: Country, gospel *Pharrell: Hip hop, R&B, funk *Billy Porter (actor), Billy Porter: Pop *Petey Pablo: Hip hop


Q

*Rich Homie Quan: Hip hop *Quavo: Hip hop *DJ Quik: Hip hop *Quando Rondo: Hip hop


R

*Raz-B: R&B *Sun Ra: Jazz *Lou Rawls: Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz, blues *Ma Rainey: Blues *Jimmy Reed: Blues *Louisiana Red: Blues *Trippie Redd: Hip hop *Otis Redding: Soul, R&B, blues *Lil Reese: Hip hop, drill *Della Reese: Jazz, pop *Dianne Reeves: Jazz *Martha Reeves: R&B, pop *Roddy Ricch: Hip hop *Lionel Richie: Soul, R&B, pop *Little Richard: Rock and roll, R&B, gospel, soul *Pretty Ricky: R&B *Teddy Riley: R&B, hip hop *Flo Rida: Hip hop, pop *Minnie Riperton: soul, R&B *Max Roach: Jazz *Black Rob: Hip hop *Paul Robeson: Pop *Bill Robinson: Jazz, pop *Smokey Robinson: R&B, soul, pop *Sylvia Robinson: R&B, soul, Hip hop *ASAP Rocky: Hip hop (half-African American, half-Barbadian) *Nile Rodgers: Disco, soul, R&B, rock, funk *Diana Ross: R&B, soul, disco, Jazz *Rick Ross: Hip hop *Sonny Rollins: Jazz *Otis Rush: Blues, R&B *Patrice Rushen: R&B *David Ruffin: R&B, pop, soul, disco, gospel *Jimmy Ruffin: R&B, soul, pop *Chance the Rapper: Hip hop, R&B *Rapsody: Hip hop *Kelly Rowland: R&B, soul, pop *Rocko (rapper), Rocko: Hip hop, rap *Ja Rule: Hip hop *Rubi Rose: Hip hop *Raekwon: Hip hop *Renni Rucci: Hip hop


S

*Pharoah Sanders: Jazz *Marvin Sapp: Gospel *Ruben Studdard: Singer *Saweetie: Hip hop (African American father, Chinese and Filipino mother) *Shawn Stockman : R&B *Young Scooter: Hip hop *Jimmy Scott: Jazz *Tupac Shakur: Hip hop, revolutionary, poet, freedom fighter *Kierra Sheard: Gospel *Pooh Shiesty: Hip hop, Southern hip hop, Memphis rap *Bobby Shmurda: Hip hop, Brooklyn drill *Wayne Shorter: Jazz *Nina Simone: R&B, jazz, blues, folk, soul, gospel *Sisqó: R&B *Marvin Sapp: Gospel *Bessie Smith: Blues *Jimmy Smith (musician), Jimmy Smith: Jazz *Big Sean: Hip hop, Midwest hip hop *Magic Sam: Blues *Magic Slim: Blues *Memphis Slim: Blues *Horace Silver: Jazz *Percy Sledge: R&B, soul, gospel *Pop Smoke: Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Brooklyn Drill *Jordin Sparks: R&B, pop *Ice Spice: Hip hop, Bronx drill *Mavis Staples: Soul, R&B *Megan Thee Stallion: Rap, Hip hop, R&B, Southern hip hop *Sly Stone: Funk, R&B *Donna Summer: Disco, R&B *Pink Sweats: Pop *Musiq Soulchild: R&B, soul, neo soul *Raphael Saadiq: R&B, soul *Trey Songz: R&B, hip hop *Marlena Shaw: Soul, disco *Bobby Short: Jazz *Billy Strayhorn: Jazz *Travis Scott: Hip hop, trap, R&B, Southern hip hop *Rae Sremmurd: Hip hop, trap, R&B *Kierra Sheard: Urban gospel, R&B *Karen Clark Sheard: Gospel, urban gospel *Keith Sweat: R&B, soul, hip hop, urban *Southside (record producer), Southside: Hip hop *Musiq Soulchild: R&B *Saucy Santana: Hip hop *SZA: Pop, R&B, Soul *Day Sulan: Hip hop *Beanie Sigel: Hip hop *Swoope: Christian hip hop, Urban contemporary gospel *Shawty Lo: Hip hop *Shy Glizzy: Hip hop *Silentó: Hip hop *SPOTEMGOTTEM: Hip hop


T

*Tinashe: R&B, hip hop, pop *TLC (group), TLC: R&B, Pop *Rozonda Thomas: R&B *Pusha T: Hip hop *Tank (American singer), Tank: Hip hop *Art Tatum: Jazz *Billy Taylor: Jazz *Cecil Taylor: Jazz *Koko Taylor: Blues, soul *Clark Terry: Jazz *Jean Terrell: R&B, soul, jazz *Tammi Terrell: R&B, soul *Bryson Tiller: R&B, hip hop *Young Thug: Hip hop *T.I.: Hip hop *T-Pain: Hip hop, R&B *Big Joe Turner: Blues, R&B *Ike Turner: R&B, soul, blues, rock and roll *Tina Turner: R&B, pop, soul, rock and roll *Stanley Turrentine: Jazz *Tyler, the Creator: Hip-hop *McCoy Tyner: Jazz *Tye Tribbett: Gospel *Twista: Hip hop *Timbaland: Hip hop, R&B, dance *Tyga: Hip hop *Tedashii: Christian hip hop *Thi'sl: Christian hip hop


U

*Usher (musician), Usher: R&B, pop *Unk: Hip hop


V

*Luther Vandross: R&B, soul, pop, disco *Sarah Vaughan: Jazz, pop *Cassie Ventura: R&B *Bobby V: R&B *King Von: Hip hop, drill, gangsta rap *V.I.C.: Hip hop


W

*Wale (rapper), Wale: Hip hop *Ethel Waters: Jazz, gospel, blues *Muddy Waters: Blues *Hezekiah Walker, Gospel *Little Walter: Blues, R&B *Dionne Warwick: R&B, soul, pop, gospel *Dinah Washington: Jazz, blues, R&B *Geno Washington: Soul, R&B, pop, blues *Grover Washington Jr.: Jazz, soul, R&B *Keenan Webb, also known as DJ Suede the Remix God: Trap, Hip hop *Barry White: R&B, soul, funk, disco *Maurice White: Soul, funk, R&B, jazz *CeCe Winans: Gospel, R&B *Andre Williams (musician), Andre Williams: R&B, blues *Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams: R&B, gospel, pop, soul *Otis Williams: R&B, soul, disco *Paul Williams (The Temptations), Paul Williams: R&B, soul *Pharrell Williams: Hip hop, R&B, funk, pop *Tony Williams (drummer), Tony Williams: Jazz *Eddie Willis: Soul, R&B *Wesley Willis: Punk rock *Charlie Wilson (singer), Charlie Wilson: R&B, hip hop, soul, funk *Gerald Wilson: Jazz, pop *Mary Wilson (singer), Mary Wilson: R&B, soul, pop, funk *Nancy Wilson (jazz singer), Nancy Wilson: R&B, pop, jazz, soul, blues *Sonny Boy Williamson I: Blues *Sonny Boy Williamson II: Blues *Bill Withers: Soul, R&B, blues, funk *Tionne Watkins: R&B *Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Blues, soul, funk *Carl Weathersby: Blues *Junior Wells: Blues *Mary Wells: R&B, pop, soul *Kanye West: Hip hop, R&B *Lil Wayne: Hip hop, Southern hip hop *Ali-Ollie Woodson: R&B, pop, soul *Stevie Wonder: Soul, pop, R&B, funk *Bobby Womack: R&B, gospel, soul, R&R, funk, rock, jazz *Howlin' Wolf: Blues *Bow Wow (rapper), Bow Wow: Hip hop *Juice WRLD: Hip hop, R&B, trap *Webbie: Hip hop *Fetty Wap: Hip hop


X

*XXXTentacion : Hip hop, SoundCloud rap, lo-fi *Xzibit: Hip hop


Y

*Ne-Yo: R&B *Yo Gotti: Hip hop *Lester Young: Jazz *Yung Joc: Hip hop *Young Dro: Hip hop *Young Buck: Hip hop


Z

*Jay-Z: Hip hop


Science and mathematics

* List of African-American astronauts * List of African-American inventors and scientists * List of African-American mathematicians * List of African American women in STEM fields


Sports


Baseball


A

*Hank Aaron, retired professional baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame *Tommie Aaron *Tommie Agee *Willie Aikens *Gary Alexander (baseball), Gary Alexander *Matt Alexander *Ted Alexander *Dick Allen *Greg Allen (baseball), Greg Allen *Garvin Alston *George Altman *Garret Anderson *Marlon Anderson *Chris Archer


B

*Harold Baines *Dusty Baker *Gene Baker *James Baldwin (baseball), James Baldwin *Dan Bankhead *Sam Bankhead *Ernie Banks *Willie Banks (baseball), Willie Banks *Jesse Barfield *Kevin Bass *Earl Battey *Don Baylor *Tony Beasley *Tim Beckham *Albert Belle *Mookie Betts *Junius Bibbs *Jim Bibby *Joe Black *Paul Blair (baseball), Paul Blair *Vida Blue *Barry Bonds *Bobby Bonds *Lyman Bostock *Daryl Boston *Michael Bourn *Mickey Bowers *Jackie Bradley Jr. *Phil Bradley *Glenn Braggs *Michael Brantley *Chet Brewer *Marshall Bridges *Lou Brock *Hubie Brooks *Domonic Brown *Jarvis Brown *Gates Brown *Willard Brown *Don Buford *Al Bumbry *Homer Bush *Byron Buxton


C

*Lorenzo Cain *Mike Cameron *Roy Campanella *Chris Carter (right-handed hitter), Chris Carter *Joe Carter *Nate Colbert *Vince Coleman (baseball), Vince Coleman *Cecil Cooper *Al Cowens *Carl Crawford *Willie Crawford


D

*Eric Davis (baseball), Eric Davis *Khris Davis *Mo'ne Davis *Rajai Davis *Tommy Davis (outfielder), Tommy Davis *Willie Davis (baseball), Willie Davis *Andre Dawson *Ian Desmond *Mike Devereaux *Chris Dickerson (baseball), Chris Dickerson *Larry Doby *Al Downing (baseball), Al Downing *Dan Driessen *Elijah Dukes *Taylor Duncan *Shawon Dunston *Ray Durham *Leon Durham *Jermaine Dye *Jarrod Dyson


E

*Don Eaddy *Mike Easler *Carl Edwards Jr. *Dock Ellis *Carl Everett *Leon Everitt


F

*Eric Farris *Mike Felder *Cecil Fielder *Prince Fielder *Chone Figgins *Curt Flood *Cliff Floyd *George Foster (baseball), George Foster *Rube Foster *Dexter Fowler


G

*Ron Gant *Ralph Garr *Amir Garrett *Cito Gaston *Bob Gibson *Jim Gilliam *Doug Glanville *Dwight Gooden *Brian Goodwin (baseball), Brian Goodwin *Danny Goodwin *Tom Goodwin *Dee Gordon—professional baseball player *Tom Gordon—former professional baseball player *Curtis Granderson—professional baseball player *Mudcat Grant *Pumpsie Green *Ken Griffey Jr.—retired professional baseball player, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame *Ken Griffey Sr. *Marquis Grissom *Chris Gwynn *Tony Gwynn—retired professional baseball player, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame *Tony Gwynn Jr.


H

*Billy Hamilton (baseball, born 1990), Billy Hamilton—professional baseball player *Jeffrey Hammonds *Mike Harkey—retired professional baseball player *Tommy Harper—former professional baseball player *Lenny Harris *Willie Harris *Wilmer Harris *Josh Harrison—professional baseball player *Billy Hatcher *LaTroy Hawkins—retired professional baseball player *Charlie Hayes—former professional baseball player *Dave Henderson—former professional baseball player *Rickey Henderson—retired professional baseball player, Member of National Baseball Hall of Fame *Steve Henderson (baseball), Steve Henderson—former professional baseball player *George Hendrick—former professional baseball player *Elrod Hendricks—former professional baseball player *Larry Herndon—former professional baseball player *Jason Heyward—professional baseball player *Aaron Hicks—professional baseball player *Glenallen Hill—former professional baseball player *Larry Hisle—former professional baseball player *L.J. Hoes—professional baseball player *Elston Howard—retired professional baseball player *Ryan Howard—professional baseball player *Orlando Hudson—former professional baseball player *Torii Hunter—retired professional baseball player


I

*Monte Irvin—retired professional baseball player, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame


J

*Austin Jackson (baseball), Austin Jackson—professional baseball player *Aaron Judge—professional baseball player *Bo Jackson—former professional baseball player *Edwin Jackson (baseball), Edwin Jackson—professional baseball player *Grant Jackson (baseball), Grant Jackson—former professional baseball player *Jeremy Jeffress—professional baseball player *Desmond Jennings—professional baseball player *Derek Jeter (African-American father)—retired professional baseball player *Sam Jethroe—former professional baseball player *Alex Johnson—retired professional baseball player *Charles Johnson (catcher), Charles Johnson—former professional baseball player *Cliff Johnson (baseball), Cliff Johnson—former professional baseball player *Sam Jethroe—former professional baseball player *Alex Johnson—former professional baseball player *Charles Johnson (catcher), Charles Johnson—former professional baseball player *Cliff Johnson (baseball), Cliff Johnson—former professional baseball player *Micah Johnson (baseball), Micah Johnson—professional baseball player *Adam Jones (baseball), Adam Jones—professional baseball player *Cleon Jones—former professional baseball player *Gary Jones (manager), Gary Jones—professional baseball manager *Ruppert Jones—retired professional baseball player *Sam Jones (baseball), Sam Jones—former professional baseball player *David Justice—retired professional baseball player


K

*Matt Kemp—professional baseball player *Howie Kendrick—professional baseball player *Wayne Kirby—retired professional baseball player


L

*Buck Leonard, former professional baseball player


P

* Satchel Paige, former professional baseball player


R

*Jackie Robinson, former professional baseball player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, first African American to play in Major league Baseball *Frank Robinson, former professional baseball player


S

*CC Sabathia, professional baseball player *Giancarlo Stanton, professional baseball player *Gary Sheffield, retired professional baseball player *Justus Sheffield, professional baseball player


M

*Lee May – former professional baseball player *Andrew McCutchen – professional baseball player *Willie McCovey – former professional baseball player *Joe Morgan – retired professional baseball player


N

*Don Newcombe – former professional baseball player


W

*Dave Winfield – retired professional baseball player *Jerome Williams (baseball), Jerome Williams – baseball player


Basketball


A

*Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Quincy Acy - professional basketball player *Jordan Adams - professional basketball player *Arron Afflalo - professional basketball player *Arthur Agee - retired professional basketball player *Maurice Ager - former professional basketball player *Mark Aguirre - retired professional basketball player *LaMarcus Aldridge - professional basketball player *Cliff Alexander - professional basketball player *Kwame Alexander (basketball), Kwame Alexander - professional basketball player *Jarrett Allen - professional basketball player *Jerome Allen (basketball), Jerome Allen - former professional basketball player *Lavoy Allen - professional basketball player *Ray Allen - retired professional basketball player *Tony Allen (basketball), Tony Allen - professional basketball player *Alan Anderson (basketball), Alan Anderson - professional basketball player *James Anderson (basketball), James Anderson - professional basketball player *Justin Anderson (basketball), Justin Anderson - professional basketball player *Kenny Anderson (basketball), Kenny Anderson - former professional basketball player *Nick Anderson (basketball), Nick Anderson - retired professional basketball player *Carmelo Anthony - professional basketball player, (African-American mother) *Greg Anthony - retired professional basketball player *Cole Anthony - basketball player (African American father) *Nate Archibald - former professional basketball player *Jim Ard - former professional basketball player *Gilbert Arenas - retired professional basketball player *B.J. Armstrong - former professional basketball player *Darrell Arthur - professional basketball player *Al Attles - former professional basketball player *D.J. Augustin - professional basketball player *Jeff Ayres - professional basketball player * Ron Artest III


B

*Thurl Bailey—former professional basketball player *Wade Baldwin IV—professional basketball player *Lonzo Ball (African-American father)—professional basketball player *LiAngelo Ball (African-American father)—professional basketball player *LaMelo Ball (African-American father)—professional basketball player *Gene Banks—retired professional basketball player *Tony Barbee—former professional basketball player *Charles Barkley—retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Don Barksdale—former professional basketball player *Harrison Barnes—professional basketball player *Matt Barnes (African American father)—retired professional basketball player *Earl Barron—professional basketball player *Will Barton—professional basketball player *Brandon Bass—professional basketball player *Shane Battier—retired professional basketball player *Elgin Baylor—former professional basketball player *Kent Bazemore—professional basketball player *Bradley Beal—professional basketball player *Butch Beard—former professional basketball player *Malik Beasley—professional basketball player *Michael Beasley—professional basketball player *Chris Bosh—professional basketball player *Marvin Bagley—professional basketball player *Mikal Bridges—professional basketball player *Miles Bridges—professional basketball player *Bruce Brown Jr.—professional basketball player *Troy Brown Jr.—professional basketball player *Jalen Brunson—professional basketball player *Dwayne Bacon—professional basketball player *Jordan Bell—professional basketball player *Jaylen Brown—professional basketball player *Antonio Blakeney—professional basketball player *James Blackmon Jr.—professional basketball player *Thomas Bryant (basketball), Thomas Bryant—professional basketball player *Isaiah Briscoe—professional basketball player *Tony Bradley (basketball), Tony Bradley—professional basketball player *Sterling Brown (basketball), Sterling Brown—professional basketball player *Jabari Bird—professional basketball player *Malcolm Brogdon—professional basketball player *Jerryd Bayless—professional basketball player *Jimmy Butler—professional basketball player *Rasual Butler—former professional basketball player *Aaron Brooks (basketball), Aaron Brooks—professional basketball player *Will Barton—professional basketball player *MarShon Brooks—professional basketball player *Walt Bellamy—former professional basketball player *Kobe Bryant—retired professional basketball player *Kwame Brown—professional basketball player *Trey Burke—professional basketball player *Reggie Bullock—professional basketball player *Chauncey Billups—retired professional basketball player *Muggsy Bogues—retired professional basketball player *Terrell Brandon—retired professional basketball player *Eric Bledsoe—professional basketball player *Patrick Beverley—professional basketball player *Avery Bradley—professional basketball player


C

*Dell Curry - former professional basketball player *Stephen Curry - professional basketball player *Seth Curry - professional basketball player *Wilt Chamberlain - retired professional basketball player, Member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, only NBA player to score 100 points *Wendell Carter Jr. - professional basketball player *DeMarcus Cousins - professional basketball player *Ian Clark (basketball), Ian Clark - professional basketball player *Norris Cole - professional basketball player *Quinn Cook - professional basketball player *Jevon Carter - professional basketball player *Vince Carter - professional basketball player *Jordan Clarkson (African-American father) - professional basketball player *Tony Carr (basketball), Tony Carr - professional basketball player *Bryant Crawford - professional basketball player *Jamal Crawford - professional basketball player *John Collins (basketball), John Collins - professional basketball player *Marquese Chriss - professional basketball player *Tyson Chandler - professional basketball player *Isaiah Canaan - professional basketball player *Mario Chalmers - professional basketball player *Jordan Crawford - professional basketball player *Jarrett Culver - professional basketball player


D

*Anthony Davis (basketball), Anthony Davis - professional basketball player *Antonio Davis - former professional basketball player *Ed Davis (basketball), Ed Davis - professional basketball player *Glen Davis (basketball), Glen Davis - former professional basketball player *Adrian Dantley - retired professional basketball player * Andre Drummond- Professional basketball Player *Baron Davis - retired professional basketball player *Deyonta Davis - professional basketball player *Dewayne Dedmon - professional basketball player *DeMar DeRozan - professional basketball player *Erick Dampier - former professional basketball player *Clyde Drexler - retired professional basketball player *Kevin Durant - professional basketball player *Kris Dunn - professional basketball player *P.J. Dozier - professional basketball player *Troy Daniels - professional basketball player *Trevon Duval - professional basketball player


E

*Jawun Evans - professional basketball player *Tyreke Evans - professional basketball player *Reggie Evans - retired professional basketball player *Julius Erving - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame


F

*De'Aaron Fox - professional basketball player *Kay Felder - professional basketball player *Markelle Fultz - professional basketball player *Terrance Ferguson - professional basketball player *Yogi Ferrell - professional basketball player


G

*Horace Grant - retired professional basketball player *Draymond Green - professional basketball player *Hal Greer - retired professional basketball player *George Gervin - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Harry Giles (basketball), Harry Giles - professional basketball player *Kevin Garnett - retired professional basketball player *Paul George - professional basketball player *Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - professional basketball player * Ben Gordon (Africans-Americans mother) - Basketball player


H

*Elvin Hayes - retired professional basketball player *Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway - retired professional basketball player *Happy Hairston - former professional basketball player *PJ Hairston - professional basketball player *Dwight Howard - professional basketball player *Grant Hill - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *James Harden - professional basketball player *Josh Hart - professional basketball player *Tobias Harris - professional basketball player *Ron Harper - retired professional basketball player *Rodney Hood - professional basketball player *Udonis Haslem - professional basketball player *John Henson (basketball), John Henson - professional basketball player *Montrezl Harrell - professional basketball player *Jrue Holiday - professional basketball player *Justin Holiday - professional basketball player *Aaron Holiday - professional basketball player *De'Andre Hunter - professional basketball player *Larry Hughes - retired professional basketball player *Richard Hamilton (basketball), Richard Hamilton - retired professional basketball player * Solomon Hill (basketball), Solomon Hill


I

*Allen Iverson - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Brandon Ingram - professional basketball player *Kyrie Irving - professional basketball player


J

*DeAndre Jordan - professional basketball player *Derrick Jones Jr. - professional basketball player *Josh Jackson (basketball), Josh Jackson - professional basketball player *Frank Jackson (basketball), Frank Jackson (African American father) - professional basketball player *K.C. Jones - retired professional basketball player *Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933), Sam Jones - retired professional basketball player *Tyus Jones (African-American father) - professional basketball player *Jaren Jackson - retired professional basketball player *Jaren Jackson Jr. - professional basketball player *LeBron James - professional basketball player *Dennis Johnson - former professional basketball player *Magic Johnson - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Michael Jordan - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, considered as the greatest player in NBA History. *Amile Jefferson - professional basketball player *Jarrett Jack - professional basketball player *Reggie Jackson (basketball, born 1990), Reggie Jackson


K

*Brandon Knight (basketball), Brandon Knight - professional basketball player *Kevin Knox (basketball), Kevin Knox - professional basketball player *Jason Kidd - retired professional basketball player (African American Father) *Kemba Walker - professional basketball player (African American Mother)


L

*Bob Lanier - retired professional basketball player *Damian Lillard - professional basketball player *Kawhi Leonard - professional basketball player *Kyle Lowry - professional basketball player *Rashard Lewis - retired professional basketball player *Caris LeVert - professional basketball player


M

*Bob McAdoo - retired professional basketball player and coach *CJ McCollum - professional basketball player *Alonzo Mourning - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Donovan Mitchell - professional basketball player *Ja Morant - professional basketball player *Karl Malone - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Moses Malone - former professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Cedric Maxwell - retired professional basketball player *Malik Monk - professional basketball player *Reggie Miller - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Tracy McGrady - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Earl Monroe - retired professional basketball player *Marcus Morris - professional basketball player *Markieff Morris - professional basketball player *Khris Middleton - professional basketball player *Wesley Matthews - professional basketball player


N

* Aaron Nesmith * Georges Niang *Malik Newman - professional basketball player


O

*Charles Oakley - former professional basketball player *Jahlil Okafor - professional basketball player * Kelly Oubre Jr. *Shaquille O'Neal - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame


P

*Robert Parish - retired professional basketball player *Chris Paul - professional basketball player *Gary Payton - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Jabari Parker (African-American father) - professional basketball player *Kendrick Perkins - former professional basketball player *Sam Perkins - former professional basketball player *Paul Pierce - retired professional basketball player *Scottie Pippen - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame * Scotty Pippen Jr.- (African-American father) - professional basketball player * Jordan Poole


R

*Bill Russell - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Cam Reddish - basketball player *Willis Reed - retired professional basketball player, coach and manager *Doc Rivers - retired professional basketball player, NBA head coach *Austin Rivers (African American father) - professional basketball player *Derrick Rose - professional basketball player *D'Angelo Russell - professional basketball player *Dennis Rodman - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Jalen Rose - retired professional basketball player *Oscar Robertson - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Rajon Rondo - professional basketball player *Terrence Ross - professional basketball player *Terry Rozier - professional basketball player *Josh Richardson - professional basketball player *Clifford Robinson (basketball, born 1966), Clifford Robinson - former professional basketball player *David Robinson - former professional basketball player


S

*John Salley - former professional basketball player *Satch Sanders - former professional basketball player *Anfernee Simons - professional basketball player *Caleb Swanigan - professional basketball player *Dennis Smith Jr. - professional basketball player *Dennis Scott (basketball), Dennis Scott - retired professional basketball player *Iman Shumpert - professional basketball player *Kenny Smith - retired professional basketball player *John Salmons - retired professional basketball player *John Salley - retired professional basketball player *Collin Sexton - professional basketball player *Marcus Smart - professional basketball player *Omari Spellman - professional basketball player *JR Smith - professional basketball player *Lance Stephenson - professional basketball player *Eric Snow - former professional basketball player and coach *Jerry Stackhouse - retired professional basketball player


T

*Gary Trent - former professional basketball player *Gary Trent Jr. - professional basketball player *Isiah Thomas - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame *Isaiah Thomas (basketball), Isaiah Thomas - professional basketball player *David Thompson (basketball), David Thompson - retired professional basketball player *Jayson Tatum - professional basketball player *Karl-Anthony Towns (African-American father) - professional basketball player *Jason Terry - professional basketball player * Klay Thompson *Myles Turner (basketball), Myles Turner - professional basketball player *Wayman Tisdale - former professional basketball player


U

*Wes Unseld - retired professional basketball player


W

*Chris Webber - retired professional basketball player *Dwyane Wade - professional basketball player * Dominique Wilkins * Earl Watson * Gerald Wilkins *John Wall (basketball), John Wall - professional basketball player *Russell Westbrook - professional basketball player *Justise Winslow - professional basketball player *T. J. Warren - professional basketball player *Dion Waiters - professional basketball player *Jamaal Wilkes - retired professional basketball player *Lenny Wilkens - retired professional basketball player *Zion Williamson - basketball player *Lou Williams - professional basketball player *Marvin Williams - professional basketball player *Hassan Whiteside - professional basketball player *Coby White - professional basketball player *James Worthy - retired professional basketball player * Mitchell Wiggins


Y

*Trae Young (African-American father) - professional basketball player


Boxing


A

*DeAndrey Abron, former professional boxer *Devon Alexander, professional boxer *Laila Ali, former professional boxer *Muhammad Ali, former professional boxer, activist, philanthropist, recognized as the greatest athlete of all time *Rahman Ali, former professional boxer *Demetrius Andrade, professional boxer *Henry Armstrong, professional boxer *Emanuel Augustus, former professional boxer


B

*Johnathon Banks, former professional boxer *Johnny Banks, former professional boxer *Kelcie Banks, former professional boxer *Sonny Banks, former professional boxer *Riddick Bowe, former professional boxer *Timothy Bradley, former professional boxer *Maurice Brantley, former professional boxer *Lamon Brewster, former professional boxer *Shannon Briggs, professional boxer *Adrien Broner, professional boxer *Joe Brown (boxer), Joe Brown, former professional boxer *Trevor Bryan, former professional boxer *Chris Byrd, former professional boxer


C

*Jermall Charlo, professional boxer *Jermell Charlo, professional boxer *Terence Crawford, professional boxer *Steve Cunningham, former professional boxer


D

*Gervonta Davis, professional boxer *Howard Davis Jr., former professional boxer *Anthony Dirrell, professional boxer *Michael Dokes, former professional boxer *Larry Donald, former professional boxer *Joseph Dorsey Jr., former professional boxer *Buster Douglas, former professional boxer


E

*Jimmy Ellis (boxer), Jimmy Ellis, professional boxer *Jaron Ennis, professional boxer


F

*George Foreman, former professional boxer *Joe Frazier, former professional boxer *Stephen Fulton (boxer), Stephen Fulton, professional boxer


G

*Derrick Gainer, former professional boxer *George Godfrey (boxer, born 1897), George Godfrey, former professional boxer *Joshua Greer Jr., former professional boxer


H

*Marvelous Marvin Hagler, former professional boxer *Devin Haney, professional boxer *Tony Harrison, professional boxer *Thomas Hearns, former professional boxer *Jamel Herring, professional boxer *Larry Holmes, former professional boxer *Evander Holyfield, former professional boxer *Maurice Hooker, professional boxer *Bernard Hopkins, former professional boxer *Jarrett Hurd, former professional boxer


I

*Amir Imam, professional boxer


J

*Beau Jack, former lightweight boxer *Daniel Jacobs (boxer), Daniel Jacobs, professional boxer *Jack Johnson (boxer), Jack Johnson, former professional boxer *Roy Jones Jr., former professional boxer *Zab Judah, professional boxer


K

*James Kinchen, former professional boxer


L

*Sugar Ray Leonard, former professional boxer *John Henry Lewis, former professional boxer *Sonny Liston, professional boxer *Rocky Lockridge, former professional boxer *Joe Louis, former professional boxer *Ron Lyle, professional boxer


M

*Floyd Mayweather Sr., former professional boxer *Floyd Mayweather Jr., former professional boxer *Roger Mayweather, former professional boxer *Oliver McCall, professional boxer *Ray Mercer, former professional boxer *Bob Montgomery (boxer), Bob Montgomery, former lightweight boxer *Archie Moore, professional boxer *Shane Mosley, former professional boxer


N

*Ken Norton, former professional boxer


P

*Floyd Patterson, former professional boxer *Shawn Porter, professional boxer *Aaron Pryor, professional boxer


Q

*Dwight Muhammad Qawi, former professional boxer


R

*Hasim Rahman, former professional boxer *Sugar Ray Robinson, professional boxer *Gary Russell Jr., professional boxer


S

*Ed Sanders (boxer), Ed Sanders, former professional boxer *Earnie Shavers, former professional boxer *Errol Spence Jr., professional boxer *Cory Spinks, former professional boxer *Leon Spinks, former professional boxer *Michael Spinks, former professional boxer *Shakur Stevenson, professional boxer


T

*Jermain Taylor, former professional boxer *Keith Thurman, professional boxer *James Toney, former professional boxer *Austin Trout, professional boxer *Caleb Truax, professional boxer *Tony Tucker, former professional boxer *Mike Tyson, former professional boxer


W

*Andre Ward, former professional boxer *Pernell Whitaker, professional boxer *Deontay Wilder, professional boxer *Tim Witherspoon, former professional boxer *Chalky Wright, former professional boxer *Winky Wright, former professional boxer


Fencing

*Ruth White (fencer), Ruth White, retired fencer


Football


B

*Antonio Brown, professional football player *
Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...
, retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame *Dez Bryant, professional football player *Odell Beckham Jr., professional football player *Le'Veon Bell, professional football player *Cedric Benson, professional football player * Sergio Brown


C

* Saahdiq Charles * Yodny Cajuste


E

* Akayleb Evans *Ezekiel Elliott - professional football player


G

*Rosey Grier - retired professional football player *Mel Groomes - former professional football player


H

*Dwayne Haskins - professional football player


I

*Michael Irvin - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame


J

*Edwin Jackson (American football), Edwin Jackson - former professional football player *Jerry Jeudy - professional football player *Lamar Jackson - professional football player *Willie Jeffries - former player and head football coach of South Carolina State Bulldogs football, South Carolina State University, member of the College Football Hall of Fame *Deacon Jones - former professional football player


K

*Colin Kaepernick (African-American father) - professional football player


L

*Ray Lewis - retired professional football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame *Floyd Little - professional football player *Marshawn Lynch - retired football player


M

*Bob Mann (American football), Bob Mann - former professional football player *Khalil Mack - professional football player *Kyler Murray - professional football player *Patrick Mahomes - professional football player *Marion Motley - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame *Randy Moss - retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame


N

*Cam Newton - professional football player


O

* Dayo Odeyingbo *Terrell Owens - retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame


P

*Dak Prescott - professional football player *Walter Payton - former professional football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame *Joe Perry (American football), Joe Perry - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame * Micah Parsons *Fritz Pollard - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame


S

*Barry Sanders - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame *Deion Sanders - former professional football & baseball player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame *Gale Sayers - former professional football player *Marcus Spears (defensive end), Marcus Spears - former professional football player *Warren Sapp - retired professional football player *O. J. Simpson - former professional football player *Bubba Smith - former professional football player *Woody Strode - former professional football player *Terrell Suggs - professional football player


T

*George Taliaferro - former professional football player


V

*Michael Vick - retired professional football player


W

*Damien Woody - retired professional football player *Jameis Winston - professional football player *Russell Wilson - professional football player *Bill Willis - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame *Hines Ward (African American father) - retired professional football player *Deshaun Watson - professional football player *Herschel Walker - retired professional football player *Kenny Washington (American football), Kenny Washington - former professional football player *Fred Williamson - retired professional football player *Carl Weathers - retired professional football player


Golf

*Jerry Bruner, professional golfer *Althea Gibson, former professional golfer *Calvin Peete, former professional golfer *Renee Powell, professional golfer *Charlie Sifford, professional golfer *Bill Spiller, former professional golfer *Jim Thorpe (golfer), Jim Thorpe, professional golfer *Tiger Woods (African American father), professional golfer, winner of 14 major championships *Harold Varner III, professional golfer


Gymnastics

*Simone Biles, gymnast *Dominique Dawes *Gabby Douglas *Kyla Ross *Tasha Schwikert


Hockey

*Justin Bailey *Blake Bolden *Francis Bouillon *Donald Brashear *J. T. Brown (ice hockey), J. T. Brown *Dustin Byfuglien *Gerald Coleman *Robbie Earl *Emerson Etem *Jordan Greenway *Mike Grier *Val James *Justin Johnson (ice hockey), Justin Johnson *Caleb Jones (ice hockey), Caleb Jones *Seth Jones (ice hockey), Seth Jones *Greg Mauldin *K'Andre Miller *Nyjer Morgan *Justin Morrison *Kyle Okposo *Jordan Samuels-Thomas *C. J. Suess *Scooter Vaughan *Shawn Wheeler *Charles Williams (ice hockey), Charles Williams


Swimming

*Cullen Jones *Simone Manuel *Lia Neal *David Curtiss (swimmer), David Curtiss *Sybil Smith


Tennis


A

*Arthur Ashe - retired professional tennis player


B

*James Blake (tennis), James Blake - professional tennis player


G

*Zina Garrison - retired professional tennis player *Althea Gibson - retired professional tennis player *Coco Gauff - professional tennis player


J

*Jarmere Jenkins - retired professional tennis player


K

*Madison Keys - professional tennis player


M

*Nicholas Monroe - professional tennis player


R

*Chanda Rubin - professional tennis player


S

*Bryan Shelton - retired professional tennis player


T

*Taylor Townsend (tennis), Taylor Townsend - professional tennis player


S

*Sloane Stephens - professional tennis player


W

*Mashona Washington - retired professional tennis player *Richard Williams (tennis coach), Richard Williams - professional tennis coach *Serena Williams - professional tennis player *Venus Williams - professional tennis player


Y

*Donald Young (tennis), Donald Young - professional tennis player


Track and field


A

*Charles Austin (high jumper), Charles Austin, retired track and field athlete


B

*Ronnie Baker (athlete), Ronnie Baker, professional track and field athlete *Bob Beamon, retired track and field athlete *Larry Black (sprinter), Larry Black, former track and field athlete *Trayvon Bromell, professional track and field athlete *Ralph Boston, former track and field athlete *Leroy Burrell, retired track and field athlete


C

*Milt Campbell, former track and field athlete *Henry Carr, former track and field athlete *Andre Cason, retired track and field athlete *Jearl Miles Clark, retired track and field athlete *Kerron Clement, professional track and field athlete *Alice Coachman, former track and field athlete *Wayne Collett, former track and field athlete *Christian Coleman, professional track and field athlete *Mike Conley Sr., retired track and field athlete *Shawn Crawford, retired track and field athlete *Josh Culbreath, retired track and field athlete


D

*Tony Darden, retired track and field athlete *Otis Davis, retired track and field athlete *Walter Davis (triple jumper), Walter Davis, professional track and field athlete *Harrison Dillard, retired track and field athlete *Jon Drummond, retired track and field athlete


E

*Ashton Eaton, retired track and field athlete


F

*Allyson Felix, professional track and field athlete *Phyllis Francis, professional track and field athlete *Ron Freeman, former track and field athlete


G

*Justin Gatlin, professional track and field athlete *Tyson Gay, professional track and field athlete *Charles Greene (athlete), Charles Green, professional track and field athlete *Maurice Greene (athlete), Maurice Greene, retired track and field athlete


H

*Elijah Hall (athlete), Elijah Hall, professional track and field athlete *Danny Harris, retired track and field athlete *Otis Harris, professional track and field athlete *Alvin Harrison, retired track and field athlete *Jeff Henderson (athlete), Jeff Henderson, professional track and field athlete *Jim Hines, retired track and field athlete


J

*Larry James, former track and field athlete *Bershawn Jackson, professional track and field athlete *Cornelius Johnson (athlete), Cornelius Johnson, former track and field athlete *Michael Johnson (sprinter), Michael Johnson, retired track and field athlete *Rafer Johnson, retired track and field athlete *Al Joyner, retired track and field athlete *Jackie Joyner-Kersee, retired track and field athlete *Florence Griffith Joyner, former track and field athlete


K

*Roger Kingdom, retired track and field athlete *Erik Kynard, professional track and field athlete


L

*Brian Lewis (sprinter), Brian Lewis, professional track and field athlete *Carl Lewis, retired track and field athlete *Noah Lyles, professional track and field athlete


M

*Michael Marsh (sprinter), Michael Marsh, retired track and field athlete *Vincent Matthews (athlete), Vincent Matthews, retired track and field athlete *Tony McQuay, professional track and field athlete *Aries Merritt, professional track and field athlete *LaShawn Merritt, professional track and field athlete *Ralph Metcalfe, former track and field athlete *Rod Milburn, former track and field athlete *Tim Montgomery, retired track and field athlete *Edwin Moses, retired track and field athlete


N

*David Neville (sprinter), Dave Neville, retired track and field athlete


O

*Dan O'Brien, retired track and field athlete *David Oliver (hurdler), David Oliver, professional track and field athlete *Jesse Owens, former track and field athlete


P

*Darvis Patton, retired track and field athlete *David Payne (hurdler), David Payne, professional track and field athlete *Mike Powell (long jumper), Mike Powell, retired track and field athlete * Tiffany Porter


R

*Mack Robinson (athlete), Mack Robinson, retired track and field athlete *Mike Rodgers, professional track and field athlete *Wilma Rudolph, former track and field athlete *Butch Reynolds, retired track and field athlete


S

*Ronnie Ray Smith, former track and field athlete *Tommie Smith, retired track and field athlete *Wallace Spearmon, professional track and field athlete


T

*Eddie Tolan, former track and field athlete *Gwen Torrence, retired track and field athlete *Wyomia Tyus, retired track and field athlete


W

*Willye White, former track and field athlete *Archie Williams, former track and field athlete *John Woodruff (athlete), John Woodruff, former track and field athlete


Y

*Kevin Young (hurdler), Kevin Young, retired track and field athlete


Wrestling

*Cedric Alexander, professional wrestler *Sasha Banks, professional wrestler *Bianca Belair, professional wrestler *Shelton Benjamin, professional wrestler *Angelo Dawkins, professional wrestler *Montez Ford, professional wrestler *Mark Henry, former professional wrestler *Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, retired professional wrestler *Bobby Lashley, professional wrestler *Keith Lee (wrestler), Keith Lee, professional wrestler *Moose (wrestler), Moose, professional wrestler *Willie Mack, professional wrestler *Montel Vontavious Porter, professional wrestler *R-Truth, professional wrestler *Rich Swann, professional wrestler *King Booker, retired professional wrestler *Naomi (wrestler), Naomi, professional wrestler *Titus O'Neil, professional wrestler *Xavier Woods, professional wrestler *Mia Yim (African American father), professional wrestler


Motorsport

*Bubba Wallace, NASCAR driver *Elias Bowie *Charlie Scott (NASCAR), Charlie Scott *George Wiltshire *Randy Bethea * Willy T. Ribbs *Bill Lester


Martial arts

*Daniel Cormier, mixed martial artist *Jon Jones, mixed martial artist *Kevin Lee (fighter), Kevin Lee, mixed martial artist *Tyron Woodley, mixed martial artist


Soccer

* Andrew Farrell (soccer), Andrew farrell * Antonee Robinson * Benji Michel * Brandon Servania * Bright Dike * Charlie Davies * Chris Richards (soccer), Chris Richards * DeAndre Yedlin * DeJuan Jones * DaMarcus Beasley * Dante Sealy * Duane Holmes * Daryl Dike * Eddie Gustafsson * Eddie Johnson (American soccer), Eddie Johnson *Edson Buddle * Erik Palmer-Brown * Haji Wright * Mark Segbers * Tim Howard * Tyler Adams * Freddy Adu * Kellyn Acosta * Eddie Pope * Briana Scurry * Kofi Sarkodie * Kayden Pierre * Kurowskybob Pierre * Jonathan David * Jonathan Lewis (soccer), Jonathan Lewis * Jozy Altidore * Konrad de la Fuente * Maurice Edu * Mark McKenzie (soccer, born 1999), Mark Mckenzie * Marlon Hairston * Gyasi Zardes * Julian Green * Justin Che * Marvell Wynne (soccer), Marvell Wynne * Sean Okoli * Sean Johnson (soccer), Sean Johnson * Tayvon Gray * Weston McKennie * Zack Steffen * Patrick Koffi


First Ladies of the United States

*Michelle Obama (2009–2017), first African American First Lady and the 44th First Lady


Anthologies of biographies

There is a substantial body of literature, much of it by African Americans, that collects biographies of black leaders.Brown, Hallie Q. ''Homespun heroines and other women of distinction''. Oxford University Press, USA, 1988. pxxxiii Notable examples in this genre are: * ''100 Greatest African Americans'' * ''The Afro-American Press and Its Editors'' * ''Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance'' * ''Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising'' * ''Music and Some Highly Musical People'' * ''Noted Negro Women: Their Triumphs and Activities''


Other notables

* African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska, including a list of notable African Americans from Omaha * List of African American actors * List of African-American astronauts * List of first black Major League Baseball players * List of black NHL players * Black players in professional American football * List of black quarterbacks * Race and ethnicity in the NBA * List of African-American singers * List of African American pioneers in desegregation of higher education * List of winners of the William E. Harmon foundation award for distinguished achievement among Negroes * List of African American LGBT * List of African-American writers * List of African-American ballerinas * List of African-American mathematicians * List of African-American federal judges * List of African-American jurists * List of African-American inventors and scientists * African-American architects, including a list of notable African American architects * List of African-American pioneers in desegregation of higher education * List of African-American visual artists * List of unarmed African Americans killed by law enforcement officers in the United States


See also

*369th Infantry Regiment (United States) * Lists of black people * List of people by nationality * Black Canadians *List of Black Canadians * List of Jewish African-Americans *African diaspora in the Americas *List of African-American women in classical music *List of African-American women in STEM fields *List of African-American abolitionists *List of African-American speakers of U.S. state legislatures *List of African-American women in medicine *List of African-American mathematicians *List of African-American actors *List of LGBT African Americans *100 Greatest African Americans


References


External links


President Obama's Speech to the NAACP on July 16, 2009
- full video by ''MSNBC''
Famous African Americans
{{DEFAULTSORT:African-American people, lists of Lists of American people by ethnic or national origin Lists of people by ethnicity