French
DeutschLists of African Americans
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
| Lists of Americans |
|---|
| By US state |
| By ethnicity or nationality |
This is a list of African Americans, also known as Black Americans (for the outdated and unscientific racial term) or Afro-Americans. African Americans are an ethnic group consisting of citizens of the United States mainly descended from various West African and Central African peoples with possible minor additional ancestry from Europe or indigenous Americans and other regions of Africa. As an ethnic group, African Americans are largely the modern-day descendants of West Africans and Central Africans brought to the US from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade who developed a new and distinct cultural identity during their time in the Americas.
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[edit]
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=icon}
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped)_3.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A[edit]
- Quinton Aaron, actor
- Ira Aldridge, actor
- Flex Alexander, actor
- Khandi Alexander, actress
- Ajiona Alexus, actress
- Mahershala Ali, actor
- Debbie Allen, actress
- John Amos, actor
- Anthony Anderson, actor
- Eddie Anderson, actor
- Maya Angelou, actress
- Tichina Arnold, actress
- Essence Atkins, actress
- Sharif Atkins, actor
- Patti Austin, singer
- James Avery, actor
- Margaret Avery, actress
- Rochelle Aytes, actress
B[edit]
- Anita Baker, singer
- Jaylen Barron, actress (half Afro-American, half Mexican)
- Michael Boatman, actor and sitcom comedian
- Beyoncé, actress and singer
- Leslie David Baker, actor
- Tyra Banks, actress, model
- Spencer Bell, actor
- B.G., rapper
- Peabo Bryson, singer
- Louise Beavers, actress
- Birdman, rapper
- Everett Brown, actor
- Jim Brown, actor
- Malcolm Barrett, actor
- Philip Bailey, singer
- Toni Braxton, singer
- James Baskett, actor
- Roscoe Lee Browne, actor
- Avery Brooks, actor
- LeVar Burton, actor
- Tony Burton, actor
- Fantasia Barrino, actress and singer
- Angela Bassett, actress
- Troian Bellisario (mother is part African-American descent), actress
- Steelo Brim actor, comedian
- Lloyd Banks, actor
- George Benson, singer
- Michael Beach, actor
- Richard Brooks, actor
- Jennifer Beals (African-American father), actress
- Darryl M. Bell, actor
- Paul Benjamin, actor
- Wayne Brady, actor, comedian
- Todd Bridges, actor
- Fred Berry, actor
- Halle Berry, actress
- Lisa Bonet (African-American father), actress
- Stephen Bishop, actor
- Billy Blanks, actor
- Golden Brooks, actress
- Busta Rhymes, actor
- De'Aundre Bonds, actor
- Joy Bryant, actress
- Chadwick Boseman, actor
- Sterling K. Brown, actor
- Mehcad Brooks, actor
- Neil Brown Jr., actor
- Logan Browning, actress
- Trai Byers, actor
- Danielle Brooks, actress
- Cocoa Brown, actress
- Rob Brown, actor
- Zazie Beetz (African-American mother), actress[1]
- Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
- Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress[2]
- Big Daddy Kane, rapper
- Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
- Big Gipp, rapper
- Roger Aaron Brown, actor
- Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian
- BabyFace, singer
- Sharon Bryant, R&B singer
- Bone Crusher, Hip Hop rapper
C[edit]
- Judy Cheeks, singer
- Nick Cannon, actor
- CL Smooth, actor
- Nell Carter, actress
- Amanda and Samuel Chambers, early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
- Bill Cobbs, actor
- Bill Cosby, actor
- Common, actor
- Deon Cole, actor
- Natalie Cole, actress
- Nat King Cole, actor
- Olivia Cole, actress
- Chad L. Coleman, actor
- Gary Coleman, actor, comedian
- Monique Coleman, actress
- Mike Colter, actor
- Sean Combs, actor
- Alvin Childress, actor
- L. Scott Caldwell, actress
- Cab Calloway, actor
- Vanessa Bell Calloway, actress
- Scatman Crothers, actor
- Rupert Crosse, actor
- Mariah Carey, (African-American father) actress
- Diahann Carroll, actress
- Rocky Carroll, actor
- Bernie Casey, actor
- Rosalind Cash, actress and singer
- Reg E. Cathey, actor
- Ray Charles, actor
- Dave Chappelle, actor and comedian
- Don Cheadle, actor
- Bill Cosby, actor and comedian
- Laverne Cox, transgender actress
- Tony Cox, actor
- Rusty Cundieff, actor
- Mark Curry, actor
- Lavell Crawford, actor and comedian
- Chi-Ali, rapper
- Kim Coles, actress
- Ice Cube, actor
- Morris Chestnut, actor
- Chingy, rapper
- Frances Callier, actress
- Wyatt Cenac, (African-American Father)
- Zendaya Coleman (African-American father), actress and singer[3]
D[edit]
- Deezer D, actor, rapper
- Dr. Dre, actor
- Jude Demorest, actress
- Dres, rapper
- DJ Yella, disc jockey and rapper
- Ava DuVernay, film director
- Danny Boy, rapper
- Darryl McDaniels, actor
- DJ Kay Gee, rapper
- Teala Dunn, actress
- Yaya DaCosta, actress
- Daveed Diggs (African-American father), actor
- Colman Domingo (African-American mother), actor
- Charles Michael Davis (half African-American), actor
- Taye Diggs, actor
- Hugh Dane, actor
- 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, actor
- Cassi Davis, actor
- DMX, actor, rapper
- Gary Dourdan, actor
- Michael Dorn, actor
- Tommy Davidson, actor, comedian
- Omar Dorsey, actor
- Nate Dogg, actor
- Snoop Dogg, actor
- Michael Clarke Duncan, actor
- Suzzanne Douglas, actress
- Denise Dowse, actress and director
- Ja'Net DuBois, actress
- Charles S. Dutton, actor
- Loretta Devine, actress
- Ivan Dixon, actor, director, producer
- Ruby Dee, actress[4]
- Ossie Davis, actor
- Sammy Davis Jr., actor
E[edit]
- Michael Ealy, actor
- Nelsan Ellis, actor
- Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian
- Mike Epps, comedian and actor
- Omar Epps, actor
- E-40, actor
- Art Evans, actor
- Eric B., actor
- Damon Evans, actor
- Mike Evans, actor
F[edit]
- David Fagen, buffalo soldier, anti-imperialist
- Dave Fennoy, actor
- Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, actor
- Jordan Fisher, actor
- Edwina Findley, actress
- Laurence Fishburne, actor
- Freddie Foxxx, actor
- Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian
- Fat Joe, actor
- Ken Foree, actor
- Jamie Foxx, actor
- Jaimee Foxworth, actress
- Redd Foxx, comedian, actor
- Roberta Flack, singer
- Al Freeman Jr., actor, director
- Morgan Freeman, actor
- Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), actress
- Aretha Franklin, actress
- Sheila Frazier, actress
- Kim Fields, actress
- Vivica A. Fox, actress
G[edit]
- 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
- GZA, rapper
- Louis Gossett Jr., actor
- Ghostface Killah, rapper
- Robert Gossett, actor
- Kat Graham, actress[5]
- 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, actor, director
- Moses Gunn, actor
- Jasmine Guy, actress
H[edit]
- 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[6]
- 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
- Jillian Hervey, singer, dancer
- 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[edit]
- Rex Ingram, actor
- Inspectah Deck, rapper
- Ida B. Wells, author
J[edit]
- 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, actor
- Jackson family, entertainment
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
- 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
- Irving Jones, comedian and songwriter
- 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
K[edit]
- Chaka Khan, singer
- R. Kelly, former singer and actor
- 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[7]
- 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[8]
L[edit]
- 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[9]
- 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[edit]
- Anthony Mackie, actor
- Method Man, actor
- David Mann, actor
- Tamela Mann, actress
- Mannie Fresh, Hip Hop producer
- John Marriott, actor
- Don 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
- 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, Duke of Sussex[10]
- Melle Mel, actor and rapper
- Kelvin Mercer, rapper and actor
- Method Man, actor
- Draya Michele (African-American father), actress[11]
- Windell Middlebrooks, actor
- Omar Benson Miller, actor
- Wentworth Miller, actor
- Daryl Mitchell, actor
- Jason Mitchell, actor
- Monica, actress
- Victoria Monét(African-American mother), R&B singer
- 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 and TV host
- Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian
- Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
- Ali Shaheed Muhammad, actor
- Lou Myers, actor
N[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Jeffrey Osborne, singer
- Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian
- Shaquille O'Neal, actor
P[edit]
- 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[12]
- 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[13]
- Jordan Peele, actor, comedian
- Nathan Pelle, actor
- Paul Pena, singer-songwriter, guitarist
- Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, model[14]
- Wendell Pierce, actor
- Jay Pharoah, actor
- Glenn Plummer, actor
- Clifton Powell, actor
- Kyla Pratt, actress
- Billy Preston, actor
- J. A. Preston, actor
- Prince, actor
- Joan Pringle, actress
- Richard Pryor, actor and comedian
- Mekhi Phifer, actor
Q[edit]
- Q-Tip, actor and Hip Hop producer
- Questlove, disc jockey and Hip Hop producer
- Queen Latifah, rapper, actress
R[edit]
- 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
- Ving Rhames, actor
- Rihanna, singer
- Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer[15]
- Tequan Richmond, actor
- Little Richard, actor
- LaTanya Richardson, actress
- Kevin Michael 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
- Craig Robinson, actor, comedian
- Jimmy Robinson, actor
- Leon Robinson, actor
- Matt Robinson, actor, producer
- 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[16]
- Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
- Richard Roundtree, actor
- RuPaul, actor
- Nipsey Russell, comedian
- Trevante Rhodes, actor
S[edit]
- Shanice, singer
- Sisqo, rapper singer
- Zoe Saldana, actress
- Amanda Seales (African American father), actress, comedian
- Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian
- Brandon Scott, actor
- Beanie Sigel, rapper
- Yara Shahidi (African American mother), actress and Harvard student[17]
- Tupac Shakur, actor, rapper
- Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian
- O. J. Simpson, actor
- Sadat X, rapper
- Sinbad, actor and comedian
- John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter
- IronE Singleton, actor
- Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor
- Alexandra Slade, actress
- Slick Rick, rapper, actor and beatboxer
- Bubba Smith, actor
- Brian Michael Smith, actor
- Jada Pinkett Smith (African-American father), actress, singer-songwriter[18]
- 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[edit]
- Larenz Tate, actor
- Mr. T, actor
- Meshach Taylor, actor
- T.I., actor
- Nathaniel Taylor, actor
- Ron Taylor, actor
- Whitney Tyson, actress, comedian
- 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
- Tina Turner, actress, singer
- Tyler, the Creator, actor
U[edit]
- Blair Underwood, actor
- Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
- Usher, actor, singer
V[edit]
- Courtney B. Vance, actor
- Ben Vereen, actor, dancer, singer
- Vin Rock, rapper
- Reginald VelJohnson, actor
W[edit]
- Eugene Wilde, singer
- Jimmie 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
- Chris 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, actress
- Reno Wilson, actor and comedian
- Theodore Wilson, actor
- Yvette Wilson, actress and comedian
- Paul Winfield, actor
- Oprah Winfrey, actress, media executive[19]
- Jeffrey Wright, actor
- Samuel E. Wright, actor
- John Witherspoon, actor, comedian
- Alfre Woodard, actress
- Verdine White, singer, bassist
Y[edit]
- Yo-Yo, rapper
- Lee Thompson Young, actor
- Young Buck, rapper
Artists[edit]
B[edit]
- Romare Bearden, painter
C[edit]
- Allen 'Big Al' Carter, painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer
D[edit]
- Rosetta DeBerardinis, painter
- Cheryl Derricotte, glass artist, printmaker
G[edit]
- Sam Gilliam, painter, printmaker
H[edit]
- Barkley L. Hendricks, painter and photographer
- Nestor Hernandez, photographer
J[edit]
- Suzanne Jackson, artist, gallery owner
L[edit]
- Jacob Lawrence, painter, printmaker
M[edit]
- Percy Martin, printmaker
- Evangeline Montgomery, metal art, printmaker
P[edit]
- Norman Parish, painter, muralist and art dealer
- Jefferson Pinder, performance
S[edit]
- Susan Smith-Pinelo, video, performance
- Renee Stout, sculptor
- Lou Stovall, printmaker
T[edit]
- Alma Thomas, painter
W[edit]
- Carrie Mae Weems, photographer, video
- Kehinde Wiley, portrait painter
- Wilmer Wilson IV, performance, photographer
Astronauts[edit]
- 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[20]
- 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[21]
- 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[edit]
- Kimberly Clarice Aiken, Miss America 1994
- J. Alexander, fashion model
- Karen Alexander, fashion model
- K. D. Aubert, fashion model
- Tyra Banks, fashion model[22]
- Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016
- Blac Chyna, model
- Dorothea Church, fashion model
- Pat Cleveland, model
- Lynnette Cole, Miss USA 2000
- Yaya DaCosta, fashion model
- Bruce Darnell, male model
- Jordan Emanuel, Miss Black America New York 2018
- Jaimee Foxworth, actress, model and singer
- Tomiko Fraser, fashion model
- Kaliegh Garris, model
- Lakita Garth, Miss Black California 1995
- Carole Gist, Miss USA 1990
- Quiana Grant, model
- Ethel Ernestine Harper, African American educator and performer
- Tanisha Harper, model
- Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002
- Chanel Iman (African-American father), fashion model[23]
- Beverly Johnson, model
- Jari Jones, model and trans activist
- Toccara Jones, model
- Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019[24]
- Donyale Luna, model and actress
- Eva Marcille, fashion model
- Kara McCullough, Miss USA 2017[25]
- Demetria McKinney, actress and model
- Nana Meriwether (African-American father), Miss USA 2012
- Draya Michele, model
- Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993
- Fionnghuala O'Reilly, Irish American model
- Sofia Richie (African-American father), fashion model[26]
- Jasmine Sanders, model
- Neferteri Shepherd, model
- Kimora Lee Simmons (half Korean, half African American)
- Naomi Sims, model and businesswoman
- Chelsi Smith (African-American father), Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995
- 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
- Eugena Washington, model
- Veronica Webb, model
Fashion designers[edit]
- Virgil Abloh
- Karl Davis
- Kanye West
- Rasheeda
- Mychael Knight
- Pepper LaBeija
- Willi Smith
- Kimora Lee Simmons
- Stephen Burrows
Food[edit]
- Edna Lewis[27]
- B. Smith
- Hercules Posey
- Mashama Bailey[28]
- Ashleigh Shanti
- Nyesha Arrington
- Michael W. Twitty
Businesspeople and entrepreneurs[edit]
Sports executives and businesspeople[edit]
- Katrina Adams, current president of the United States Tennis Association
- Koby Altman, current General manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers[29]
- 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[30]
- Rube Foster, former executive of the Chicago American Giants
- Rod Higgins, former president of Basketball Operations for the Charlotte Bobcats
- 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
- 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[31][32]
- Michael Jordan, current principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets[33]
- Billy King, former general manager of the Brooklyn Nets
- Don King, former boxing promoter
- Billy Knight, former general manager and executive vice president of the Atlanta Hawks
- Billy McKinney, former vice president of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons, Executive vice president for both Seattle SuperSonics and Seattle Storm
- 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[edit]
- 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, co-founder of 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
- Kenton Clarke, CEO, Computer Consulting Associates International Inc.
- Demmette Guidry, music industry executive
- Griffin Sisters, vaudeville performers and entrepreneurs
- 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, philanthropist, and activist
- Gertrude Pocte Geddes Willis, owner of the Gertrude Geddes Willis Life Insurance Company and Gertrude Geddes Willis Funeral Home
Cinematographers[edit]
B[edit]
- Charles Burnett, cinematographer, director
D[edit]
- Ernest Dickerson, cinematographer
H[edit]
- James E. Hinton, cinematographer
J[edit]
- Arthur Jafa, cinematographer
K[edit]
- Kira Kelly, cinematographer
M[edit]
- Jessie Maple, cinematographer
- Janks Morton, cinematographer
S[edit]
- Malik Hassan Sayeed, cinematographer
Y[edit]
- Bradford Young, cinematographer
Civil rights leaders and activists[edit]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A[edit]
- Ralph Abernathy, civil rights activist and minister
- Muhammad Ali, civil rights activist
- Maya Angelou, civil rights activist, writer, poet
B[edit]
- Ella Baker, civil rights activist
- James Baldwin, civil rights activist, novelist, playwright
- Marion Barry, civil rights activist, politician
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Angela Davis, civil rights activist, academic, and author
- Ossie Davis, civil rights activist
- Ruby Dee, civil rights activist
- Doris Derby, civil rights activist, photographer
- Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, black rights activist, women's rights activist, organizer
E[edit]
- Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights activist
- Charles Evers, civil rights activist
- Medgar Evers, civil rights activist
- Myrlie Evers-Williams, civil rights activist
F[edit]
- James L. Farmer Jr., civil rights activist
- Walter E. Fauntroy, civil rights activist
- Sarah Mae Flemming, civil rights activist
- James Forman, civil rights activist
- Aretha Franklin, 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[edit]
- Fred Gray, civil rights lawyer
- Dick Gregory, civil rights activist
H[edit]
- 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, 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[edit]
- George Jackson, civil rights activist, author
- Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist
- 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Bernard Lafayette, civil rights activist, organizer
- Sarah Willie Layton, suffragist, civil rights 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[edit]
- 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, civil rights activist, educator
- Elijah Muhammad, civil rights leader
- Pauli Murray, civil rights activist, lawyer, author, priest
N[edit]
- 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[edit]
- James Orange, civil rights activist
P[edit]
- Rosa Parks, activist, NCAAP official, Montgomery Bus Boycott inspiration[34]
- James Peck, civil rights activist
- Adam Clayton Powell Jr., civil rights activist, pastor
- Gloria Johnson-Powell, civil rights activist
R[edit]
- 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, 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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Harriet Tubman, abolitionist and humanitarian
- Samuel Wilbert Tucker, civil rights activist, lawyer
V[edit]
- C. T. Vivian, civil rights activist, author, minister
W[edit]
- Wyatt Tee Walker, pastor, civil rights leader
- Booker T. Washington, educator, founder of Tuskegee University[35]
- 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[edit]
- Malcolm X, human rights activist, minister
Y[edit]
- Andrew Young, politician, diplomat, and activist
- Whitney Young, civil rights activist
- Sammy Younge Jr., civil rights activist
Government and politics[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Barack Obama, (Kenyan-American father) 2009–2017, 44th president of the United States
Vice president[edit]
- Kamala Harris, (Jamaican-American father) 2021–present, 49th vice president of the United States
Supreme Court Justices[edit]
- Thurgood Marshall, 1967–1991
- Clarence Thomas, 1991–present
- Ketanji Brown Jackson, 2022–present
Governors[edit]
- 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.[36]
Other political fields[edit]
- Stephen Bates, first African American sheriff in the state of Vermont.
- 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.[37][38]
- Mazi Melesa Pilip, Ethiopian-born American politician
- Dr. Kimbery A. McClain, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Housing of Urban Developement[39]
Health care[edit]
- Horace Signor Brannon, physician
Historical[edit]
Journalism and media[edit]
.jpg)
- JoNina Abron-Ervin, journalist and academic
- Daisy Bates, journalist
- Ed Bradley, former host of 60 Minutes, on CBS
- James Brown, host of The NFL Today on CBS
- Victor Blackwell, CNN news anchor
- Cari Champion, journalist, host of ESPN's SportsCenter.[40]
- Ta-Nehisi Coates, author, journalist
- Sway Calloway, journalist, radio personality.
- Elle Duncan (African-American father), sports anchor for ESPN's SportsCenter.[41]
- Harris Faulkner, television host and anchor for Fox News.[42]
- Bryant Gumbel, host of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
- Charlamagne tha God, radio personality, television personality, radio host of The Breakfast Club.
- Greg Gumbel, sportscaster for NFL on CBS
- Nia-Malika Henderson, CNN political reporter
- Lester Holt, journalist and anchor for NBC News[43]
- Marc Lamont Hill, journalist-newscaster, political commentator employer of Al Jazeera English
- Jemele Hill, sports journalist for ESPN's The Undefeated
- Jay Harris, journalist and anchor for ESPN
- Omar Jimenez, journalist
- 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[44]
- 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, commentator for TV One
- Zerlina Maxwell, MSNBC political analyst
- Sophia A. Nelson, columnist[45]
- Candace Owens, conservative commentator, regularly appears on Fox News
- Rob Parker, sports analysis for Fox Sports
- Leonard Pitts, journalist for the Miami Herald
- April Ryan, journalist
- Eugene Robinson, 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner, columnist and associate editor of The Washington Post
- Max Robinson, broadcast journalist for ABC World News Tonight
- Al Roker, journalist
- 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, former lead news anchor for CNN
- Sara Sidner, journalist, correspondent for CNN[46]
- 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[edit]
_(cropped).jpg)
- 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, lawyer, journalist
- Derrick Bell, lawyer, professor, civil rights activist
- 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, lawyer, activist, businessperson, deacon, first African-American appointed as a judge in Florida
- Elaine Denniston, lawyer, supported the Apollo program as a keypunch operator
- 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, civil rights lawyer
- 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, 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
- 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, lawyer
Military[edit]
Ministers and other religious leaders[edit]
- Ralph Abernathy
- Richard Allen
- Thea Bowman
- Alexander Crummell
- Henriette DeLille
- Louis Farrakhan[47]
- 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 and Juliette Toussaint
- T. D. Jakes
- Benjamin Hooks
- Vashti Murphy McKenzie
- Raphael G. Warnock
- Calvin O. Butts III
- Kirbyjon Caldwell
- Delman Coates
- Fred Luter Jr.
Novelists and poets[edit]
- Ron Allen, poet, playwright
- Elizabeth Alexander, poet, essayist, playwright
- Maya Angelou, 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, 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, novelist, poet, and essayist
- Sarah E. Wright, novelist
- Frank Yerby, novelist
- Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor
- Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic
Publishers[edit]
- 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, co-founder of Writers and Readers Cooperative
Singers and musicians[edit]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A[edit]
- Aaliyah: R&B, pop
- Johnny Ace: R&B
- Armenta Adams: Classical pianist
- 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: R&B, pop, jazz
- Roy Ayers: Jazz, funk, disco, R&B, hip hop
- Ayo & Teo: (African American father) Hip hop, dance, trap
- Ashanti: R&B
- Afroman: Hip hop
B[edit]
- Cardi B: Hip hop
- Babyface: R&B
- Anthony Brown: Gospel
- Erykah Badu: Neo soul, R&B, funk, hip hop
- Kim Burrell: Gospel
- Lil Baby: Hip hop
- Chloe Bailey: R&B, hip-hop, soul
- Halle Bailey: R&B, hip-hop, soul, Disney
- Mildred Bailey: Jazz
- Pearl Bailey: Vaudeville
- Anita Baker, R&B, soul
- Josephine Baker: Pop, jazz
- Lavern Baker: R&B
- Erica Banks: Hip hop, Southern hip hop
- 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: R&B, pop[48]
- 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: Funk, soul, R&B
- Tamar Braxton: R&B, soul, pop, gospel[49]
- 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: 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: Hip hop
- Boosie Badazz: Southern hip hop
- Rich Boy: Hip hop
- Young Buck: Hip hop
- Joe Budden: Hip hop
C[edit]
- Ca$h Out: Hip hop
- C-Murder: Hip hop
- Cassidy: Hip hop
- Doja Cat: Hip hop, R&B, pop
- Erica Campbell: Gospel
- Tina Campbell: Gospel
- Cab Calloway: Jazz
- 2 Chainz: Hip hop, dirty South/Southern hip hop
- Cam'ron: Hip hop
- Mariah Carey: R&B, pop, Hip hop, soul
- Benny Carter: Jazz
- Betty Carter: Jazz
- Ron Carter: Jazz
- Shawn Carter, known as Jay-Z: Hip hop
- Tracy Chapman: Folk
- Paul Chambers: Jazz
- Ray Charles: 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
- Young Chop: Hip hop, drill
- 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, 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: 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: Christian hip hop
- Cuban Doll: Hip hop, Southern hip hop
D[edit]
- Chuck D: Hip Hop
- Roscoe Dash: Hip hop
- Miles Davis: Jazz
- Sammy Davis Jr.: Pop, jazz
- Jimmy Dawkins: Blues
- 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
- Warren "Baby" Dodds: Jazz
- Young Dolph: Hip hop
- Eric Dolphy: Jazz
- Donnis: Hip hop
- Nate Dogg: Hip hop, gangsta rap, R&B
- Snoop Dogg: Hip hop, funk, gangsta rap
- Fats Domino: Rock and roll, R&B
- Dr. Dre: Hip hop
- 42 Dugg: Hip hop, trap
- Lil Durk: Hip hop, drill
- Desiigner: Hip hop, trap
- Derek Minor: Christian hip hop
- DreamDoll: Hip hop
- Dorrough: Hip hop
- Duke Deuce: Hip hop
- Doechii: Hip hop
E[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Art Farmer: Jazz
- Mickey Fields: Jazz
- Ella Fitzgerald: Jazz
- Roberta Flack: Jazz, pop
- Eddie Floyd: R&B, soul
- Aretha Franklin: 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: Hip hop, trap, R&B
- Fabolous: Hip hop
- Flo Rida: Hip hop
- Sonny Fortune: Jazz
- Jamie Foxx: R&B
- Flavor Flav: Hip hop
- Fivio Foreign: Hip hop
- Big Freedia: Bounce
- Flame: Christian hip hop
- Finesse2tymes: Hip hop
- Foogiano: Hip hop
- Fredo Bang: Hip hop
G[edit]
- Polo G: Hip hop, drill
- Slim Gaillard: Jazz
- Marvin Gaye: R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop
- Gloria Gaynor: Disco, R&B
- 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: Hip hop
- George Benson: Singer
- Buddy Guy: Blues
- Phil Guy: Blues
H[edit]
- Andrew Hill: Jazz
- Adelaide Hall: Jazz
- Edmond Hall: Jazz
- Willie Hall: R&B, soul, funk
- Halsey: Pop
- 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[50]
- Lauryn Hill: R&B, neo soul, folk
- 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: Hip hop
- Hurricane Chris: Hip hop
I[edit]
- James Ingram: R&B, pop, soul
- Luther Ingram: R&B, soul
- Ronald Isley: R&B, soul
- T.I.: Hip hop
- Ice Cube: Hip Hop
- Ice-T: Hip hop
J[edit]
- Ray J: R&B
- Stevie J: Hip hop, R&B
- Bernard Jackson: R&B
- Chuck Jackson: R&B
- Curtis Jackson: Hip Hop, professionally known as 50 Cent
- 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: 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
- Coco Jones: R&B
- Booker T. Jones: R&B, soul, blues
- Elvin Jones: Jazz
- Etta Jones: Jazz
- Hank Jones: Jazz
- 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: Pop, rock, R&B
- J. J. Johnson: Jazz
- Robert Johnson: Blues
- Syl Johnson: R&B, blues
- Little Willie John: R&B, soul
- Charles Jenkins: Gospel
- 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: Hip hop
- Jibbs: Hip hop
- Juelz Santana: Hip hop
K[edit]
- Lil Keed: Hip hop
- Eddie Kendricks: R&B, soul, disco
- Alicia Keys (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop[51]
- 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: R&B, pop
- Wiz Khalifa: Hip hop
- Kid Cudi: Hip hop
- Kehlani (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop[52]
- Solange Knowles: R&B, soul, funk[53]
- 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: Christian hip hop
L[edit]
- 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: 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: 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: R&B
- Trip Lee: Christian hip hop, Southern hip hop
- Lil Scrappy: Hip hop
M[edit]
- 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: R&B, pop
- Johnny Mathis: Pop, jazz
- Curtis Mayfield: Soul, funk, R&B
- 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 (African-American Mother): Hip hop, R&B
- Janelle Monae: Funk, R&B
- Tamela Mann: Gospel
- Mulatto: Hip hop
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy: Blues
- Mýa: R&B (African American father, Italian mother)
- Monica: R&B
- Mario: R&B
- Lil' Mo: R&B, hip hop
- Method Man: Hip hop
- Maliibu Miitch: Hip hop (African American, Vietnamese and Filipino)
- Mims: Hip hop
- Maino: Hip hop
- Money Man: Hip hop
N[edit]
- Tech N9ne: Hip hop
- 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: 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[edit]
- Frank Ocean: LGBT R&B
- Jeffrey Osborne: Soul, R&B
- Odetta: Blues, jazz
- Offset: Hip hop
- Omarion: R&B
- OJ da Juiceman: Hip hop
- OMB Peezy: Hip hop
P[edit]
- 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
- Wilson Pickett: R&B, soul
- Plies: Hip hop
- Billy Preston: R&B, soul, funk
- 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: Pop
- Petey Pablo: Hip hop
Q[edit]
- Rich Homie Quan: Hip hop
- Quavo: Hip hop
- DJ Quik: Hip hop
- Quando Rondo: Hip hop
R[edit]
- Raheem Jarbo: Hip Hop
- Rakim: Hip Hop
- Raz-B: R&B
- Sun Ra: Jazz
- Lou Rawls: Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz, blues
- Ma Rainey: Blues
- Jimmy Reed: Blues
- Louisiana Red: Blues
- Sexyy Red: Hip hop, trap, Midwest hip hop
- 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, Southern hip hop
- 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: Hip hop, rap
- Ja Rule: Hip hop
- Rubi Rose: Hip hop
- Raekwon: Hip hop
- Renni Rucci: Hip hop
S[edit]
- Pharoah Sanders: Jazz
- Marvin Sapp: Gospel
- Ruben Studdard: Singer
- Saweetie: Hip hop (African American father, Chinese and Filipino mother)[54]
- 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: 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: 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
- Mariah the Scientist: R&B
T[edit]
- Tinashe: R&B, hip hop, pop
- TLC: R&B, Pop
- Rozonda Thomas: R&B[55]
- Pusha T: Hip hop
- 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[56][57]
- 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[edit]
V[edit]
- 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[edit]
- 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
- Glodean White: R&B, soul, funk, disco
- Maurice White: Soul, funk, R&B, jazz
- CeCe Winans: Gospel, R&B
- Andre Williams: R&B, blues
- Michelle Williams: R&B, gospel, pop, soul
- Otis Williams: R&B, soul, disco
- Paul Williams: R&B, soul
- Pharrell Williams: Hip hop, R&B, funk, pop
- Tony Williams: Jazz
- Eddie Willis: Soul, R&B
- Wesley Willis: Punk rock
- Charlie Wilson: R&B, hip hop, soul, funk
- Gerald Wilson: Jazz, pop
- Mary Wilson: R&B, soul, pop, funk
- 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[58]
- 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: Hip hop
- Juice WRLD: Hip hop, R&B, trap
- Webbie: Hip hop
- Fetty Wap: Hip hop
X[edit]
- XXXTentacion : Hip hop, SoundCloud rap, lo-fi
- Xzibit: Hip hop
Y[edit]
- Ne-Yo: R&B
- Yo Gotti: Hip hop
- Lester Young: Jazz
- Yung Joc: Hip hop
- Young Dro: Hip hop
- Young Buck: Hip hop
Z[edit]
- Jay-Z: Hip hop
Science and mathematics[edit]
- 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[edit]
Baseball[edit]
.jpg)
.jpg)
A[edit]
- Hank Aaron, retired professional baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame[59]
- Tommie Aaron
- Tommie Agee
- Willie Aikens
- Gary Alexander
- Matt Alexander
- Ted Alexander
- Dick Allen
- Greg Allen
- Garvin Alston
- George Altman
- Garret Anderson
- Marlon Anderson
- Chris Archer
B[edit]
- Harold Baines
- Dusty Baker
- Gene Baker
- James Baldwin
- Dan Bankhead
- Sam Bankhead
- Ernie Banks
- 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
- 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[edit]
- Lorenzo Cain
- Mike Cameron
- Roy Campanella
- Chris Carter
- Joe Carter
- Nate Colbert
- Vince Coleman
- Cecil Cooper
- Al Cowens
- Carl Crawford
- Willie Crawford
D[edit]
- Eric Davis
- Khris Davis
- Mo'ne Davis
- Rajai Davis
- Tommy Davis
- Willie Davis
- Andre Dawson
- Ian Desmond
- Mike Devereaux
- Chris Dickerson
- Larry Doby
- Al Downing
- Dan Driessen
- Elijah Dukes
- Taylor Duncan
- Shawon Dunston
- Ray Durham
- Leon Durham
- Jermaine Dye
- Jarrod Dyson
E[edit]
F[edit]
- Eric Farris
- Mike Felder
- Cecil Fielder
- Prince Fielder
- Chone Figgins
- Curt Flood
- Cliff Floyd
- George Foster
- Rube Foster
- Dexter Fowler
G[edit]
- Ron Gant
- Ralph Garr
- Amir Garrett
- Cito Gaston
- Bob Gibson
- Jim Gilliam
- Doug Glanville
- Dwight Gooden
- Brian Goodwin
- Danny Goodwin
- Tom Goodwin
- Dee Gordon—professional baseball player[60]
- Tom Gordon—former professional baseball player
- Curtis Granderson—professional baseball player[61]
- 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[edit]
- 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—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[edit]
- Monte Irvin—retired professional baseball player, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
J[edit]
- Austin Jackson—professional baseball player
- Aaron Judge—professional baseball player[62]
- Bo Jackson—former professional baseball player
- Edwin Jackson—professional baseball player
- 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[63][64]
- Sam Jethroe—former professional baseball player
- Alex Johnson—retired professional baseball player
- Charles Johnson—former professional baseball player
- Cliff Johnson—former professional baseball player
- Sam Jethroe—former professional baseball player
- Alex Johnson—former professional baseball player
- Charles Johnson—former professional baseball player
- Cliff Johnson—former professional baseball player
- Micah Johnson—professional baseball player
- Adam Jones—professional baseball player
- Cleon Jones—former professional baseball player
- Gary Jones—professional baseball manager
- Ruppert Jones—retired professional baseball player
- Sam Jones—former professional baseball player
- David Justice—retired professional baseball player
K[edit]
- Matt Kemp—professional baseball player[65]
- Howie Kendrick—professional baseball player
- Wayne Kirby—retired professional baseball player
L[edit]
- Buck Leonard, former professional baseball player
P[edit]
- Satchel Paige, former professional baseball player
R[edit]
- Jackie Robinson, former professional baseball player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, first African American to play in Major league Baseball[66]
- Frank Robinson, former professional baseball player
S[edit]
- CC Sabathia, professional baseball player
- Giancarlo Stanton, professional baseball player[67][68]
- Gary Sheffield, retired professional baseball player
- Justus Sheffield, professional baseball player
M[edit]
- Lee May – former professional baseball player
- Andrew McCutchen – professional baseball player
- Willie McCovey – former professional baseball player
- Joe Morgan – retired professional baseball player
N[edit]
- Don Newcombe – former professional baseball player
W[edit]
- Dave Winfield – retired professional baseball player
- Jerome Williams – baseball player
Basketball[edit]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
A[edit]
- 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[69]
- LaMarcus Aldridge - professional basketball player[70]
- Cliff Alexander - professional basketball player
- Kwame Alexander - professional basketball player
- Jarrett Allen - professional basketball player[71]
- Jerome Allen - former professional basketball player
- Lavoy Allen - professional basketball player[72]
- Ray Allen - retired professional basketball player[73]
- Tony Allen - professional basketball player[74]
- Alan Anderson - professional basketball player
- James Anderson - professional basketball player
- Justin Anderson - professional basketball player
- Kenny Anderson - former professional basketball player
- Nick Anderson - retired professional basketball player
- Carmelo Anthony - professional basketball player, (African-American mother)[75][76]
- 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[edit]
- Thurl Bailey—former professional basketball player
- Wade Baldwin IV—professional basketball player
- Lonzo Ball (African-American father)—professional basketball player[77]
- 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[78]
- Don Barksdale—former professional basketball player
- Harrison Barnes—professional basketball player
- Matt Barnes (African American father)—retired professional basketball player[79]
- 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[80]
- Marvin Bagley—professional basketball player
- Mikal Bridges—professional basketball player
- Miles Bridges—professional basketball player
- Bruce Brown—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[81]
- Antonio Blakeney—professional basketball player[82]
- James Blackmon Jr.—professional basketball player
- Thomas Bryant—professional basketball player
- Isaiah Briscoe—professional basketball player
- Tony Bradley—professional basketball player
- 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[83]
- Rasual Butler—former professional basketball player
- 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[84]
- Kwame Brown—professional basketball player[85]
- Trey Burke—professional basketball player[86]
- Reggie Bullock—professional basketball player[87]
- Chauncey Billups—retired professional basketball player[88]
- Muggsy Bogues—retired professional basketball player
- Terrell Brandon—retired professional basketball player
- Eric Bledsoe—professional basketball player[89]
- Patrick Beverley—professional basketball player
- Avery Bradley—professional basketball player
- Chauncey Billups
C[edit]
- 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[90]
- Wendell Carter Jr. - professional basketball player
- DeMarcus Cousins