Hank Aaron (born 1934), Baseball Hall of Famer<ref>[1] "Now an African-American baseball executive, he remains major league baseball’s all-time home run hitter."</ref>
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947), basketball player<ref>[2]</ref>
Ralph Abernathy (1936-1996), civil rights leader<ref>[3] "He was an African-American minister, and civil rights leader."</ref>
Muhal Richard Abrams (born 1930), musician<ref>[4]</ref>
Yolanda Adams (born 1962), one of the most popular gospel music artists of the contemporary period<ref>[5]</ref>
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), dancer<ref>[6] "He was an African-American dancer and choreographer, and founding director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater."</ref>
Muhammad Ali (born 1942), boxer, war protester, member of the Nation of Islam, civil rights protester, and poet<ref>[7]</ref>
Richard Allen (1760-1831), ex-slave, religious leader, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church<ref>[8] "A Black Ex-Slave in Early America's White Society Preserves His Cultural Identity by Creating Separate Institutions"</ref>
Amerie (born 1980), R&B singer<ref>[9] "Half Korean, half African-American, Amerie has lived all over the world..."</ref>
Frank J. Anderson (born 1938?), first African-American Sheriff of Marion County, Indiana [10]
Ivie Anderson (1904-1945), jazz singer with Duke Ellington's band<ref>[11] "She was an African-American singer."</ref>
Marian Anderson (1897-1993), famous opera and concert singer<ref>[12] "Like many African American artists, Marian Anderson..."</ref>
Maya Angelou (born 1928), author and poet<ref>[13] "Maya Angelou, poet, was among the first African-American women to hit the bestsellers lists..."</ref>
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971), jazz musician<ref>[14] "He was an African-American jazz, cornet, and trumpet player, singer, bandleader, and entertainer."</ref>
Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), tennis star and civil rights activist<ref>[15] "African Americans, such as Arthur Ashe..."</ref>
Emmett Ashford (1914-1980), first African-American umpire in organized baseball<ref>[16]</ref>
Assata Shakur (born 1947), former political activist of the Black Panther Party
Crispus Attucks (1723-1770), killed in the Boston Massacre<ref>[17]</ref>

[edit] B

James Baldwin (1924-1987), author
David Baker (born 1931), composer
Josephine Baker (1906-1975), singer, entertainer
Tyra Banks entertainer
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), 18th century astronomer
Amiri Baraka (born 1934), writer, earlier known as LeRoi Jones
Charles Barkley (born 1963), NBA basketball power forward
Fantasia Barrino (1984 - ) Grammy-nominated soul singer who rose to fame in 2004, as the winner of the third season of the television series American Idol<ref>Noted as one of several "African Americans" at [18]</ref>
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), artist
Count Basie (1904-1984), pianist, band leader
Angela Bassett (born 1958) Oscar-nominated actress
Joe Bataan latin soul/funk legend
Daisy Bates (1914-1999), civil rights leader
The Honorable Deborah A. Batts (born 1947), Federal District Judge and "out" lesbian
Romare Bearden, artist
Sidney Bechet (1897-1959), jazz musician
Earl S. Bell, (born 1977), Building Designer, Architectural Theorist and Inventor
George Benson (born 1943), jazz guitarist, vocalist and composer
Halle Berry (born 1966), actress<ref>[19] "I am happy that I - as a black woman - can work in an industry where this wouldn't have been possible 15 years ago." [20] ""As a woman first, and of colour, too, I have been discriminated against for both; I feel very attached to this material," said Berry."</ref>
Eubie Blake (1883-1983), composer and musician
Mary J. Blige, Grammy Award-winning R&B/hip-hop soul singer, songwriter and producer
Guion Bluford (born 1942), the first African American in space
Ruth Bolden (1910-2004), librarian and civil rights worker
Harry Boomer, Newscaster
Bo Diddley (born 1928)) , rock and roll star
Big Daddy Kane (born 1968), hip hop pioneer, a founding member of the legendary Juice Crew
Thomas (Tom) Bradley (1917–1998) five term mayor of Los Angeles (1973-1993)
Andre Braugher (1962 - ) Emmy-winning film/television actor<ref>Braugher - [21] "At least one of my favorite Black actors took home a prize... Andre Braugher."</ref>
Toni Braxton
Carol Moseley Braun (born 1947), former senator and presidential candidate
Arthur M. Brazier, Minister, community activist, and civil rights leader
Ruby Bridges, first black elementary school child to attend a white school in Louisiana
Edward Brooke, former Massachusetts Attorney General, first African American elected to the United States Senate (November 8, 1966).
Shelton Brooks (1886-1975), songwriter and entertainer
Bobby Brown
Charlotte Hawkins Brown (1883-1962), educator
Chris Brown (born May 1989), singer, dancer, songwriter
James Brown (born 1933), R&B, soul and funk musician<ref>[22] "By 1968, James Brown was very much more than an important musician; he was a major African-American icon."</ref>
Jim Brown (born 1936), football legend, actor, activist
Ron Brown (1941-1996), served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee becoming the first African American to lead a major American political party.
Sterling A. Brown (1901-1989), poet, literary critic, professor, poet laureate of the District of Columbia
Ralph Bunche (1904-1971), diplomat, Nobel Laureate 1950

[edit] C

Shirley Caesar (born 1938), gospel singer and Christian pastor<ref>[23]</ref>
Cab Calloway (1907-1994), jazz singer/band leader<ref>[24] "Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra becomes the first African American Jazz Orchestra to tour the south."</ref>
Nick Cannon (born 1980), actor/singer<ref>[25] "In fact, Cannon is considered by many to be the hottest young African American star..."</ref>
Irene Cara (born 1959), singer, actress, youngest African-American/Hispanic recipient of an Academy Award (Oscar)
Mariah Carey (born 1970), R&B/Hip Hop/Pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress<ref>[26] "I've always said that my father is black and my mother is Irish. But people don't understand... They can't fathom that I'm African American, Venezuelan and Irish."</ref>
Betty Carter (1930-1998), singer<ref>[27] "She was an African-American singer and entertainer."</ref>
Cassie (born 1986), an R&B singer known for her song Me & U.
George Washington Carver (1860-1943), plant scientist<ref>[28] "becoming Iowa State's first African American faculty member..."</ref>
Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999), basketball legend<ref>[29] "He was an African-American basketball player who won seven consecutive NBA scoring titles and is the NBA's third all-time leading scorer."</ref>
Ray Charles (1930-2004), pop musician<ref>[30] "He was an African-American singer, composer, and arranger."</ref>
Dave Chappelle actor, comedian<ref>[31] "Dave Chappelle is an African-American comedian"</ref>
Don Cheadle (born 1964), Academy Award-nominated actor<ref>[32]</ref>
Morris Chestnut (born 1969), actor
Charles W. Chesnutt (1858-1932), author<ref>[33] "As the first African-American fiction writer to achieve a national reputation, Ohio native Charles W. Chesnutt..."</ref>
Chingy (born 1980), rapper<ref>[34]</ref>
Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) politician, educator and author. first African-American United States congresswoman<ref>[35]</ref>
Clarence 13X (1928-1969), religious leader, also known as Clarence Smith<ref>[36]</ref>
Maurice Clarett Convict
Eldridge Cleaver (1935-1998), Black Panther<ref>[37]</ref>
Emanuel Cleaver (born 1944), former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and U.S. House member-elect<ref>[38]</ref> "He's one of five new African-American..."</ref>
George Clinton (born 1940), funk musician and co-founder<ref>[39]</ref>
Alice Coachman, first African-American woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal<ref>[40] "America's First African American Woman to Win Olympic Gold"</ref>
Tom Colbert (born 1949), first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Justice<ref>[41]</ref>
Keyshia Cole, singer<ref>[42]</ref>
Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) first African-American woman to become an airplane pilot and the first African-American licensed pilot in the world<ref>[43]</ref>
Gary Coleman (born 1968) actor<ref>[44]</ref>
John Coltrane (1926-1967), jazz musician<ref>[45]</ref>
Common (rapper) (born 1972), hip hop artist
Ward Connerly (born 1939), University of California Regent, political activist<ref>[46]</ref>
John Conyers (born 1929), congressman<ref>[47] "He is an African-American politician and lawyer."</ref>
Marvel Cooke (1903-2000), journalist, writer, civil rights activist<ref>[48] "She was an African-American journalist, writer, and civil rights activist."</ref>
Sam Cooke (1931-1964) singer<ref>[49] "Cooke was one of the first African American artists to run his own..."</ref>
Coolio (born 1963), rapper<ref>[50]</ref>
Roque Cordero (born 1917), composer<ref>[51]</ref>
Bill Cosby (born 1937), actor, comic, entertainer<ref>[52]</ref>
William Saunders Crowdy, early Black Hebrew Israelite<ref>[53] "Crowdy, himself an African American, taught that Africans were descended from the lost tribes of Israel and as such were true Jews."</ref>

[edit] D

Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour, 1960), rapper, activist, composer, author, producer<ref>[54]</ref>
Da Brat (born 1974), hip hop artist
Damon Dash (born 1971) label executive, former CEO and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records<ref>[55]</ref>
Angela Davis (born 1944), author and activist<ref>[56] "She is an African-American educator and political activist."</ref>
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., general<ref>[57] "THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL OFFICER IN THE REGULAR ARMY AND IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES"</ref>
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (1912-2002), military airman<ref>[58] "He was an African-American Army officer and military activist."</ref>
Henrietta Vinton Davis (1860-1941) elocutionist, dramatist, and impersonator, UNIA International Organizer and Black Star Line VP.<ref>[59] "In 1878 she becomes the first African-American woman employed by the Office of the..."</ref>
Miles Davis (1926-1991), jazz musician<ref>[60] "He was an African-American trumpet player and bandleader, one of the most innovative, influential, and respected figures in the history of jazz"</ref>
Ossie Davis (1917-2005), actor and activist<ref>[61] "an African-American actor, writer, producer, and director."</ref>
Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–1990), entertainer<ref>[62] "He was an African-American impressionist, actor, and song-and-dance man."</ref>
Dominique Dawes (born 1976), first African American female gymnast to medal in an Olympics (Gold (Team) and Bronze (Floor) Medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games)<ref>[63] "About Dominique Dawes: Dominique Dawes continues to inspire, motivate and lead after becoming the first African-American gymnast to win an individual..."</ref>
Ruby Dee (born 1924), actor and activist<ref>[64]</ref>
Martin Delany (1812-1885), abolitionist<ref>[65] "African American abolitionist, physician, and editor in the pre-Civil War period"</ref>
Samuel R. Delany (born 1942), novelist<ref>[66] "Although he has written much outside the genre, Samuel R. Delany is, along with Octavia Butler, one of two African Americans who, as writers, rank near the..."</ref>
Oscar Stanton De Priest (1871-1951), first black Congressman elected in the 20th century<ref>[67] "On November 6, 1928, Oscar DePriest became the first African American to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the twentieth century."</ref>
Abdoulaye Diakite (born 1950), djembe master who helped pioneer the growth of West African drumming and dancing in the US
Chris Dickerson (born 1939), bodybuilder<ref>[68] "Dickerson became the first African American to win that AAU title"</ref>
Taye Diggs, actor<ref>[69] "How tough is it as an African American actor to get a bigger role in a commercial film when you’re one of the leading black actors in the African American communities?"</ref>
Thomas Dilward, blackface minstrel show performer<ref>[70]</ref>
David Dinkins (born 1927), mayor of New York City from 1990-1993<ref>[71] "David Dinkins American politician, who served as the first African American mayor of New York City (1990–94)."</ref>
Bob Douglas, first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame<ref>[72] "First African American enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame"</ref>
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), orator and abolitionist, ex-slave<ref>[73] "The foremost African American abolitionist in antebellum America, Frederick Douglass"</ref>
Dr. Dre (born 1965), record producer, rapper, founded Death Row Records, member of NWA<ref>[74] "And with Dr. Dre -- the African American rap music mogul who discovered Eminem"</ref>
Charles R. Drew (1904-1950), physician, pioneer of blood transfusion techniques<ref>[75]</ref>
W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963), writer, activist, scholar<ref>[76]</ref>
Bill Duke (b. 1943), actor, director, producer
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), poet<ref>[77] "Paul Laurence Dunbar was the first African-American to gain national eminence as a poet."</ref>
Oscar Dunn, first African American lieutenant governor of a US state (Louisiana)<ref>[78] "He was the first African American Lieutenant Governor in United States history, serving in Louisiana from 1868 to 1872."</ref>

[edit] E

Julius Eastman (1940-1991), composer and musician
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds (born 1958), music producer and performer
Duke Ellington (1899-1974), jazz composer and musician
Missy Elliott, (born 1971), hip hop artist
Ralph Ellison (1914-1994), writer
Julius Erving (born 1950), basketball player
Little Eva (1943-2003), pop singer
Medgar Evers (1925-1963), civil rights activist
Eazy-E (1963-1995, a rapper known from N.W.A.

[edit] F

James L. Farmer, Jr. (1920-1999), civil rights activist
Louis Farrakhan (born 1933), minister, Nation of Islam leader
Jessie Fauset (1882-1961), novelist
Colin Ferguson (born 1958), murdered six people on the Long Island Rail Road in 1993
50 Cent (born 1975), New York City rapper
Laurence Fishburne (born 1961), actor, the first African-American to play the title role of Othello on-screen<ref>[79]</ref>
Lillian E. Fishburne (born 1949), first African-American female to be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), singer, often referred to as the "First Lady of Song"
Flavor Flav (born 1959), hip hop artist, reality show star
Lil' Flip (born 1981), rapper
George Foreman (born 1949), boxer, TV pitchman, minister
John R. Fox (1918-1944), soldier, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997 for actions during World War II
Jamie Foxx (born 1967), actor, musician
Foxy Brown (born 1979), rapper
Aretha Franklin (born 1942), singer, often referred to as the "Queen of Soul"<ref>[80] African American registry</ref>
Kirk Franklin (born 1970), contemporary gospel artist & music innovator
Shirley Franklin first female mayor of Atlanta and first African-American woman elected mayor of any major Southern U.S. city
Morgan Freeman (born 1937), actor

[edit] G

Ernest Gaines (born 1933), fiction writer<ref>[81] "He is an African-American writer and educator."</ref>
Kenny Gamble (born 1943), songwriter, producer
Bill Garrett (William Leon Garrett, 1929-1974), first African-American basketball player in the Big Ten Conference
Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), political leader and nationalist
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (born 1950), literary critic and Harvard professor
Marla Gibbs (born 1931), actress (The Jeffersons and 227)
Althea Gibson (1927-2003), first African-American woman to compete on the world tennis tour
Leon Gilbert, Lieutenant, soldier
Sam Gilliam (born 1933), visual artist
Bob Gibson (born 1935), Baseball Hall of Famer
Danny Glover (born 1946), actor
Whoopi Goldberg (born 1950), actress and activist
Cuba Gooding Jr. (born 1968), actor
Louis Gossett, Jr. (born 1936), actor
Grandmaster Flash (born 1958), DJ and early hip hop pioneer
Denyce Graves (born 1963), opera singer
Reverend Al Green (born 1946), gospel and soul music singer
Pam Grier (born 1949) - actress [82] "Grier became not only the first African-American action heroine but the hyperbolic symbol of the women's liberation movement and the sexual revolution..."
Bryant Gumbel (born 1948), NBC and CBS news anchor

[edit] H

Benjamin Hacker, (1935-2003), First U.S. Naval Flight Officer (NFO) to achieve Flag rank.
Adolphus Hailstork (born 1941), composer
MC Hammer (born 1962), 1980s and early 1990s rapper
W.C. Handy (1873-1958), blues composer
Steve Harris (born 1965), actor
Wood Harris (born 1969), actor, young brother of precedent
Jackée Harry (born 1956), actress
Isaac Hayes (born 1942), actor, composer, singer
Ted Hayes, homeless activist
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (1979-2001), Singer/Actress/Model
Bob Height, blackface minstrel show performer
Sherman Hemsley (born 1938), actor (The Jeffersons)
Fletcher Henderson, band leader, orchestrator, pianist
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970), rock and roll musician
George Herriman (1880-1944), cartoonist
Charles Hicks, blackface minstrel show performer, manager, and owner
Lauryn Hill (born 1975), rapper, singer, actress, member of the Fugees
Robert L. Hill (1892-?), black leader at Elaine Race Riot
Bell Hooks (born 1952), feminist, author, professor
Billie Holiday (1915-1959), singer
Dave Hollister R&B singer
John Lee Hooker (1917-2001), blues singer/guitarist/songwriter<ref>[83] "John Lee Hooker is one of the original innovators and kings of African American popular music, commonly called the blues."</ref>
Whitney Houston (born 1963), singer
Wayne Howard, (born 1949), first comic-book artist to receive a cover "created by" credit
Cathy Hughes, businesswomen, founder/CEO of Radio One
Langston Hughes (1902-1967), poet, 1/2 African American, 7/16 European American, and 1/16 Native American
Meredith Hunter (1951-1969), killed by a Hells Angel
Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), novelist, folklorist

[edit] I

Ice Cube (born 1969), rapper, member of NWA
Ice T, (born 1958), rapper
Allen Iverson, (born 1975), NBA basketball star, all-star guard for Philadelphia 76ers
India Arie, (born 1976), neo-soul singer-song writer

[edit] J

Ja Rule (born 1976), rapper
Beau Jack (1921-2000), boxer, two time world champion
BishopT.D. Jakes (born 1957), televangelist
Jam Master Jay (1965-2002), was the founder and DJ of Run-DMC
LeBron James (1984-), NBA basketball player
Rick James (1948-2004), musician, born James Johnson, Jr.
Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972), gospel singer
Janet Jackson (born 1966), musician, sister of Michael (see below)
Jesse Jackson (born 1941), civil rights activist and political leader
Maynard Jackson (born 1938) first Black Mayor of a southern city.
Michael Jackson (born 1958), musician
Samuel L. Jackson (1948 - ) Academy Award-nominated actor, has become a major film star and cultural icon<ref>Samuel L. Jackson - [84] "like many African-American actors of his generation, Jackson remembers Shaft as the first movie hero who looked and sounded like he did."</ref>
Tony Jackson (1876-1921), pianist & composer
Jay-Z, rapper, president of Def Jam
Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr., first African-American to reach the rank of four star general in the U.S. Air Force
Letitia James, politician
Joseph Jarman, Buddhist writer and teacher
Young Jeezy, African-American rapper
Mae Carol Jemison, first African-American woman in space
Leroy Jenkins (born 1932), composer and musician
George W. Johnson (c.1855-1914), pioneer recording artist
Jack Johnson (1878-1946), first black heavyweight champion of the world
James P. Johnson (1894-1955), pianist & composer
James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938), author, poet, folklorist, and civil rights leader
Lew Johnson blackface minstrel show owner and manager
Michael Johnson (born 1967) Olympic track and field star and world record holder
Earvin "Magic" Johnson (born 1959), basketball legend and entertainment entrepreneur
Robert Johnson (1911-1938), legendary blues guitarist
Robert L. Johnson (born 1946), media entrepreneur, first African American to be the principal owner of a major-league sports franchise (NBA's Charlotte Bobcats)
Lil Jon (born 1970), rapper and producer
Scipio Africanus Jones (1863-1943), attorney for Elaine Race Riot accused
Edward P. Jones, writer
James Earl Jones, (born 1931), African American film & stage actor
Jill Marie Jones, actor on Girlfriends
Scott Joplin (1868-1917), ragtime composer
Barbara Jordan (1936-1996), first African-American woman elected to Texas Senate
Michael Jordan (born 1963), professional basketball player
Louis Jordan (1908-1975), jazz musician and bandleader
David Joyner (born 1963), Actor / Entertainer, Actor in Barney costume for 14 years, now actor in Hip Hop Harry costume
Tom Joyner (born 1949), talk radio host of The Tom Joyner Morning Show
Hubert Julian (born 1900), aviator

[edit] K

Ulysses Kay (1917-1995), composer
Elizabeth Keckley (born 1818/19), wrote a controversial book about her time at the White House as Mary Todd Lincoln's employee and confidante.
Eddie Kendricks (1939-1992), musician, former member of The Temptations
Billy Kersands (c. 1842-1915), blackface minstrel show performer
Alan Keyes (born 1950), diplomat and only 20th century African American to become a major Republican presidential candidate
Alicia Keys, singer (Jamaican father)
Jason Kidd NBA All Star point guard, half Irish
Chris Kilmore, turntables for rock band Incubus
Lil Kim (born 1975), rapper
B.B. King (born 1925), blues musician
Coretta Scott King (1927-2006), activist and widow of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), civil rights activist, minister, Nobel laureate
Regina King (born 1971), actress
Rodney King (born 1965), motorist beaten by police, videotaped by bystander
Wallace King, blackface minstrel show performer
Gladys Knight (born 1944), R&B/soul singer
Suge Knight, hip hop music industry mogul, co-founder of Death Row Records
Beyoncé Knowles, singer, actress
Ellis O. Knox (1900-1975), first African-American to earn doctorate on West Coast (1931), educator, civil rights leader
Kool G Rap (born 1968), hip hop pioneer and member of hip hop's Juice Crew
Kurtis Blow (born 1959), one of the pioneer rappers in the recording industry, and hip hop's first mainstream star
Kurupt (born 1972), rapper
R.Kelly (born 1966) R&B singer, songwriter, producer
Ron Karenga (born 1941), activist, founder of Kwanzaa

[edit] L

Nella Larsen (1891-1964), novelist
Queen Latifah (born 1970), rapper, singer, actress
Oliver Law (1899-1937), officer in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, first African American to command white soldiers
Spike Lee (born 1957), filmmaker
Carl Lewis (born 1961), track and field legend, nine-time Olympic gold medalist
Edna Lewis (1916-2006), chef and author
John Lewis (born 1940), congressman and civil rights activist
Reginald Lewis (1942-1993), business
Joan Little (born 1953), feminist cause célèbre
LL Cool J, rapper, actor
Robert Jr. Lockwood (born 1915), blues musician
Nia Long (born 1970), actress
Lisa Lopes (1971-2002), R&B artist with TLC
Audre Lorde (1934-1992), author, poet, activist
Joe Louis (1914-1981), boxer, longest-reigning world heavyweight champion
Ludacris (born 1977), rapper

[edit] M

Bernie Mac (born 1958), actor and comedian, star of Fox Network's The Bernie Mac Show
Haki R. Madhubuti (earlier known as Don L. Lee)
Malcolm X (born 1925), Muslim Minister and Nation of Islam Spokesman
Marley Marl (born 1962), an influential pioneer hip-hop producer
James McBride, saxophonist and writer, Jewish mother, African American father
Donnie McClurkin, gospel vocalist
Elijah J. McCoy (1844–1929), inventor
Jeanine McIntosh, first African American female in the Coast Guard to earn the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Designation
Cynthia McKinney (born 1955), politician
Donovan McNabb, football player
Butterfly McQueen (1911-1995), actress
MC Lyte (born 1971), establish hip hop artist and actress
Carmen McRae (1920-1994), singer
John McWhorter (born 1965), Author
Wynton Marsalis (born 1961), jazz trumpeter
Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993), first non-white U.S. Supreme Court associate justice
Willie Mays (born 1931), Baseball Hall of Famer
Method Man (born 1972), rapper, member of hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan
Eugene J. Martin (1938-2005), visual artist
Kweisi Mfume (born 1948), former NAACP President/CEO, U.S. Congessman
Oscar Micheaux (1884–1951), author and pioneer filmmaker
Arthur W. Mitchell (1883–1968), first black Congressman from the Democratic Party
Kel Mitchell (born 1978), actor who was original cast member of the hit show All That
Roscoe Mitchell (born 1940), composer and musician
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), composer and musician
Shemar Moore (born 1970), model, actor (The Young and the Restless)
Debbi Morgan (born 1956), soap opera actress (Angie Baxter on All My Children)
Toni Morrison (born 1931), author, Nobel laureate 1993
Khalid Abdul Muhammed (1948–2001), Nation of Islam leader
Charlie Murphy, wirter, actor, and comedian
Eddie Murphy, (born 1961) comedian and actor, star of Beverly Hills Cop
Mystikal, rapper

[edit] N

Nas (born 1973), rapper
Huey P. Newton, (1942-1989), founder of the Black Panther Party
Nelly (born 1978), rapper
Nichelle Nichols (born 1937), singer, actress (as Uhura from Star Trek), volunteer with NASA during the late 1970s - 1986
Brandy Norwood (born 1979), singer and actor
Willie 'Ray-J' Norwood Jr. (born 1981), singer and actor, brother of the precedent
Notorious B.I.G. (1972 - 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls, rapper

[edit] O

Barack Obama (born 1961), U.S. Senator, He received international media coverage for his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, delivered while he was still an Illinois State Senator
Shaquille O'Neal (born 1972), nicknamed "Shaq", NBA basketball star
Old Corn Meal, New Orleans merchant and performer
Jesse Owens (1913-1980), track and field athlete, embarrassed Adolf Hitler by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics

[edit] P

P. Diddy (born 1969), also known as Sean "Puffy" Combs or Puff Daddy, rapper and record executive
Charlie Parker (1920-1955), jazz musician
George Wells Parker, founder of the Hamitic League of the World
Maceo Parker (born 1943), funk and jazz musician
Rosa Parks, started the Montgomery Bus Boycott
William L. Patterson (1890-1980), communist, civil rights lawyer
Walter Payton (1954-1999), football legend
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004), composer
P. B. S. Pinchback (1837-1921), first serving African American governor of a US state (Louisiana)
Leonard Pitts, columnist for the Miami Herald
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1745-1813), part Black, first resident of Chicago
Colin Powell (born 1937), U.S. Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Powers, Harriet (1837-1910), African American slave quilt artist
Evelyn Preer (1896-1932), early American film actress and blues singer
Kelly Price (born 1973), R&B and soul singer
Richard Pryor (1940-2005), comedian
Kirby Puckett (1960-2006), Baseball Hall of Fame

[edit] Q

Queen Latifah (born 1970), establish hip hop artist and actress

[edit] R

Rakim (born 1968), hip-hop artist known for having revolutionized hip hop lyricism
A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979), socialist, labor leader, and civil rights activist
Raven-Symoné (born 1985), singer/actress<ref>[85] "Could it be—we're just taking a wild guess here—because Symone is African-American, not even close to a size 2 and prefers sweats and T shirts to Dolce Gabbana? "It's understood that African-American celebrities aren't the big deal their white counterparts are in magazines," says Bill Jones, a photographer who regularly shoots celebrities for Ebony, Jet and Essence magazines. "Half of the celebrity photographers I know that aren't black couldn't tell a black celeb if it wasn't Will Smith or Halle Berry. They only know the obvious ones. And even then, there's not a whole lot of interest.""</ref>
Ruda Real (born 1977), hip-hop artist
Charles L. Reason (1818-1893), educator and first African American professor
Ishmael Reed (born 1938), poet, essayist and novelist
Tim Reid (born 1941), actor (WKRP in Cincinnati, Sister, Sister)
Earl W. Renfroe (1907-2000), orthodontist, airplane pilot, military officer
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, the first African American to sit in the U.S. Congress
Ving Rhames (born 1959) - actor<ref>[86] "He is an African-American actor in a recurring role in a huge mainstream movie series. "I look at the Mission: Impossible franchise and I say, basically, very few franchises have an African-American character." ... The things he wants to do are more personal, intimate projects, especially as a producer who specializes in African-American themed stories."</ref>
Willy T. Ribbs, the first African-American driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 (May 19, 1991)
Condoleezza Rice (born 1954), U.S. Secretary of State under President George W. Bush
Jerry Rice (born 1962), holder of almost all major NFL receiving records
Little Richard (born 1932), pioneer of rock and roll
Lionel Richie (born 1949), R&B singer, songwriter, composer, producer
Norbert Rilleaux (1806-1894), inventor
RuPaul (born 1960), drag queen
Paul Robeson (1898-1976), athlete, actor, singer, scholar, communist
David Robinson (born 1965), professional basketball player and U.S. Navy veteran
Frank Robinson (born 1935), Baseball Hall of Famer, first African American manager in Major League Baseball
Jackie Robinson (1919-1972), Baseball Hall of Famer, first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the 20th century
Rachel Robinson (born 1922), wife of Jackie Robinson
Juleon Robinson (born 1993), poet
Chris Rock (born 1966), comedian
Jan Rodrigues, 17th century colonizer
Kelly Rowland, actress, singer, spokesperson
Victoria Rowell (born 1960), actress (The Young and the Restless)
Maya Rudolph (born 1972), actress, comedian ('Saturday Night Live) daughter of late singer Minnie Riperton
Bill Russell (born 1934), basketball legend
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), civil rights activist
Busta Rhymes (born 1972), rappper, actor

[edit] S

Raphael Saadiq (born 1966), R&B artist and songwriter
Scarface (born 1970), hip hop artist, pioneer and a member of the legendary Geto Boys
Russell Simmons (born 1957), entrepreneur, the co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam & Russell Simmons Music Group
O.J. Simpson (born 1947), football legend, actor, acquitted for murder
Slick Rick (born 1965), hip-hop artist
Mamie Smith, blues singer
Tommie Smith (born 1944), Olympic athlete
Willie The Lion Smith (1897-1963), pianist & composer
Will Smith (1968-) rapper, actor, director, writer
Wesley Snipes (born 1962), actor and producer
Snowden Family Band, 19th century musical group
Thomas Sowell (born 1930), economist and author
Peter Spencer (1782-1843), ex-slave, religious leader, A.U.M.P. Church founder
Michael S. Steele (born 1958), lieutenant governor of Maryland
Shelby Steele (born 1946), author, educator
William Grant Still (1895-1978), composer
Madame Sul-Te-Wan (1873-1959), actress <ref>[87] "Madame Sul-Te-Wan was born on on this date in 1873. She was an African-American actress."</ref>
Daniel Sunjata (born 1971), actor, Tony-nominated, winner Theatre World Award

[edit] T

Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud, 1952), actor
Marshall Taylor (1878-1932), aka "Major Taylor", champion competition cyclist
Sundiata Xian Tellem (1968- ), political leader (Green Party), and author.
Clarence Thomas (born 1948), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice
Debi Thomas (born 1967), first African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics
Lorenzo Thomas (1944-2005), poet/critic & founding member of Umbra Workshop, precursor to the Black Arts Movement
Rozonda Thomas (born 1971), R&B artist with TLC
Vivien Thomas (1910-1985) was an African-American surgeon who developed the procedures used to treat Blue Baby Syndrome.
T.I., (born 1980) rapper
Too Short (born 1966) hip-hop artist
Vecepia Towery (born December 9, 1965 Survivor: Marquesas winner
Ike Turner (born 1931), singer
Nat Turner (1800-1831), leader of major slave revolt
Tina Turner (born 1939), singer, actor, former wife of Ike
Tupac Shakur (1971-1996),rapper, actor, writer/poet
Sojourner Truth (1797?-1883), ex-slave, abolitionist
Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), ex-slave, writer, abolitionist
William Tucker (colonist) (born 1624), first person of African descent born in America
Tamara Tunie (born 1959), actress (As the World Turns, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
Alexander Twilight (1795-1857), first African-American to serve on a state legislature (Vermont)
Aisha Tyler (born 1970), actress, comedian, '24', 'Talk Soup', 'Friends', 'Ghost Whisperer'
Mike Tyson (born 1966), former world champion boxer

[edit] U

Blair Underwood(born 1964), actor
Gabrielle Union (born 1973), actress
Usher (born 1978), R&B singer

[edit] V

Bobby Valentino (born 1980), R&B artist
Luther Vandross (born 1951-2005), singer, actor
Jim Vance televison reporter and anchor, one of the first African-American television news anchors
Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), singer
Reginald VelJohnson actor, Die Hard, Family Matters
Michael Vick football player
Countess Vaughn, actress

[edit] W

Dwyane Wade, NBA basketball player
Alice Walker (born 1944), writer
C. J. Walker, she was the first African-American and the first woman millionaire
George Walker, (born 1922), composer
Kara Walker, (born 1969), visual artist
Fats Waller (1904-1943), composer, singer, jazz musician
Benjamin Ward (1926-2002), the first African-American New York City Police Commissioner
Dionne Warwick (born 1940), singer
Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), educator
Denzel Washington (born 1954), Oscar-winning actor
Isaiah Washington (born 1963), actor
Ethel Waters (1896-1977), vocalist
Muddy Waters (1915-1983), blues musician
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins (1970), R&B artist with TLC
George Weaver (1872-?), physician and educator
Cornel West (born 1953), public intellectual, author, Princeton University professor
Eric West (born 1982), R&B artist, actor
Kanye West, rapper
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), poet
Forest Whitaker, actor
Barry White (1944-2003), singer
Jaleel White (born 1976), actor, star of ABC and CBS sitcom Family Matters as Steve Urkel
Joseph White (1835-1918) Cuban born composer
Walter White (1895-1955) NAACP executive secretary
Colson Whitehead, Novelist (The Intuitionist) and journalist
Carl Whitney (1919-1986), Negro League baseball player
Douglas Wilder (born 1931), first elected African American governor of a US state (Virginia)
Flip Wilson (1933-1998), television host and comedian
Harriet E. Wilson, author of "Our Nig" and first African American novelist
William Julius Wilson (born 1935), sociologist
Billy Dee Williams actor
Clarence Williams (1893-1965), composer, publisher, jazz musician
Doug Williams (football player) first African American quarterback to play in the Super Bowl
Darnell Williams (born 1955), soap opera actor (Jesse Hubbard on All My Children)
Michelle Williams (born 1980), ⅓ of R&B supergroup Destiny's Child, Gospel music singer and Broadway actress
Paul Williams (1939-1973), former member of The Temptations
Paul R. Willams (1894-1980), architect
Robert F. Williams (1925-1996), organizer, civil rights activist
Serena Williams (born 1981), tennis star, sister of Venus
Vanessa Williams entertainer
Venus Williams (born 1980), tennis star, sister of Serena
Sonny Boy Williamson (1897-1965), blues musician
Paul Winfield, (1941 – 2004) ,actor
Oprah Winfrey (born 1954), talk show host, magazine publisher, news anchor, world's only African American billionaire
Arthur Winston (born 1906), bus cleaner
Stevie Wonder (born 1950), musician
Tiger Woods Asian/African-American golfer