Percy Chen, an Afro-Trinidadian Chinese lawyer, businessman, and political activist, was a founding member of the Hong Kong Bar Association. Born in Belmont, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 1901, he was the eldest of his parents’ seven children. His father, Eugene Chen, a Chinese lawyer … Read MorePercy Chen (1901-1989)
Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke was the second and last Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago. He was one of the principal architects of the 1962 Constitution for the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago. Ellis Immanuel Innocent … Read MoreSir Ellis Clarke (1917–2010)
Actress Lorraine Toussaint was born and reared in Trinidad & Tobago on April 4, 1960, to Janet Beane, an educator. Information regarding her father is not available. Toussaint, however, was reared in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in … Read MoreLorraine Toussaint (1960- )
Surgical oncologist and university president Wayne A.I. Frederick was born Wayne Alix Ian Frederick June 17, 1971, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to Alix Frederick from Point Fortin, Trinidad, and Frances Tyson-Hill from Chaguanas, Trinidad. At 14, he began pre-college courses at St. … Read MoreWayne A.I. Frederick (1971- )
Actor, producer, activist Winston Duke was born on November 15, 1986, in Argyle, Tobago, to Cora Pantin, a civil servant, and restaurant owner. There is no information available regarding his father. Duke’s family relocated to Brooklyn, New York, in 1995. He has one sister, Cindy. … Read MoreWinston Duke (1986- )
Nicholaus Joseph Williams is a Trinidadian-American rapper best known as Trinidad James. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad James’ family moved multiple times to Canada, then Florida, then the Bronx and then settled in Atlanta. Moving so often resulted in having to … Read MoreTrinidad James (1987- )
David R. Williams is a distinguished social scientist and Harvard professor. He works to understand how race, social status, stress, and other social influences relate to health inequalities. Born on June 12, 1954, in the Caribbean Island of Aruba, Williams attended the University of the … Read MoreDavid R. Williams (1954- )
Nestor Alexander Haddaway is a Eurodance artist, best known for his 1993 smash hit “What Is Love?” Haddaway was born in Trinidad and Tobago on January 9, 1965. His mother was a nurse, and his father was a marine biologist. Following the separation of his … Read MoreNestor Alexander Haddaway (1965- )
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is an influential award-winning and record-breaking rapper and songwriter who has sold over a 100 million records. Music critics and members of the public alike have named Minaj the Queen of Rap due to her punchy flow … Read MoreNicki Minaj/Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (1982- )
Michael de Frietas, later known as Michael Abdul Malik and Michael X, was a controversial black revolutionary figure born in Port-au-Spain, Trinidad in 1933. He was mixed-race. Iona Brown, his mother, was working-class and a known African spiritualist in their community in Trinidad. His estranged father, Emmanuel de Frietas, was Portuguese and … Read MoreMichael X (1933-1975)
