Actor, producer Nia Long of Trinidadian heritage, was born Nitara Carlynn Long on October 30, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita Gillman Long, an educator, and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, an educator, and poet. However, she was reared in Los Angeles, California. She has … Read MoreNia Long (1970- )
Rapper, emcee Positive K, was born on August 9, 1967, in the Bronx, New York, as Darryl Gibson. He was originally a member of the rap group, Five-Percent Nation and then he joined the rap group Almighty God Committee from Queens, rapping under pseudonym Positive … Read MorePositive K (1967- )
Historian, thespian, activist Georgette M. Norman was born on January 27, 1946, in Montgomery, Alabama, to George Maggie Norman, a real estate broker from Hope Hull, Alabama, and Juliet Graham Norman, who taught at W.B. Paterson Elementary School and was from Montgomery. Georgette’s early education … Read MoreGeorgette M. Norman (1946- )
RuPaul Andre Charles is an actor, model, singer, and drag queen, who is best known by his first name, RuPaul. Charles was born on November 17, 1960, in San Diego, California. His father, Irving Andrew Charles, and his mother, Ernestine (Fontenette) Charles, divorced when he … Read MoreRuPaul Andre Charles (1960- )
Michael Kenneth Williams was an American actor who was best known for playing the role of Omar Little in the HBO hit TV series The Wire. Williams was born on November 22, 1966 to a Bahamian mother, Paula Williams and an American father, Booker T. … Read MoreMichael Kenneth Williams (1966-2021)
Anthony “Tone Loc” Terrell Smith is an American rapper and actor. Smith was born on March 3, 1966 to Margaret and James Smith in Los Angeles, California. His father died when he was six years old which left his mother to raise him and his … Read MoreTone Loc/ Anthony Terrell Smith (1966- )
Mohandas “Kool Moe Dee” Dewes is an American rapper and actor. Dewes was born on August 8, 1962 to unnamed parents. Growing up, he attended the State University of New York College at Old Westbury and graduated with a degree in communications in 1985. Dewes … Read MoreMohandas “Kool Moe Dee” Dewes (1962- )
Adah Isaacs Menken was an American actor and poet who performed in New York, San Francisco, London, and Paris and was widely known for her title role in the play Mazeppa, or the Wild Horse of the Tartary. She also wrote poems for magazines and … Read MoreAdah Isaacs Menken (1835-1868)
Paul Gladney was a dancer, comedian, writer, social critic, and actor best known by his stage name Paul Mooney. Gladney was born on August 4, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to teenage parents George Gladney and LaVoya Ealy. Along with his Cousin Rudy, mother, and grandparents, … Read MorePaul (Mooney) Gladney (1941-2021)
Dante Terrell Smith was born on December 11, 1973, to Sheron Smith and Abdul Rahman Smith in Brooklyn, New York. Smith began rapping at the age of nine, and by the age of fourteen, he became a child actor, appearing in the ABC network television … Read MoreMos Def/Dante Terrell Smith (1973 – )
