Ebro Darden

April 8, 2016, 3:21 am

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Date of Birth: March 17, 1975

Ethnicity: Jewish, African American

Ebro Darden is an American radio show host, well known for his residence on Hot 97. He has stated that he is “half black” on his show, and in an interview on Vibe Magazine, he mentioned that his mother is Jewish. He attended Hebrew school but also attended Pentecostal church.

Through church, Ebro was exposed to music from a young age. Growing up through the golden years of hip hop, Ebro was heavily influenced by the so called “Boom Bap” era of the genre.

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Ella Fitzgerald

April 9, 2016, 1:10 am

≫ Next: Gabby Douglas

≪ Previous: Ebro Darden

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Birth Name: Ella Jane Fitzgerald

Place of Birth: Newport News, Virginia, United States

Date of Birth: April 25, 1917

Place of Death: Beverly Hills, California, United States

Date of Death: June 15, 1996

Ethnicity: African-American

Family Background: Ella Fitzgerald was an American singer and actress.

Ella was the daughter of Temperance “Tempie” (Williams) and William Fitzgerald. She was married to jazz musician Ray Brown, with whom she had a son.

Ella is sometimes described as having Irish ancestry. The surname “Fitzgerald” is usually Irish, but it is not clear if this ancestry has been documented.

Source: Genealogies of Ella Fitzgerald – http://www.wikitree.com/

Ella Fitzgerald on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/

Photo by William P. Gottlieb

Gabby Douglas

April 10, 2016, 10:33 am

≫ Next: Timothy Bradley

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Birth Name: Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas

Place of Birth: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Date of Birth: December 31, 1995

Ethnicity: African-American

Gabby Douglas is an American artistic gymnast. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team. She was also a member of the gold-winning American team at the 2011 and the 2015 World Championships, and the all-around silver medalist at the 2015 World Championships.

Gabby is the first African American woman in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion.

Her parents are Timothy Douglas and Natalie Hawkins.

Source: Genealogy of Gabby Douglas – https://www.geni.com

Photo by Joe Seer/Bigstock

Timothy Bradley

April 10, 2016, 10:34 am

≫ Next: Candice Patton

≪ Previous: Gabby Douglas

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Birth Name: Timothy Ray Bradley, Jr.

Place of Birth: Palm Springs, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 29, 1983

Ethnicity: African-American

Timothy Bradley is an American professional boxer. His father, Timothy Ray Bradley, is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His mother, Kathleen (Murrell), is a native of Palm Springs, California. He is married to Monica Manzo.

Timothy’s paternal grandparents are James Bradley and Mary.

Timothy’s maternal grandparents are ? Murrell and Alma Ruth Towner (the daughter of Levi Towner and Fannie Handford).

Sources: Timothy’s birth record – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLKY-4GW

Marriage record of Timothy’s parents – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6J9-4N9

Birth record of Timothy’s mother – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V21F-SLT

Obituary of Timothy’s paternal uncle, Nathan Bradley – http://obits.theadvocate.com/

School record of Timothy’s maternal grandmother, Alma Ruth Towner – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6X-X37L

Death record of Timothy’s maternal grandmother, Alma Ruth (Towner) Murrell – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPMQ-F56

Candice Patton

April 14, 2016, 7:47 pm

≫ Next: Nile Rodgers

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Birth Name: Candice Kristina Patton

Place of Birth: Jackson, Mississippi

Date of Birth: June 24, 1988

Ethnicity: African-American

Candice Patton is an American actress. She is known for her role as Iris West in the series The Flash.

In an interview, she dispelled rumors that she is of partly Asian descent. She went on to say that her family has not investigated deeply into their family background.

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Nile Rodgers

April 17, 2016, 12:14 am

≫ Next: RJ Cyler

≪ Previous: Candice Patton

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Birth Name: Nile Gregory Rodgers

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, United States

Date of Birth: September 19, 1952

Ethnicity: African-American, 1/4 Afro-Bahamian, 1/16 Iroquois Native American, 1/32 Irish, possibly distant English

Nile Rodgers is an American musician and producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Chic. He is the son of Beverly Ann (Goodman) Glanzrock and Nile Rodgers, Sr.

Nile’s paternal grandparents were Leroy Rodgers (the son of Eugene Rodgers and Pauline Shorter) and Lenora “Nora” Clare. Leonora’s parents were Afro-Bahamian immigrants.

Nile’s maternal grandfather was Frederick Lee “Fred” Gooden (later Goodman, the son of Cleveland Gooden, later Goodman, and Annie Lee Dennard). Cleveland was the son of George Gooden and Canniss. Annie was the daughter of Sandy Dennard and Ida Huoy.

Nile’s maternal grandmother was Alice Clarice “Goodie” Mickens (the daughter of Percy Stanley Mickens and Mabel Ethel Randall). Percy was the son of Abraham Lincoln “Abe” Mickens, who was African-American, and Wicke, who was Iroquois Native American. Mabel was the daughter of Lee Randall and Mary Ellen Nicholas. Mary was the daughter of Dr. Gough, who was an doctor and slave owner, and of Irish descent, and Caroline, who was mulatta.

Sources: Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny, by Nile Rodgers

Nile’s father, Nile Rodgers, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s paternal grandfather, Leroy Rodgers, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s paternal grandmother, Lenora Clare, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s mother, Beverly Ann Goodman, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal grandfather, Frederick Lee Gooden, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal great-grandfather, Cleveland Gooden, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal great-grandmother, Annie Lee Dennard, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

RJ Cyler

April 20, 2016, 5:33 am

≫ Next: Mary Wilson

≪ Previous: Nile Rodgers

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Birth Name: Ronald Cyler II

Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida

Date of Birth: March 20, 1995

Ethnicity: African-American

RJ Cyler is an American actor.

RJ’s paternal grandmother was Diane Cyler (the daughter of Elton Cyler and Laura Mae King).

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Mary Wilson

April 27, 2016, 7:56 am

≫ Next: Florence Ballard

≪ Previous: RJ Cyler

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Place of Birth: Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 6, 1944

Ethnicity: African-American

Mary Wilson is an American singer. She is known as a founding member of the band The Supremes, along with Florence Ballard and Diana Ross.

Mary is the daughter of Johnnie Mae and Sam Wilson.

Source: https://books.google.com

Photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

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Florence Ballard

April 27, 2016, 7:57 am

≫ Next: Andra Day

≪ Previous: Mary Wilson

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Birth Name: Florence Glenda Ballard

Date of Birth: June 30, 1943

Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Date of Death: February 22, 1976

Place of Death: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

Florence Ballard was an American singer. She was one of the founding members of the band The Supremes, along with Diana Ross and Mary Wilson.

Florence was the daughter of Lurlee (Wilson) and Jesse Ballard (born Jesse Lambert).

Source: http://www.findagrave.com

Andra Day

April 27, 2016, 7:59 am

≫ Next: Jordan Peele

≪ Previous: Florence Ballard

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Birth Name: Cassandra Monique Batie

Place of Birth: Spokane, Washington

Date of Birth: December 30, 1984

Ethnicity: African-American

Andra Day is an American singer and songwriter.

Photo by Starfrenzy/Bigstock

Jordan Peele

April 29, 2016, 11:02 pm

≫ Next: Keegan-Michael Key

≪ Previous: Andra Day

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Birth Name: Jordan Haworth Peele

Place of Birth: New York City, New York

Date of Birth: February 21, 1979

Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*European (mother)

Jordan Peele is an American actor, comedian, film director, and screenwriter.

His father is black and his mother, Lucina Williams, is white.

Photo by Joe Seer/Bigstock.com

Keegan-Michael Key

April 29, 2016, 11:04 pm

≫ Next: Nile Rodgers

≪ Previous: Jordan Peele

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Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan

Date of Birth: March 22, 1971

Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*European (mother)

Keegan-Michael Key is an American actor, writer, and comedian. He was adopted by a black father, Michael Eugene Winfield Key, and a white mother, Patricia Walsh. His biological parents have the same background: his biological father is black and his biological mother, Carrie Herr, is white.

Michael Key’s parents are Willie C. Key and Rosa Winfield. Patricia Walsh’s parents are Earl Raphael Walsh and Alvina Freund.

Source: Genealogy of Keegan-Michael Key’s adoptive family – http://www.ancestry.com

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Nile Rodgers

April 17, 2016, 12:14 am

≫ Next: RJ Cyler

≪ Previous: Keegan-Michael Key

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Birth Name: Nile Gregory Rodgers

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, United States

Date of Birth: September 19, 1952

Ethnicity: African-American, 1/4 Afro-Bahamian, 1/16 Iroquois Native American, 1/32 Irish, possibly distant English

Nile Rodgers is an American musician and producer. He is known as the lead guitarist of Chic. He is the son of Beverly Ann (Goodman) Glanzrock and Nile Rodgers, Sr.

Nile’s paternal grandparents were Leroy Rodgers (the son of Eugene Rodgers and Pauline Shorter) and Lenora “Nora” Clare. Leonora’s parents were Afro-Bahamian immigrants.

Nile’s maternal grandfather was Frederick Lee “Fred” Gooden (later Goodman, the son of Cleveland Gooden, later Goodman, and of Annie Lee Dennard). Cleveland was the son of George Gooden and Canniss. Annie was the daughter of Sandy Dennard and Ida Huoy.

Nile’s maternal grandmother was Alice Clarice “Goodie” Mickens (the daughter of Percy Stanley Mickens and Mabel Ethel Randall). Percy was the son of Abraham Lincoln “Abe” Mickens, who was African-American, and of Wicke, who was Iroquois Native American. Mabel was the daughter of Lee Randall and Mary Ellen Nicholas. Mary Nicholas was the daughter of Dr. Gough, who was a doctor and slave owner, and of Irish descent, and of Caroline, who was black/mixed-race.

Sources: Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny, by Nile Rodgers

Nile’s father, Nile Rodgers, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s paternal grandfather, Leroy Rodgers, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s paternal grandmother, Lenora Clare, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s mother, Beverly Ann Goodman, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal grandfather, Frederick Lee Gooden, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal great-grandfather, Cleveland Gooden, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Nile’s maternal great-grandmother, Annie Lee Dennard, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

RJ Cyler

April 20, 2016, 5:33 am

≫ Next: Howard Jones

≪ Previous: Nile Rodgers

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Birth Name: Ronald Cyler II

Place of Birth: Jacksonville, Florida

Date of Birth: March 20, 1995

Ethnicity: African-American

RJ Cyler is an American actor.

RJ’s paternal grandmother was Diane Cyler (the daughter of Elton Cyler and Laura Mae King).

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Howard Jones

May 4, 2016, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Bibi Bourelly

≪ Previous: RJ Cyler

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Birth Name: Howard Sion Jones

Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio, United States

Date of Birth: July 20, 1970

Ethnicity: African-American

Howard Jones is an American singer. He is known as the former vocalist of the bands Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed, and as the current vocalist of Devil You Know. He is the son of Thomasina (Jordan) and Waitsell Bebb Jones.

Howard’s paternal grandfather was Edward Eugene Jones (the son of William Robert “Will” Jones and Georgia Ann Johnson). William was the son of Wilson Jones and Sarah Jones. Georgia was the daughter of an unknown father and Pattie Barnes/Johnson.

Howard’s paternal grandmother was Della Laura Mays (also known as Louise Della Mayes, the daughter of Avery “Gabe” Mays and Bessie Crawford). Avery was the son of Tillet Stokes and Jane Mays. Bessie was the daughter of Jack Crawford and Sarah Watts.

Sources: Howard’s birth record – http://birth-records.mooseroots.com

Marriage record of Howard’s parents – http://marriage-divorce-records.mooseroots.com

Birth record of Howard’s father – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Howard’s father – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Howard’s paternal grandfather, Edward Eugene Jones – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Howard’s paternal great-grandfather, William Robert Jones – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Howard’s paternal great-grandmother, Georgia Ann (Johnson) Jones – https://familysearch.org

Birth record of Howard’s paternal grandmother, Della Laura Mays – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Howard’s paternal great-grandparents, Avery Mays and Bessie Crawford – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Howard’s paternal great-grandmother, Bessie (Crawford) Mayes – https://familysearch.org

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Bibi Bourelly

May 18, 2016, 9:09 pm

≫ Next: Wanda Sykes

≪ Previous: Howard Jones

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Birth Name: Badriia Bourelly

Place of Birth: Berlin, Germany

Date of Birth: 14 July 1994

Ethnicity:
*Afro-Haitian (paternal grandfather)
*African-American (paternal grandmother)
*Moroccan (mother)

Bibi Bourelly is a German singer and songwriter. Her father, Jean-Paul Bourelly, is an American guitarist, of Afro-Haitian and African-American descent. Her mother was of Moroccan descent; she died of cancer.

Bibi’s paternal grandparents are Paul-Étienne Bourelly (the son of Joseph Bourelly and Euzelie Blain) and Haroldine Johnson. Paul-Étienne was an Afro-Haitian immigrant. Haroldine is African-American.

Source: Death record of Bibi’s paternal grandfather, Paul-Étienne Bourelly – https://familysearch.org

Wanda Sykes

May 18, 2016, 9:27 pm

≫ Next: Branford Marsalis

≪ Previous: Bibi Bourelly

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Place of Birth: Portsmouth, Virginia

Date of Birth: March 7, 1964

Ethnicity: African-American (including Cameroonian), smaller amount of English

Wanda Sykes is an American comedian, writer, actress, and voice artist.

An episode of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) stated that Wanda’s matrilineal ninth great-grandmother, named Elizabeth Banks, who was a white indentured servant. Elizabeth had a daughter named, Mary Banks, whose father was a black slave. It was also mentioned that some of Wanda’s DNA traces to present-day Cameroon.

Wanda’s paternal grandparents were Luther Luke Sykes (the son of Joseph Sykes and Maggie) and Magnolia Wilson (the daughter of Junius Wilson and Fannie Elliott).

Wanda’s maternal grandparents were Allie Peoples (the son of Emma) and Sarah Jane Jones (the daughter of Annie).

Sources: http://boricuagenes.blogspot.com

Genealogy of Wanda Sykes – https://www.geni.com

Photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com

Branford Marsalis

May 20, 2016, 6:47 pm

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Birth Name: Branford Marsalis

Place of Birth: Breaux Bridge, LA

Date of Birth: August 26, 1960

Ethnicity: African-American

Family Background: Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. On Finding Your Roots his DNA results came up as 62% African, 31% European and 7% Native American.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhvUzwVPl3M

Photo by Debby Wong/Bigstock.com

Babyface

May 21, 2016, 8:14 pm

≫ Next: Ruth Simmons

≪ Previous: Branford Marsalis

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Birth Name: Kenneth Brian Edmonds

Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Date of Birth: April 10, 1959

Ethnicity: African-American

Babyface is an American musician. He is the son of Barbara Jean (O’Bannon) and Marvin Dallas Edmonds, Sr. He is married to Nicole “Nikki” Pantenburg. He was previously married to producer Tracey Elaine McQuarn.

Babyface’s paternal grandparents were Ben Douglas Edwards and Getsy Lee Vance (the daughter of Thomas Vance and Niecie).

Babyface’s maternal grandparents were Herbert O’Bannon (the son of Nelson O’Bannon and Emma Lena Bradshaw) and Lucille Hackley (the daughter of Joseph Lewis Hackley and Mary McCady).

Sources: Obituary of Babyface’s older brother, Marvin Dallas Edmonds, Jr. – http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/

Marriage record of Babyface’s parents – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXPV-N7L

Babyface’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHLR-D2X

Obituary of Babyface’s mother – http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?pid=160175897

Babyface’s paternal grandmother, Getsy Lee Vance, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M94N-5LG

Marriage record of Babyface’s maternal grandparents, Herbert O’Bannon and Lucille Hackley – https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXLQ-3NT

Photo by Starfrenzy/Bigstock.com

Ruth Simmons

May 21, 2016, 8:49 pm

≫ Next: Courtney B. Vance

≪ Previous: Babyface

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Birth Name: Ruth Jean Stubblefield

Place of Birth: Grapeland, TX

Date of Birth: July 3, 1945

Ethnicity: African-American (including Gabonese), Native-American (most likely Taino or Carib tribes)

Family Background: Ruth Simmons was the 18th president of Brown University, the first black president of an Ivy League Institution. Ruth Simmons was DNA tested on “Finding Your Roots” where a lot of her ancestry was traced back to the America’s, most likely from the Taino or Carib tribes. Simmons brother was tested which helped determine their African ancestry was from Gabon.

Source: http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2012/04/finding-your-roots-with-henry-louis_30.html