Lists of African Americans

This is a list of African Americans, also known as Black Americans or Afro-Americans. African Americans are an Ethnic group and citizens of the United States who have full or partial ancestry of any black racial groups of Africa; Black and African Americans form the third largest racial and ethnic group in the United States behind White Americans and Hispanic and Latino Americans. African Americans are descendants of enslaved black people who are from the United States. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article and/or references showing the person is African-American.

Actors, actresses, and comedians










A

 * Aaliyah, actress
 * Quinton Aaron, actor
 * Mahershala Ali, actor
 * Ajiona Alexus, actress
 * Flex Alexander, actor
 * Khandi Alexander, actress
 * Ira Aldridge, 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
 * Margaret Avery, actress
 * James Avery, actor
 * Rochelle Aytes, actress

B

 * Beyoncé, actress
 * Leslie David Baker, actor
 * Tyra Banks, actress
 * Spencer Bell, actor
 * Troian Bellisario, actress
 * Louise Beavers, actress
 * Everett Brown, actor
 * Jim Brown, actor
 * Malcolm Barrett, actor
 * 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 of part African-American descent), actress
 * 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
 * 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
 * Rhyon Nicole Brown, actress
 * Jurnee Smollett-Bell (African-American mother), actress
 * Yvette Nicole Brown, actress
 * Roger Aaron Brown, actor
 * Hannibal Buress, actor and comedian

C

 * 50 Cent, actor
 * Nick Cannon, actor
 * Nell Carter, actress
 * Bill Cobbs, 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, transgendered actress
 * Tony Cox, actor
 * Rusty Cundieff, actor
 * Mark Curry, actor
 * Terry Crews, actor
 * Kim Coles, actress
 * Ice Cube, actor
 * Morris Chestnut, actor
 * Frances Callier, actress
 * Zendaya Coleman (African-American father), actress and singer

D

 * Dr. Dre, actor
 * Jude Demorest, actress
 * Ava DuVernay, film director
 * Teala Dunn, actress
 * Yaya DaCosta, actress
 * Daveed Diggs (African-American father), 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
 * Viola Davis, actress
 * LaVan Davis, actor
 * Cassi Davis, actor
 * 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
 * Ja'Net DuBois, actress
 * Charles S. Dutton, actor
 * Loretta Devine, actress
 * Ivan Dixon, actor, director, producer
 * Ruby Dee, actress
 * Ossie Davis, actor
 * Sammy Davis Jr., actor

E

 * Michael Ealy, actor
 * Nelsan Ellis, actor
 * Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian
 * Mike Epps, comedian and actor
 * Omar Epps, actor
 * Art Evans, actor
 * Damon Evans, actor
 * Mike Evans, actor

F

 * Dave Fennoy, actor
 * Edwina Findley, actress
 * Laurence Fishburne, actor
 * Thomas Mikal Ford, actor, comedian
 * Ken Foree, actor
 * Jamie Foxx, actor
 * Redd Foxx, comedian, actor
 * Al Freeman Jr., actor, director
 * Morgan Freeman, actor
 * Jennifer Freeman (African-American mother), actress
 * Aretha Franklin, actress
 * Sheila Frazier, actress
 * Kim Fields, actress
 * Shawn Fonteno, actor
 * Vivica A. Fox, actress
 * Frankie Faison, actor

G

 * Roy Glenn, actor
 * Robert Guillaume, actor
 * Ron Glass, actor
 * 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
 * Carl Gordon, actor
 * Louis Gossett Jr., actor
 * Robert Gossett, actor
 * Kat Graham, actress
 * 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
 * Jasmine Guy, actress
 * Moses Gunn, actor
 * Bill Gunn, actor, director

H

 * Paige Hurd (African-American father), actress
 * Ernie Hudson, actor
 * Jennifer Hudson, actress
 * Marques Houston, actor
 * Whitney Houston, actress
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Brian Tyree Henry, actor
 * Robert Hooks, actor
 * Gregory Hines, actor

I

 * Rex Ingram, actor

J

 * Brandon T. Jackson, actor
 * Janet Jackson, actress
 * Jermaine Jackson, actor
 * La Toya Jackson, actress
 * Michael Jackson, actor
 * Paris Jackson, actress
 * Samuel L. Jackson, actor
 * Michael B. Jordan, actor
 * Skai Jackson, actress
 * Trevor Jackson, actor
 * Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, actor
 * Raymond St. Jacques, actor
 * Bryton James, actor
 * Roy Jones Jr., actor
 * Rashida Jones, actress
 * Tamala Jones, actress
 * April Parker Jones, actress
 * Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
 * Rafer Johnson, actor
 * 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

 * R. Kelly, actor
 * Jim Kelly, actor
 * Malcolm David Kelley, actor
 * Keegan-Michael Key, actor, comedian
 * Wiz Khalifa, actor
 * Christel Khalil (African-American mother), actress.
 * Regina King, actress
 * Eartha Kitt, actress
 * Gladys Knight, actress
 * Lenny Kravitz, actor
 * Zoe Kravitz, actress

L

 * 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
 * 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
 * Tom Lister Jr., actor
 * Loni Love, comedienne
 * Ludacris, actor

M

 * Bernie Mac, actor, comedian
 * Darius McCrary, actor and singer
 * China Anne McClain, actress
 * Caleb McLaughlin, actor
 * Mandingo, pornographic actor
 * Marsai Martin, actress
 * John Marriott, actor
 * Don Marshall, actor
 * William Marshall, actor, director
 * Marques Brownlee, YouTuber
 * Christopher Massey, actor
 * Kyle Massey, actor
 * Lamorne Morris, actor
 * Draya Michele (African-American father), actress
 * Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (African-American mother), actress and humanitarian, wife of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
 * Jason Mitchell, actor
 * Omar Benson Miller, actor
 * Wentworth Miller, actor
 * Anthony Mackie, actor
 * Al Matthews, actor
 * Tim Meadows, actor
 * Charlie Murphy, actor and comedian
 * Eddie Murphy, actor and comedian
 * David Mann, actor
 * Tamela Mann, actress
 * Debbi Morgan, actress
 * Tracy Morgan, actor
 * Tisha Campbell-Martin, actress
 * Jesse L. Martin, actor
 * Windell Middlebrooks, actor
 * Daryl Mitchell, actor
 * Garrett Morris, comedian, actor
 * Greg Morris, actor
 * Joe Morton, actor
 * Chi McBride, actor
 * Juanita Moore, actress
 * Shemar Moore, actor
 * Lou Myers, actor
 * Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
 * Moneybagg Yo: Hip hop

N

 * Niecy Nash, actress
 * Tariq Nasheed, film producer
 * Naturi Naughton, actress
 * Nichelle Nichols, actress
 * Maidie Norman, actress
 * Brandy Norwood, actress
 * Bill Nunn, actor

O

 * Patrice O'Neal, actor and comedian
 * Shaquille O'Neal, actor

P

 * Keke Palmer, actress
 * Allen Payne, actor
 * Tyler Perry, actor, comedian, filmmaker
 * Melvin Van Peebles, actor, filmmaker
 * Holly Robinson Peete, actress
 * Brock Peters, actor
 * Jo Marie Payton, actress
 * Khary Payton, actor
 * LaWanda Page, actress
 * Nicole Ari Parker, actress
 * Angel Parker, actress
 * Paula Patton (African-American father), actress
 * Jordan Peele, actor, comedian
 * Nathan Pelle, actor
 * Teyonah Parris, actress
 * Wendell Pierce, actor
 * Madison Pettis (African-American father), actress, model
 * Jay Pharoah, actor
 * Glenn Plummer, actor
 * Clifton Powell, actor
 * Billy Preston, actor
 * J. A. Preston, actor
 * Prince, actor
 * Joan Pringle, actress
 * Richard Pryor, actor and comedian

R

 * Lou Rawls, actor
 * Della Reese, actress
 * Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress and comedian
 * Tim Reid, actor
 * James Reynolds, actor
 * Naya Rivera (a quarter African-American descent), actress and singer
 * Tequan Richmond, actor
 * Little Richard, actor
 * Lionel Richie, 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
 * Timmie Rogers, comedian, actor
 * Roxie Roker, actress
 * Diana Ross, actress and singer
 * Evan Ross (African-American mother), actor
 * Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, model, comedian
 * Issa Rae (African-American mother), actress
 * Gene Anthony Ray, actor
 * Anika Noni Rose, actress
 * Leonard Roberts, actor
 * Chris Rock, actor and comedian
 * Howard Rollins, actor
 * Esther Rolle, actress
 * Gina Ravera (part African-American descent)
 * Lance Reddick, actor
 * Corey Reynolds, actor
 * Victoria Rowell (African-American father), actress
 * Richard Roundtree, actor
 * Ving Rhames, actor
 * Lauren Ridloff, actress
 * LaTanya Richardson, actress
 * Kevin Michael Richardson, actor
 * Nipsey Russell, comedian
 * RuPaul, actor

S

 * Amanda Seales (African American father), actress, comedian
 * Isabel Sanford, actress, comedian
 * Yara Shahidi (African American mother), actress and Harvard student
 * Tupac Shakur, actor
 * Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian
 * O.J. Simpson, actor
 * Sinbad, actor and comedian
 * John Singleton, director, producer, screenwriter
 * IronE Singleton, actor
 * Isaac C. Singleton Jr., actor
 * Bubba Smith, actor
 * Brian Michael Smith, actor
 * Jada Pinkett Smith (African-American father), actress, singer-songwriter
 * 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
 * Lexington Steele, pornographic actor
 * Woody Strode, actor
 * Tika Sumpter, actress
 * Wanda Sykes, actress and comedian
 * Jessica Szohr, actress

T

 * Mr. T, actor
 * Meshach Taylor, actor
 * Nathaniel Taylor, actor
 * Ron Taylor, actor
 * Lynne Thigpen, actress
 * Leon Thomas III, actor
 * Kenan Thompson, actor, comedian
 * Tony Todd, actor
 * Berlinda Tolbert, actress
 * Chris Tucker, actor, comedian
 * Glynn Turman, actor
 * Tina Turner, actress
 * Tyler, the Creator, actor

U

 * Blair Underwood, actor
 * Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian
 * Usher, actor

V

 * Courtney B. Vance, actor
 * Ben Vereen, actor

W

 * William Jackson Harper, actor, comedian
 * Jimmie Walker, actor
 * Bill Walker, actor
 * Vincent M. Ward, actor
 * Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor
 * Dionne Warwick, actress
 * 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, produce
 * Lil Wayne, actor
 * Carl Weathers, actor
 * Forest Whitaker, actor
 * Charles Malik Whitfield, actor
 * Lynn Whitfield, actress
 * Billy Dee Williams, actor
 * Clarence Williams III, actor
 * Gary Anthony Williams, actor
 * Tyler James 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
 * Jeffrey Wright, actor
 * John Witherspoon, actor, comedian
 * Alfre Woodard, actress

Y

 * Lee Thompson Young, actor

B

 * Romare Bearden, painter

C

 * Allen 'Big Al' Carter, painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer

D

 * Rosetta DeBerardinis, painter
 * Cheryl Derricotte, glass artist, printmaker

G

 * Sam Gilliam, painter, printmaker

H

 * Nestor Hernandez, photographer

J

 * Suzanne Jackson, artist, gallery owner

L

 * Jacob Lawrence, painter, printmaker

M

 * Percy Martin, printmaker
 * Evangeline Montgomery, metal art, printmaker

P

 * Norman Parish, painter, muralist and art dealer
 * Jefferson Pinder, performance

S

 * Susan Smith-Pinelo, video, performance
 * Renee Stout, sculptor
 * Lou Stovall, printmaker

T

 * Alma Thomas, painter

W

 * Carrie Mae Weems, photographer, video
 * Kehinde Wiley, portrait painter
 * Wilmer Wilson IV, performance, photographer

Astronauts

 * Michael P. Anderson, NASA Astronaut, Air Force officer
 * Guion Bluford, NASA Astronaut, aerospace engineer, Air Force officer, fighter pilot
 * Charles Bolden, NASA Astronaut, administrator
 * Bernard A. Harris Jr., NASA Astronaut, First African American to walk in space
 * 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
 * Ronald McNair, Nasa Astronaut, physicist
 * Stephanie Wilson, Nasa Astronaut, engineer

Beauty queens and fashion models

 * Kimberly Clarice Aiken, Miss America 1994
 * Karen Alexander, fashion model
 * Tyra Banks, fashion model
 * J. Alexander, fashion model
 * Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016
 * Dorothea Church, fashion model
 * Pat Cleveland, model
 * Lynnette Cole, Miss USA 2000
 * Yaya DaCosta, fashion model
 * Bruce Darnell, male model
 * Tomiko Fraser, fashion model
 * Lakita Garth, Miss Black California 1995
 * Carole Gist, Miss USA 1990
 * Quiana Grant, mModel
 * Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002
 * Tanisha Harper, model
 * Chanel Iman (African-American father), fashion model
 * Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019
 * Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993
 * Kara McCullough, Miss USA 2017
 * Nana Meriwether (African-American father), Miss USA 2012
 * Sofia Richie (African-American father), fashion model
 * Chelsi Smith (African-American father), Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995
 * Kimora Lee Simmons (half Korean, half African American)

Sports executives and businesspeople

 * Katrina Adams, current president of the United States Tennis Association
 * Koby Altman, current General manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 * 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
 * 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
 * Michael Jordan, current principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.
 * 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

 * Alton Abraham, former social entrepreneur and business manager for Sun Ra
 * Wally Amos, founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie brand
 * James Andrews, former senior Director at Columbia Records
 * 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
 * Kirt Bennett, founder of the Young Leaders Academy
 * Beyonce, 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
 * Demmette Guidry, music industry executive
 * Kerry S. Harris, entrepreneur
 * Robert L. Johnson, co-founder of BET and RLJ Companies
 * Walter P. Lomax Jr., founder of Lomax Health Systems Inc.
 * Mary Ellen Pleasant, real estate magnate
 * Madam C. J. Walker, businessperson, hair care entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist

A

 * Ralph Abernathy, civil rights activist and minister
 * Muhammad Ali, civil rights activist
 * Maya Angelou, civil rights activist, writer, poet

B

 * James Baldwin, civil rights activist, novelist, playwright
 * Ella Baker, Civil rights activist
 * Marion Barry, civil rights activist, politician
 * Daisy Bates, civil rights activist, publisher, journalist, lecturer
 * James Bevel, minister, leader of the civil rights movement
 * Gloria Blackwell, civil rights activist, educator
 * Unita Blackwell, civil rights activist
 * Julian Bond, civil rights activist, professor and writer
 * Ralph Bunche, civil rights activist, scientist, academic, diplomat

C

 * Beatrice Morrow Cannady, civil rights activist, publisher
 * James Chaney, civil rights activist
 * Xernona Clayton, civil rights activist
 * Septima Poinsette Clark, civil rights activist, educator
 * Charles E. Cobb Jr., civil rights activist, journalist, professor
 * Marvel Cooke, civil rights activist
 * Annie Lee Cooper, civil rights activist
 * Dorothy Cotton, civil rights activist
 * Claudette Colvin, civil rights activist, nurse

D

 * 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

 * Charles Evers, civil rights activist
 * Medgar Evers, civil rights activist
 * Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights activist

F

 * 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

 * Fred Gray, civil rights lawyer
 * Dick Gregory, civil rights activist

H

 * Curtis W. Harris, civil rights activist, minister, politician
 * Fannie Lou Hamer, 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
 * T. R. M. Howard, civil rights leader, entrepreneur, surgeon

J

 * Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist
 * Jimmie Lee 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

K

 * 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
 * Yolanda King, civil rights activist

L

 * Bernard Lafayette, civil rights activist, organizer
 * 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

 * Thurgood Marshall, civil rights activist, lawyer, judge
 * Benjamin Mays, civil rights activist, minister
 * 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

 * Diane Nash, civil rights activist
 * E. D. Nixon, civil rights activist, NCAAP official

O

 * James Orange, civil rights activist

P

 * Rosa Parks, activist, NCAAP official, Montgomery Bus Boycott inspiration
 * James Peck, civil rights activist

R

 * Lincoln Ragsdale, civil rights activist, aviator
 * A. Philip Randolph, civil rights activist
 * George Raymond, civil rights activist
 * Frederick D. Reese, civil rights activist, educator, minister
 * Gloria Richardson, civil rights activist
 * David Richmond, 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

 * 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
 * Charles Steele Jr., civil rights activist, politician

T

 * Harriet Tubman, abolitionist and humanitarian
 * Samuel Wilbert Tucker, civil rights activist, lawyer

V

 * C. T. Vivian, civil rights activist, author, minister

W

 * Wyatt Tee Walker, pastor, civil rights leader
 * Booker T. Washington, educator, founder of Tuskegee University
 * Ida B. Wells, civil rights activist
 * 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

 * Malcolm X, human rights activist, minister

Y

 * Andrew Young, politician, diplomat, and activist
 * Whitney Young, civil rights activist
 * Sammy Younge Jr., civil rights activist

Government and politics

 * 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 Secretaries
 * 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

Governors

 * 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.

Other political fields

 * Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to former president Barack Obama, and co-chair of the Obama-Biden Transition project.

Historical

 * List of African-American abolitionists
 * List of African-American officeholders during Reconstruction

Journalism and media





 * 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.
 * Ta-Nehisi Coates, author, journalist
 * Sway Calloway, journalist, radio personality.
 * Elle Duncan (African-American father), sports anchor for ESPN's SportsCenter.
 * Harris Faulkner, television host and anchor for Fox News.
 * 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
 * Marc Lamont Hill, journalist, political commentator
 * Jemele Hill, sports journalist for ESPN's The Undefeated
 * Jay Harris, journalist and anchor for ESPN
 * 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
 * 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.
 * 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
 * Angela Rye, CNN political commentator
 * 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
 * Michael Smith, ESPN Commentator
 * Stuart Scott, former sports anchor for ESPN's Sports Center
 * Symone Sanders, CNN political commentator
 * Bakari Sellers, CNN political commentator
 * Fredricka Whitfield, news anchor for CNN Newsroom
 * Kristen Welker (African-American mother), MSNBC White House Correspondent for NBC News
 * Michael Wilbon, journalist, columnist
 * Jason Whitlock, sports journalist, host of Speak for Yourself with Cowherd & Whitlock on Fox Sports 1

Lawyers

 * 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
 * Laura Coates, attorney, law professor
 * William Calvin Chase, lawyer, newspaper editor
 * Julius L. Chambers, lawyer, civil rights activist, educator
 * 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
 * Carl E. Douglas, lawyer
 * B. Kwaku Duren, lawyer, educator, writer, editor
 * Larry Elder, lawyer, author, radio show host
 * Keith Ellison, lawyer, politician
 * 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
 * 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
 * Conrad Lynn, lawyer, civil rights activist
 * Loretta Lynch, lawyer, 83rd United States Attorney General
 * 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
 * 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
 * Karen Freeman-Wilson, lawyer, judge

Military

 * List of African-American Medal of Honor recipients

Novelists and poets



 * 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
 * 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
 * Nikki Giovanni, poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator
 * Alex Haley, novelist, author
 * Frances Harper, poet
 * Yona Harvey, poet, professor
 * Robert Hayden, poet, essayist, and educator
 * Gil Scott-Heron, poet, author
 * Langston Hughes, poet, activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist
 * Erica Hunt, poet, essayist, and teacher
 * 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
 * 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
 * John Edgar Wideman, novelist, author, and professor
 * Richard Wright, novelist, poet, and essayist
 * Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor
 * Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic

Singers and musicians






A

 * Aaliyah: R&B, pop
 * Johnny Ace: R&B
 * 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
 * Sasha Allen: R&B, rock, soul
 * Luther Allison: Blues
 * 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

B

 * Babyface: R&B
 * Anthony Brown: Gospel
 * Erykah Badu: Neo soul, R&B, funk, hip hop
 * Kim Burrell: Gospel
 * Lil Baby: Hip hop
 * Mildred Bailey: Jazz
 * Pearl Bailey: Vaudeville
 * Anita Baker, R&B, soul
 * Lavern Baker: R&B
 * 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
 * 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
 * Cindy Birdsong: R&B, soul, pop
 * Birdman: rapper
 * 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
 * Blueface: Hip hop
 * 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
 * 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
 * Soulja Boy: Hip hop
 * Donald Byrd: Jazz, funk, soul, R&B

C

 * Erica Campbell: Gospel
 * Tina Campbell: Gospel
 * Cab Calloway: Jazz
 * 2 Chainz: 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
 * Playboi Carti: 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
 * 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
 * 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

D

 * Miles Davis: Jazz
 * Sammy Davis Jr.: Pop, jazz
 * Jimmy Dawkins: Blues
 * Famous Dex, Chicago hip hop
 * Bo Diddley: R&B, rock and roll
 * Willie Dixon, Blues, R&B, rock and roll, gospel
 * Johnny Dodds: Jazz
 * Warren "Baby" Dodds: Jazz
 * Eric Dolphy: Jazz
 * Nate Dogg: Hip hop, gangsta rap, R&B
 * Snoop Dogg: Hip hop, funk, gangsta rap
 * Fats Domino: Rock and roll, R&B
 * Drake: of African American slave descendant ancestry through father who is from Memphis, Tennessee
 * Dr. Dre: Hip hop
 * Lil Durk: Hip hop, drill

E

 * 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

 * Art Farmer: Jazz
 * Mickey Fields: Jazz
 * Ella Fitzgerald: Jazz
 * Roberta Flack: Jazz, pop
 * Eddie Floyd: R&B, soul
 * Aretha Franklin: soul
 * Kirk Franklin: Gospel, Christian hip hop
 * Melvin Franklin: R&B, soul
 * Lowell Fulson: Blues
 * Future: Hip hop, trap, R&B
 * Fabolous: Hip hop
 * Flo Rida: Hip hop
 * Sonny Fortune: Jazz
 * Jaime Foxx: R&B

G

 * Slim Gaillard: Jazz
 * Marvin Gaye: R&B, soul, funk, Jazz, pop
 * Gloria Gaynor: disco, R&B
 * The Game: rapper
 * Tyrese Gibson: Hip hop, R&B
 * Dizzy Gillespie: Jazz
 * City Girls: 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
 * Johnny Griffin: Jazz
 * Tee Grizzley, rapper
 * Childish Gambino: Hip hop, R&B
 * Gucci Mane: Hip hop
 * Gunna: Hip hop
 * Buddy Guy: Blues
 * Phil Guy: Blues

H

 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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

I

 * James Ingram: R&B, pop, soul
 * Luther Ingram: R&B, soul
 * Ronald Isley: R&B, soul
 * T.I.: Hip hop
 * Ice-T: Hip hop

J

 * Ray J: R&B
 * Chuck Jackson: R&B
 * Freddie Jackson: Soul
 * Jackie Jackson: Pop, R&B, soul
 * Janet Jackson: R&B, pop
 * 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
 * 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

K

 * Eddie Kendricks: R&B, soul, disco
 * Alicia Keys (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop
 * 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
 * Wiz Khalifa: Hip hop
 * Kid Cudi: Hip hop
 * Kehlani (African American father): R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop
 * Solange Knowles: R&B, soul, funk
 * 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

L

 * 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
 * Kendrick Lamar: Hip hop, rap
 * John Larkin: Vaudeville
 * Lynda Laurence: R&B, pop, jazz
 * Huddie Ledbetter: Folk, blues
 * Eddie Levert: R&B, soul, blues, gospel
 * Gerald Levert: Soul, R&B
 * Frankie Lyman: R&B, pop
 * Swae Lee, rapper
 * 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

M

 * Christian McBride: Jazz
 * Gene McDaniels: Jazz, pop
 * Donnie McClurkin: Gospel
 * Betty McGlown: R&B, pop
 * Joe McPhee: Jazz
 * Remy Ma: Hip hop
 * Meek Mill: Hip hop
 * Stephanie Mills: R&B, soul, gospel
 * 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
 * Mozzy: Hip hop
 * Tamela Mann: Gospel
 * Matt "Guitar" Murphy: Blues
 * Mýa: R&B (African American father, Italian mother)

N

 * 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
 * Jessye Norman: Opera
 * Queen Naija (African-American mother): R&B
 * YoungBoy Never Broke Again: Hip hop

O

 * Frank Ocean: LGBT R&B
 * Jeffrey Osborne: Soul, R&B
 * Odetta: Blues, jazz
 * Omarion: R&B

P

 * 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
 * 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

Q

 * Rich Homie Quan: Hip hop
 * Quavo: Hip hop

R

 * Raz-B: R&B
 * Lou Rawls: Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz, blues
 * Ma Rainey: Blues
 * Jimmy Reed: Blues
 * Louisiana Red: Blues
 * 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
 * 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
 * Minnie Riperton: soul, R&B
 * Max Roach: Jazz
 * 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

S

 * Pharoah Sanders: Jazz
 * Saweetie: Hip hop (African American father, Chinese and Filipino mother)
 * Shawn Stockman : R&B
 * Jimmy Scott: Jazz
 * Tupac Shakur: Hip hop, gangsta rap
 * Wayne Shorter: Jazz
 * Nina Simone: R&B, jazz, blues, folk, soul, gospel
 * Marvin Sapp: Gospel
 * Bessie Smith: Blues
 * Jimmy Smith: Jazz
 * Big Sean: Hip hop
 * Magic Sam: Blues
 * Magic Slim: Blues
 * Memphis Slim: Blues
 * Horace Silver: Jazz
 * Percy Sledge: R&B, soul, gospel
 * Jordin Sparks: R&B, pop
 * Mavis Staples: Soul, R&B
 * Sly Stone: Funk, R&B
 * Donna Summer: Disco, R&B
 * 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
 * Rae Sremmurd: Hip hop, trap, R&B
 * Kierra Sheard: Urban gospel, R&B
 * Karen Clark Sheard: gospel, urban gospel
 * Megan Thee Stallion: Hip hop
 * Keith Sweat: R&B, soul, hip hop, urban

T

 * TLC: R&B, Pop
 * Rozonda Thomas: R&B
 * Pusha T: Hip hop
 * 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
 * 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

U

 * Usher: R&B, pop

V

 * Luther Vandross: R&B, soul, pop, disco
 * Sarah Vaughan: Jazz, pop
 * Cassie Ventura: R&B

W

 * Muddy Waters: Blues
 * 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
 * Barry White: R&B, soul, funk, disco
 * Maurice White: Soul, funk, R&B, jazz
 * CeCe Winans: Gospel, R&B
 * Andre Williams: R&B, blues
 * 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
 * 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

Y

 * Ne-Yo: R&B
 * Lil Yachty: Hip hop
 * Yo Gotti: Hip hop
 * Lester Young: Jazz
 * YG: Hip hop

Z

 * Jay-Z: Hip hop

Science and mathematics

 * 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

Baseball






A

 * Hank Aaron—retired professional baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame
 * 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

 * 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

 * Lorenzo Cain
 * Mike Cameron
 * Roy Campanella
 * Chris Carter
 * Joe Carter
 * Nate Colbert
 * Vince Coleman
 * Cecil Cooper
 * Al Cowens
 * Carl Crawford
 * Willie Crawford

D

 * 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

 * Don Eaddy
 * Mike Easler
 * Carl Edwards Jr.
 * Dock Ellis
 * Carl Everett
 * Leon Everitt

F

 * Eric Farris
 * Mike Felder
 * Cecil Fielder
 * Prince Fielder
 * Curt Flood
 * Cliff Floyd
 * Chone Figgins
 * George Foster
 * Dexter Fowler

G

 * 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
 * Tom Gordon—former professional baseball player
 * Curtis Granderson—professional baseball player
 * 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

 * 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

 * Monte Irvin—retired professional baseball player, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

J

 * Austin Jackson—professional baseball player
 * Aaron Judge – professional baseball player
 * 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
 * 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

 * Matt Kemp, professional baseball player
 * Howie Kendrick, professional baseball player
 * Wayne Kirby—retired professional baseball player

R

 * Jackie Robinson, former professional baseball player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, first African American to play in Major league Baseball
 * Frank Robinson, former professional baseball player

S

 * CC Sabathia, professional baseball player
 * Giancarlo Stanton, professional baseball player
 * Gary Sheffield – retired professional baseball player
 * Justus Sheffield – professional baseball player

M

 * Lee May – former professional baseball player
 * Andrew McCutchen - professional baseball player
 * Willie McCovey – former professional baseball player
 * John "Mule" Miles – former professional baseball player

N

 * Don Newcombe – former professional baseball player

Basketball



 * 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
 * LaMarcus Aldridge—professional basketball player
 * Cliff Alexander—professional basketball player
 * Kwame Alexander—professional basketball player
 * Jarrett Allen—professional basketball player
 * Jerome Allen—former professional basketball player
 * Lavoy Allen—professional basketball player
 * Ray Allen—retired professional basketball player
 * Tony Allen—professional basketball player
 * 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)
 * 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

B

 * Thurl Bailey—former professional basketball player
 * Wade Baldwin IV—professional basketball player
 * Lonzo Ball (African-American father)—professional basketball player
 * 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
 * Don Barksdale—former professional basketball player
 * Harrison Barnes—professional basketball player
 * Matt Barnes (African American father)—retired professional basketball player
 * 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
 * Marvin Bagley—professional basketball player
 * Mikal Bridges—professional basketball player
 * Miles Bridges—professional basketball player
 * Bruce Brown Jr.—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
 * Antonio Blakeney—professional basketball player
 * 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
 * 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
 * Kwame Brown—professional basketball player
 * Trey Burke—professional basketball player
 * Reggie Bullock—professional basketball player
 * Chauncey Billups—retired professional basketball player
 * Muggsy Bogues—retired professional basketball player
 * Terrell Brandon—retired professional basketball player
 * Eric Bledsoe—professional basketball player
 * Patrick Beverley—professional basketball player
 * Avery Bradley—professional basketball player

C

 * 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
 * Wendell Carter Jr. - professional basketball player
 * DeMarcus Cousins - professional basketball player
 * Ian Clark - professional basketball player
 * Norris Cole - professional basketball player
 * Quinn Cook - professional basketball player
 * Jevon Carter - professional basketball player
 * Jordan Clarkson ( African-American father) - professional basketball player
 * Tony Carr - professional basketball player
 * Bryant Crawford - professional basketball player
 * Jamal Crawford - professional basketball player
 * John Collins - professional basketball player
 * Marquese Chriss - professional basketball player
 * Tyson Chandler - professional basketball player
 * Isaiah Canaan - professional basketball player
 * Mario Chalmers - professional basketball player
 * Jordan Crawford - professional basketball player
 * Jarrett Culver - professional basketball player

D

 * Anthony Davis - professional basketball player
 * Antonio Davis - former professional basketball player
 * Adrian Dantley - retired professional basketball player
 * Baron Davis - retired professional basketball player
 * Deyonta Davis - professional basketball player
 * DeMar DeRozan - professional basketball player
 * Ed Davis - professional basketball player
 * Erick Dampier - former professional basketball player
 * Glen Davis - former professional basketball player
 * Kevin Durant - professional basketball player
 * Kris Dunn - professional basketball player
 * P.J. Dozier - professional basketball player
 * Troy Daniels - professional basketball player
 * Trevon Duval - professional basketball player

E

 * Jawun Evans - professional basketball player
 * Tyreke Evans - professional basketball player
 * Reggie Evans - retired professional basketball player
 * Julius Erving - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

F

 * De'Aaron Fox - professional basketball player
 * Kay Felder - professional basketball player
 * Markelle Fultz - professional basketball player
 * Terrence Ferguson - professional basketball player
 * Yogi Ferrell - professional basketball player

G

 * Draymond Green - professional basketball player
 * George Gervin - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Harry Giles - professional basketball player
 * Kevin Garnett - retired professional basketball player
 * Paul George - professional basketball player
 * Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - professional basketball player

H

 * Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway - retired professional basketball player
 * Dwight Howard - professional basketball player
 * Grant Hill - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * James Harden - professional basketball player
 * Josh Hart - professional basketball player
 * Tobias Harris - professional basketball player
 * Rodney Hood - professional basketball player
 * Udonis Haslem - professional basketball player
 * John Henson - professional basketball player
 * Montrezl Harrell - professional basketball player
 * Jrue Holiday - professional basketball player
 * Justin Holiday - professional basketball player
 * Aaron Holiday - professional basketball player
 * De'Andre Hunter - professional basketball player

I

 * Allen Iverson - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Brandon Ingram - professional basketball player
 * Kyrie Irving - professional basketball player

J

 * DeAndre Jordan - professional basketball player
 * Derrick Jones Jr. - professional basketball player
 * Josh Jackson - professional basketball player
 * Frank Jackson (African American father) - professional basketball player
 * K. C. Jones - retired professional basketball player
 * Sam Jones - retired professional basketball player
 * Tyus Jones (African-American father) - professional basketball player
 * Jaren Jackson - retired professional basketball player
 * Jaren Jackson Jr. - professional basketball player
 * LeBron James - professional basketball player
 * Dennis Johnson – former professional basketball player
 * Magic Johnson - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Michael Jordan - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, considered as the greatest player in NBA History.
 * Amile Jefferson - professional basketball player
 * Jarrett Jack - professional basketball player

K

 * Brandon Knight - professional basketball player
 * Kevin Knox - professional basketball player
 * Jason Kidd - retired professional basketball player (African American Father)

L

 * Damian Lillard - professional basketball player
 * Kawhi Leonard - professional basketball player
 * Kyle Lowry - professional basketball player
 * Rashard Lewis - retired professional basketball player
 * Caris LeVert - professional basketball player

M

 * C.J. McCollum - professional basketball player
 * Alonzo Mourning - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Donovan Mitchell - professional basketball player
 * Ja Morant – professional basketball player
 * Karl Malone - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Moses Malone - former professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Malik Monk - professional basketball player
 * Reggie Miller - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Tracy McGrady - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Marcus Morris - professional basketball player
 * Markieff Morris - professional basketball player
 * Khris Middleton - professional basketball player
 * Wesley Matthews - professional basketball player

N

 * Malik Newman - professional basketball player

O

 * Jahlil Okafor - professional basketball player
 * Shaquille O'Neal - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

P

 * Chris Paul - professional basketball player
 * Gary Payton - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Jabari Parker (African-American father) - professional basketball player
 * Kendrick Perkins – former professional basketball player
 * Sam Perkins – former professional basketball player
 * Paul Pierce - retired professional basketball player
 * Scottie Pippen - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

R

 * Bill Russell - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Cam Reddish - basketball player
 * Doc Rivers - retired professional basketball player, NBA head coach
 * Austin Rivers (African American father) - professional basketball player
 * Derrick Rose - professional basketball player
 * D'Angelo Russell - professional basketball player
 * Dennis Rodman - retired professional basketball player, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Jalen Rose - retired professional basketball player
 * Oscar Robertson - former professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Rajon Rondo - professional basketball player
 * Terrence Ross - professional basketball player
 * Terry Rozier - professional basketball player
 * Josh Richardson - professional basketball player

S

 * Anfernee Simons - professional basketball player
 * Caleb Swanigan - professional basketball player
 * Dennis Smith Jr. - professional basketball player
 * Dennis Scott - retired professional basketball player
 * Iman Shumpert – professional basketball player
 * Kenny Smith - retired professional basketball player
 * John Salmons - retired professional basketball player
 * John Salley - retired professional basketball player
 * Collin Sexton - professional basketball player
 * Marcus Smart - professional basketball player
 * Omari Spellman - professional basketball player
 * JR Smith - professional basketball player
 * Lance Stephenson - professional basketball player

T

 * Gary Trent - former professional basketball player
 * Gary Trent Jr. - professional basketball player
 * Isiah Thomas - retired professional basketball player, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Isaiah Thomas - professional basketball player
 * Jayson Tatum - professional basketball player
 * Karl-Anthony Towns (African-American father) - professional basketball player
 * Jason Terry - professional basketball player
 * Myles Turner - professional basketball player

W

 * Chris Webber - retired professional basketball player
 * Dwyane Wade - professional basketball player
 * John Wall - professional basketball player
 * Russell Westbrook - professional basketball player
 * Justise Winslow - professional basketball player
 * T.J. Warren - professional basketball player
 * Dion Waiters - professional basketball player
 * Zion Williamson - basketball player
 * Lou Williams - professional basketball player
 * Marvin Williams - professional basketball player
 * Hassan Whiteside - professional basketball player
 * Coby White - professional basketball player

Y

 * Trae Young (African-American father) - professional basketball player

Boxing




A

 * Henry Armstrong, professional boxer
 * Devon Alexander, professional boxer
 * Laila Ali, former professional boxer
 * Muhammad Ali, former professional boxer, activist, philanthropist, recognized as the greatest athlete of all time
 * Rahman Ali, former heavyweight boxer

B

 * Lamon Brewster, retired professional boxer
 * Shannon Briggs, professional boxer
 * Adrien Broner, professional boxer
 * Joe Brown, former professional boxer
 * Riddick Bowe, former professional boxer

C

 * Terence Crawford, professional boxer

D

 * Howard Davis Jr., former professional boxer
 * Michael Dokes, former professional boxer

E

 * Jimmy Ellis, professional boxer

F

 * George Foreman, retired professional boxer
 * Joe Frazier, former professional boxer

G

 * George Godfrey, former professional boxer

H

 * Larry Holmes, retired professional boxer
 * Evander Holyfield, retired professional boxer
 * Marvelous Marvin Hagler, former professional boxer

J

 * Beau Jack, former lightweight boxer
 * Jack Johnson, former professional boxer
 * Roy Jones Jr., retired professional boxer
 * Zab Judah, professional boxer

L

 * John Henry Lewis, former professional boxer
 * Sugar Ray Leonard, former professional boxer
 * Sonny Liston, professional boxer
 * Rocky Lockridge, former professional boxer
 * Joe Louis, former professional boxer
 * Ron Lyle, professional boxer

M

 * Floyd Mayweather Sr., retired professional boxer
 * Floyd Mayweather Jr., former professional boxer
 * Roger Mayweather, former professional boxer
 * Oliver McCall, professional boxer
 * Ray Mercer, retired professional boxer
 * Archie Moore, professional boxer
 * Shane Mosley, former professional boxer
 * Bob Montgomery, former lightweight boxer

N

 * Ken Norton, former professional boxer

P

 * Floyd Patterson, former professional boxer
 * Aaron Pryor, professional boxer

S

 * Ed Sanders, former professional boxer
 * Earnie Shavers, retired professional boxer
 * Leon Spinks, retired professional boxer
 * Michael Spinks, retired professional boxer
 * Cory Spinks, retired professional boxer

R

 * Hasim Rahman, retired professional boxer
 * Sugar Ray Robinson, professional boxer

T

 * James Toney, former professional boxer
 * Mike Tyson, former professional boxer

W

 * Pernell Whitaker, professional boxer
 * Deontay Wilder, professional boxer
 * Tim Witherspoon, former professional boxer
 * Chalky Wright, former professional boxer

Fencing

 * Ruth White, retired fencer

Football






B

 * Antonio Brown - professional football player
 * Jim Brown - retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Dez Bryant - professional football player
 * Odell Beckham Jr. - professional football player
 * Le'Veon Bell - professional football player
 * Cedric Benson - professional football player

E

 * Ezekiel Elliot – professional football player

G

 * Rosey Grier - retired professional football player
 * Mel Groomes - former professional football player

H

 * Dwayne Haskins – professional football player

I

 * Michael Irvin - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

J

 * Edwin Jackson – former professional football player
 * Lamar Jackson – professional football player
 * Willie Jeffries – former player and head football coach of South Carolina State University, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
 * Deacon Jones – former professional football player

K

 * Colin Kaepernick (African-American father) - professional football player

L

 * Ray Lewis – retired professional football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame

M

 * Bob Mann - former professional football player
 * Khalil Mack – professional football player
 * Kyler Murray – professional football player
 * Marion Motley - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Randy Moss – retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

N

 * Cam Newton - professional football player

O

 * Terrell Owens - retired professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

P

 * Dak Prescott – professional football player
 * Walter Payton - former professional football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Joe Perry - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

S

 * Barry Sanders - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Deion Sanders - former professional football & baseball player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Warren Sapp – retired professional football player
 * O.J. Simpson - former professional football player
 * Bubba Smith – former professional football player
 * Woody Strode - former professional football player
 * Terrell Suggs - professional football player

T

 * George Taliaferro - former professional football player

V

 * Michael Vick - retired professional football player

W

 * Damien Woody - retired professional football player
 * Jameis Winston - professional football player
 * Russell Wilson - professional football player
 * Bill Willis - former professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Hines Ward (African American father) - retired professional football player
 * Deshaun Watson - professional football player
 * Herschel Walker - retired professional football player
 * Kenny Washington – former professional football player
 * Fred Williamson – retired professional football player
 * Carl Weathers – retired professional football player

Golf

 * Jerry Bruner, professional golfer
 * Althea Gibson, former professional golfer
 * Calvin Peete, former professional golfer
 * Renee Powell, professional golfer
 * Charlie Sifford, professional golfer
 * Bill Spiller, former professional golfer
 * Jim Thorpe, professional golfer
 * Tiger Woods (African American father), professional golfer, winner of 14 major championships
 * Harold Varner III, professional golfer

Gymnastics

 * Simone Biles, gymnist
 * Dominique Dawes
 * Gabby Douglas
 * Kyla Ross
 * Tasha Schwikert

Swimming

 * Cullen Jones
 * Simone Manuel

A

 * Arthur Ashe - retired professional tennis player

B

 * James Blake - professional tennis player

G

 * Zina Garrison - retired professional tennis player
 * Althea Gibson - retired professional tennis player
 * Cori Gauff – professional tennis player

J

 * Jarmere Jenkins - retired professional tennis player

K

 * Madison Keys - professional tennis player

M

 * Nicholas Monroe - professional tennis player

R

 * Chanda Rubin - professional tennis player

S

 * Bryan Shelton - retired professional tennis player

T

 * Taylor Townsend - professional tennis player

S

 * Sloane Stephens - professional tennis player

W

 * Mashona Washington - retired professional tennis player
 * Richard Williams - professional tennis coach
 * Serena Williams - professional tennis player
 * Venus Williams - professional tennis player

Y

 * Donald Young - professional tennis player

A

 * Charles Austin, retired track and field athlete

B

 * Ronnie Baker, professional track and field athlete
 * Bob Beamon, retired track and field athlete
 * Larry Black, former track and field athlete
 * Trayvon Bromell, professional track and field athlete
 * Ralph Boston, former track and field athlete
 * Leroy Burrell, retired track and field athlete

C

 * Milt Campbell, former track and field athlete
 * Henry Carr, former track and field athlete
 * Andre Cason, retired track and field athlete
 * Jearl Miles Clark, retired track and field athlete
 * Kerron Clement, professional track and field athlete
 * Alice Coachman, former track and field athlete
 * Wayne Collett, former track and field athlete
 * Christian Coleman, professional track and field athlete
 * Mike Conley Sr., retired track and field athlete
 * Shawn Crawford, retired track and field athlete
 * Josh Culbreath, retired track and field athlete

D

 * Tony Darden, retired track and field athlete
 * Otis Davis, retired track and field athlete
 * Walter Davis, professional track and field athlete
 * Harrison Dillard, retired track and field athlete
 * Jon Drummond, retired track and field athlete

E

 * Ashton Eaton, retired track and field athlete

F

 * Allyson Felix, professional track and field athlete
 * Phyllis Francis, professional track and field athlete

G

 * Justin Gatlin, professional track and field athlete
 * Tyson Gay, professional track and field athlete
 * Charles Green, professional track and field athlete
 * Maurice Greene, retired track and field athlete

H

 * Elijah Hall, professional track and field athlete
 * Danny Harris, retired track and field athlete
 * Otis Harris, professional track and field athlete
 * Alvin Harrison, retired track and field athlete
 * Jeff Henderson, professional track and field athlete
 * Jim Hines, retired track and field athlete

J

 * Bershawn Jackson, professional track and field athlete
 * Cornelius Johnson, former track and field athlete
 * Michael Johnson, retired track and field athlete
 * Rafer Johnson, retired track and field athlete
 * Al Joyner, retired track and field athlete
 * Jackie Joyner-Kersee, retired track and field athlete
 * Florence Griffith Joyner, former track and field athlete

K

 * Roger Kingdom, retired track and field athlete
 * Erik Kynard, professional track and field athlete

L

 * Brian Lewis, professional track and field athlete
 * Carl Lewis, retired track and field athlete
 * Noah Lyles, professional track and field athlete

M

 * Michael Marsh, retired track and field athlete
 * Vincent Matthews, retired track and field athlete
 * Tony McQuay, professional track and field athlete
 * Aries Merritt, professional track and field athlete
 * LaShawn Merritt, professional track and field athlete
 * Ralph Metcalfe, former track and field athlete
 * Rod Milburn, former track and field athlete
 * Tim Montgomery, retired track and field athlete
 * Edwin Moses, retired track and field athlete

N

 * Dave Neville, retired track and field athlete

O

 * Dan O'Brien, retired track and field athlete
 * David Oliver, professional track and field athlete
 * Jesse Owens, former track and field athlete

P

 * Darvis Patton, retired track and field athlete
 * David Payne, professional track and field athlete
 * Mike Powell, retired track and field athlete

R

 * Mack Robinson, retired track and field athlete
 * Mike Rodgers, professional track and field athlete
 * Wilma Rudolph, former track and field athlete
 * Butch Reynolds, retired track and field athlete

S

 * Wallace Spearmon, professional track and field athlete
 * Ronnie Ray Smith, former track and field athlete
 * Tommie Smith, retired track and field athlete

T

 * Eddie Tolan, former track and field athlete
 * Gwen Torrence, retired track and field athlete

W

 * Willye White, former track and field athlete
 * Archie Williams, former track and field athlete

Y

 * Kevin Young, retired track and field athlete

Wrestling

 * Sasha Banks, professional wrestler
 * Mark Henry, former professional wrestler
 * King Booker, retired professional wrestler
 * Titus O'Neil, professional wrestler
 * Xavier Woods, professional wrestler

Martial Arts

 * Daniel Cormier, mixed martial artist
 * Jon Jones, mixed martial artist
 * Kevin Lee (fighter), mixed martial artist
 * Tyron Woodley, mixed martial artist

First Ladies of the United States

 * Michelle Obama, (2009–2017) the first African American First Lady and the 44th First Lady

Anthologies of biographies
There is a substantial body of literature, much of it by African Americans, that collects biographies of black leaders. Notable examples in this genre are:
 * 100 Greatest African Americans
 * The Afro-American Press and Its Editors
 * Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance
 * Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising
 * Music and Some Highly Musical People
 * Noted Negro Women: Their Triumphs and Activities

Others

 * African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska, including a list of notable African Americans from Omaha
 * List of African American actors
 * List of African-American astronauts
 * List of first black Major League Baseball players
 * List of black NHL players
 * Black players in professional American football
 * List of black quarterbacks
 * Race and ethnicity in the NBA
 * List of African-American singers
 * List of African American pioneers in desegregation of higher education
 * List of winners of the William E. Harmon foundation award for distinguished achievement among Negroes
 * List of African American LGBT
 * List of African-American writers