In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, we’re highlighting Black celebrities who have Native American ancestry.
Below you’ll find a list of musicians, political figures and actors who have family connections like grandparents or in some cases, unknown familial ties to Indigenous American ancestry.
You may be surprised by some of the celebrities listed. I know we were!
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Black Celebrities with Native American Roots was originally published on rickeysmileymorningshow.com
1. Christian Keyes
Source:GettyActor Christian Keyes once explained his ethnic breakdown as Black, French and Native American.
2. Jimi Hendrix
Source:GettyLate rocker Jimi Hendrix had a grandmother with Cherokee heritage.
3. Solange and Beyonce
Source:GettySolange and Beyonce are part Native American through their mother, Tina Lawson’s family lineage.
4. Vivica A. Fox
Source:GettyAccording to various reports, actress Vivica A. Fox is part Native American.
5. Ben Harper
Musician Ben Harper’s grandmother was part Cherokee.
6. Tiger Woods
Source:GettyTiger Woods has Native American roots through his late father Earl Woods, who once identified himself as, “half-black, one-quarter American Indian, and one-quarter Chinese,” according to liveabout.com
7. Joe Louis
Source:GettyJoe Louis reportedly had a grandmother who was Cherokee.
8. Eartha Kitt
The legendary Eartha Kitt’s mother was Black and Native American according to various reports online.
9. Coretta Scott King
Source:GettyThe late Coretta Scott King reportedly had Creek ancestry.
10. Lena Horne
Source:GettyActress and singer Lena Horne was Black, White and Native American.
11. Joe Jackson
Source:GettyBefore his death, Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson was very open and proud of his Choctaw ancestry.
12. James Earl Jones
Source:GettyJames Earl Jones (pictured right) shared that his grandmother was part Cherokee and Choctaw.
13. Rosa Parks
Source:GettyThe late Rosa Parks reportedly had a great grandmother who was of Native American descent.
14. James Brown
According to various reports, Soul and Funk legend James Brown was part Native American.
15. Rosario Dawson
Source:GettyRosario Dawson is Afro-Cuban, Irish, Puerto Rican and Native American.