African Americans From Arkansas

Famous black celebrities from Arkansas, include Sonny Liston, Joe Jackson, Rudy Ray Moore.
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 1 
Sonny Liston
(Professional Boxer)
Sonny Liston
23
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 8, 1932
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sand Slough, Arkansas, United States
Died: December 30, 1970
Renowned as the Big Bear, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight champion in 1962. Known for his intimidating appearance, formidable punching power, toughness, and long reach, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Widely regarded as unbeatable, he lost the WBC title to Muhammad Ali, in 1964.
 2 
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
(Gospel Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist Known for Using Heavy Distortion on Her Electric Guitar)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 20, 1915
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cotton Plant, Arkansas, United States
Died: October 9, 1973

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an American recording artist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter. Characterized by a mixture of electric guitar and spiritual lyrics, Tharpe's music played an influential role in the development of rock and roll. Her music influenced several rock-and-roll musicians like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry. She is often referred to as the Godmother of rock and roll.

 3 
Mike Conley, Jr.
(Basketball player)
Mike Conley, Jr.
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 11, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
 4 
Joe Johnson
(Basketball player)
Joe Johnson
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 29, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 5 
Derek Fisher
(Basketball coach)
Derek Fisher
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 9, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 6 
Lawrence Phillips
(American football player)
Lawrence Phillips
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 12, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 13, 2016
 7 
Jahlil Okafor
(Basketball player - Center)
Jahlil Okafor
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 15, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
 8 
Darren McFadden
(American Football Player)
Darren McFadden
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 27, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: North Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
 9 
Eldridge Cleaver
(American Writer and Political Activist who Became an Early Leader of the Black Panther Party)
Eldridge Cleaver
17
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 31, 1935
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Wabbaseka, Arkansas
Died: May 1, 1998
 10 
Charlie Strong
(American football coach)
Charlie Strong
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 2, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Batesville, Arkansas, United States
 11 
Bobby Portis
(Basketball player)
Bobby Portis
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 10, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 12 
Malik Monk
(Basketball player)
Malik Monk
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 4, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States
 13 
Glen Rice
(Basketball player)
Glen Rice
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 28, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Arkansas, United States
 14 
Sheryl Underwood
23
Birthdate: October 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 15 
Lou Brock
(Baseball player)
Lou Brock
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 18, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
 16 
Moses Moody
(Basketball player)
Moses Moody
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 31, 2002
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 17 
Sidney Moncrief
(American Former Professional Basketball Player)
Sidney Moncrief
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 21, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 18 
Torii Hunter
(Baseball player)
Torii Hunter
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 18, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 19 
Cortez Kennedy
(American football player)
Cortez Kennedy
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died: May 23, 2017
 20 
Louis Jordan
(Singer, Actor, Saxophonist, Jazz musician)
Louis Jordan
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 8, 1908
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Arkansas
Died: February 4, 1975
 21 
Luenell
(Actress)
Luenell
14
Birthdate: March 12, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tollette, Arkansas, United States
 22 
Bobo Brazil
(Wrestler)
Bobo Brazil
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 10, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 20, 1998
 23 
Fat Lever
(Basketball player)
Fat Lever
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 24 
Paul Silas
(Basketball player, Basketball coach)
Paul Silas
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 12, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Prescott, Arkansas, United States
 25 
Big Bill Broonzy
(Singer)
Big Bill Broonzy
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 26, 1893
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lake Dick, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 15, 1958
 26 
John H. Johnson
(Publisher, Entrepreneur)
John H. Johnson
4
Birthdate: January 19, 1918
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arkansas City, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 8, 2005
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 27 
Corliss Williamson
(Basketball coach, Basketball player)
Corliss Williamson
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 4, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Russellville, Arkansas, United States
 28 
Keljin Blevins
(Basketball player)
Keljin Blevins
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 24, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
 29 
Dre Greenlaw
(American Football Player)
Dre Greenlaw
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 25, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Conway, Arkansas, United States
 30 
Isaiah Joe
(Basketball player)
Isaiah Joe
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 2, 1999
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
 31 
Bobby Mitchell
(American football player)
Bobby Mitchell
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 6, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Died: April 5, 2020
 32 
Little Willie John
(Singer)
Little Willie John
2
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 15, 1937
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cullendale, Arkansas, U.S.
Died: May 26, 1968
 33 
Goose Tatum
(Baseball player)
Goose Tatum
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 31, 1921
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 18, 1967
 34 
Jermain Taylor
(Boxer)
Jermain Taylor
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 11, 1978
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 35 
Daniel Gafford
(Basketball player)
Daniel Gafford
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 1, 1998
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
 36 
Joe Barry Carroll
(Basketball Player)
Joe Barry Carroll
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 24, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 37 
Archie Goodwin
(Basketball player)
Archie Goodwin
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 17, 1994
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 38 
K. J. Hill
(American Football Player)
K. J. Hill
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 15, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Arkansas, United States
 39 
Willie Roaf
(American football player)
Willie Roaf
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 18, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 40 
Jim Hines
(American Track and Field Athlete Who Held the 100-Meter World Record for 15 Years)
Jim Hines
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dumas, Arkansas, United States
 41 
Kevin Williams
(American Football Player)
Kevin Williams
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States
 42 
Luther Allison
(Guitarist)
Luther Allison
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 17, 1939
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Widener, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 12, 1997
 43 
Minnijean Brown-Trickey
(Political leader, Civil Rights Activist)
Minnijean Brown-Trickey
3
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: September 11, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 44 
William Warfield
(American Singer and Actor)
William Warfield
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 22, 1920
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: West Helena, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 25, 2002

William Warfield was an American singer and actor. He achieved popularity during the Civil Rights era and received many prestigious awards, including a Grammy Award. Best remembered for his appearances in television programs, Hollywood films, and stage productions, William Warfield also taught at academic institutions and represented the US during foreign tours.

 45 
Daryl Macon
(Basketball player)
Daryl Macon
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 29, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 46 
Howard Sims
(African-American Tap Dancer)
Howard Sims
0
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: January 24, 1917
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
Died: May 20, 2003

Howard Sims was an African-American dancer who specialized in tap dance. He was a regular attraction at Harlem's Apollo Theater from the 1950s to 2000. In the 1980s, he helped revive the interest in tap dance by serving as a cultural ambassador and touring around the world. His dancing skills earned him appearances in films and TV shows. 

 47 
Jeremy Sprinkle
(American Football Player)
Jeremy Sprinkle
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 10, 1994
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: White Hall, Arkansas, United States
 48 
Nathaniel Clifton
(Basketball Player)
Nathaniel Clifton
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 13, 1922
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 31, 1990
 49 
Sonny Weems
(Basketball Player)
Sonny Weems
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 8, 1986
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: West Memphis, Arkansas, United States
 50 
Michael Cage
(Basketball player)
Michael Cage
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: West Memphis, Arkansas, United States