African Americans From Arkansas

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Famous black celebrities from Arkansas, include Joe Jackson, Sonny Liston, Rudy Ray Moore.
Vote for Your Favourite African Americans From Arkansas
 1 
Sonny Liston
(Professional Boxer)
Sonny Liston
20
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
7
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 
Derek Fisher
(Basketball coach)
Derek Fisher
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 9, 1974
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 4 
Mike Conley, Jr.
(Basketball player)
Mike Conley, Jr.
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 11, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
 5 
Eldridge Cleaver
(American Writer and Political Activist who Became an Early Leader of the Black Panther Party)
Eldridge Cleaver
11
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 31, 1935
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Wabbaseka, Arkansas
Died: May 1, 1998
 6 
Joe Johnson
(Basketball player)
Joe Johnson
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 29, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 7 
Charlie Strong
(American football coach)
Charlie Strong
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 2, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Batesville, Arkansas, United States
 8 
Lawrence Phillips
(American football player)
Lawrence Phillips
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 12, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 13, 2016
 9 
Jahlil Okafor
(Basketball player - Center)
Jahlil Okafor
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 15, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
 10 
Darren McFadden
(American Football Player)
Darren McFadden
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 27, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: North Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
 11 
Sheryl Underwood
18
Birthdate: October 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 12 
Bobby Portis
(Basketball player)
Bobby Portis
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 10, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 13 
Glen Rice
(Basketball player)
Glen Rice
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 28, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Arkansas, United States
 14 
Lou Brock
(Baseball player)
Lou Brock
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 18, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
 15 
Malik Monk
(Basketball player)
Malik Monk
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 4, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States
 16 
Moses Moody
(Basketball player)
Moses Moody
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 31, 2002
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 17 
Torii Hunter
(Baseball player)
Torii Hunter
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 18, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 18 
Sidney Moncrief
(American Former Professional Basketball Player)
Sidney Moncrief
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 21, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 19 
Cortez Kennedy
(American football player)
Cortez Kennedy
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died: May 23, 2017
 20 
Luenell
(Actress)
Luenell
14
Birthdate: March 12, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tollette, Arkansas, United States
 21 
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
 22 
Bobo Brazil
(Wrestler)
Bobo Brazil
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 10, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: January 20, 1998
 23 
Paul Silas
(Basketball player, Basketball coach)
Paul Silas
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 12, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Prescott, Arkansas, United States
 24 
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
 25 
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 
Fat Lever
(Basketball player)
Fat Lever
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
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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 
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
 30 
Dre Greenlaw
(American Football Player)
Dre Greenlaw
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 25, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Conway, Arkansas, United States
 31 
Little Willie John
2
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 15, 1937
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cullendale, Arkansas, U.S.
Died: May 26, 1968
 32 
Isaiah Joe
(Basketball player)
Isaiah Joe
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 2, 1999
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
 33 
Daniel Gafford
(Basketball player)
Daniel Gafford
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 1, 1998
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, United States
 34 
Archie Goodwin
(Basketball player)
Archie Goodwin
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 17, 1994
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 35 
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
 36 
K. J. Hill
(American Football Player)
K. J. Hill
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 15, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Arkansas, United States
 37 
Kevin Williams
(American Football Player)
Kevin Williams
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States
 38 
Minnijean Brown-Trickey
(Political leader, Civil Rights Activist)
Minnijean Brown-Trickey
2
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: September 11, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 39 
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
 40 
Jim Hines
(American Track and Field Athlete Who Held the 100-Meter World Record for 15 Years)
Jim Hines
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dumas, Arkansas, United States
 41 
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.

 42 
Daryl Macon
(Basketball player)
Daryl Macon
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 29, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
 43 
Willie Roaf
(American football player)
Willie Roaf
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 18, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States
 44 
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. 

 45 
Michael Cage
(Basketball player)
Michael Cage
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: West Memphis, Arkansas, United States
 46 
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
 47 
Florence Price
(Composer)
Florence Price
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 1887 AD
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Died: 1953 AD
 48 
Jeremy Sprinkle
(American Football Player)
Jeremy Sprinkle
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 10, 1994
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: White Hall, Arkansas, United States
 49 
Fred Jones
(Basketball player)
Fred Jones
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 11, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Malvern, Arkansas, United States
 50 
Robert McFerrin
(American Operatic Baritone Who Became the First African-American to Perform at 'Metropolitan Opera')
Robert McFerrin
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 19, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Marianna, Arkansas, United States
Died: November 24, 2006

Robert McFerrin was an American operatic baritone. In 1955, he performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera, becoming the first African-American to do so. He was also the first African-American to win the Auditions of the Air contest at the Metropolitan Opera. Robert McFerrin is credited with inspiring a generation of African-American singers.