African Americans From Michigan

Famous black celebrities from Michigan, include Serena Williams, Ben Carson, Claressa Shields.
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 1 
Serena Williams
(One of the Greatest Tennis Players of All-Time)
Serena Williams
193
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 26, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, United States

With 39 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams is clearly amongst the greatest female tennis players in the history. With 23 Grand Slam singles win, she is just a win away from equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles. She has bagged the top spot in WTA’s world ranking numerous times.

 2 
Ben Carson
(U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development (2017 – 2021))
Ben Carson
94
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is credited with many pioneering neurosurgical procedures. He became a Library of Congress “Living Legend” and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He later contested in the 2016 presidential primaries, has authored numerous books, was a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and earned 60 honorary doctorates.

 3 
Ernie Hudson
(Actor)
Ernie Hudson
11
Birthdate: December 17, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
 4 
Jalen Rose
(Basketball player)
Jalen Rose
11
Birthdate: January 30, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 5 
Sinbad
(Stand-up comedian)
Sinbad
8
Birthdate: November 10, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States
 6 
Chris Webber
(Basketball player Power Forward, Businessperson)
Chris Webber
13
Birthdate: March 1, 1973
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 7 
David Alan Grier
(actor, screenwriter, stage actor, television actor)
David Alan Grier
7
Birthdate: June 30, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit
 8 
Tim Meadows
(American actor)
Tim Meadows
6
Birthdate: February 5, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Highland Park, Michigan, United States
 9 
Jackie Wilson
(Singer)
Jackie Wilson
4
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 9, 1934
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: January 21, 1984
 10 
Berry Gordy
(Record Executive)
Berry Gordy
19
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 28, 1929
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan, United States
 11 
JaVale McGee
(Basketball player)
JaVale McGee
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 19, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, USA
 12 
S. Epatha Merkerson
(Film Actress)
S. Epatha Merkerson
16
Birthdate: November 28, 1952
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, United States
 13 
Antonio Gates
(American Football Players)
Antonio Gates
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 18, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
 14 
Xzibit
(Rapper known for his third album, Restless was a certified platinum in the U.S)
Xzibit
23
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 18, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 15 
Denise Nicholas
8
Birthdate: July 12, 1944
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 16 
Claressa Shields
(Mixed Martial Artist and the Only Boxer in History to Hold the ‘WBA’, ‘WBC’, ‘IBF’, and ‘WBO’ Titles)
Claressa Shields
17
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 17, 1995
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States

Boxer and mixed martial artist, Claressa Shields, reigned as the undisputed female middleweight champion from 2019 to 2020. She has previously held multiple WBA, WBC, and IBF female middleweight titles. She is also the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals. She was named the Female Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2018.

 17 
Miles Bridges
(Basketball player)
Miles Bridges
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 21, 1998
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
 18 
Kenya Moore
(Actress & Model)
Kenya Moore
13
Birthdate: January 24, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Kenya Moore is an American model, actress, entrepreneur, and author. She achieved popularity after winning the 1993 Miss USA contest, becoming only the second African-American woman to do so. Subsequently, she established herself as an actress and TV personality and then used her fame to branch out into entrepreneurial ventures; she is credited with founding Moore Hair, a haircare brand.

 19 
Levi Stubbs
(Baritone Singer)
Levi Stubbs
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: June 6, 1936
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: October 17, 2008
 20 
Roger Mayweather
(American Boxing Trainer and Former Professional Boxer)
Roger Mayweather
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Died: March 17, 2020
 21 
James Toney
(American Former Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1988 to 2017)
James Toney
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 24, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
 22 
Sam Richardson
(Actor)
Sam Richardson
8
Birthdate: January 12, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
 23 
Issac Ryan Brown
(Child Actor)
Issac Ryan Brown
26
Birthdate: July 12, 2005
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
 24 
Brandi Rhodes
(American Professional Wrestler)
Brandi Rhodes
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Canton, Michigan, United States
 25 
John Conyers
(Politician)
John Conyers
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 16, 1929
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Highland Park, Michigan, United States
Died: October 27, 2019
 26 
David Ramsey
(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series 'Arrow' and 'Dexter')
David Ramsey
2
Birthdate: November 17, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Best known for his roles in series such as Arrow and Dexter, David Ramsey is also a black belt in the martial art Jeet Kune Do and is well-versed in kickboxing and taekwondo, too. Apart from Arrow, he has played John Diggle/Spartan in three other series, including The Flash and Supergirl.

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 27 
Kash Doll
(Rapper)
Kash Doll
20
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 14, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 28 
Danny Brown
(Rapper)
Danny Brown
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 16, 1981
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 29 
Tony Burton
(American Actor Known for His Role as Tony "Duke" Evers in the Rocky Films)
Tony Burton
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 23, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
Died: February 25, 2016
 30 
CeCe Winans
(Musician, Singer)
CeCe Winans
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 8, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Detroit

Born to a gospel singer father, CeCe Winans and her nine siblings would often sing at church events. The 12-time Grammy-winning artist soared to fame with her debut solo album, Alone in His Presence. She is also known for her collaborative tracks with her brother BeBe and her friend Whitney Houston.

 31 
Deborah Joy Winans
3
Birthdate: September 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 32 
Alice Coltrane
(Musician)
Alice Coltrane
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 27, 1937
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: January 12, 2007
 33 
Diona Reasonover
5
Birthdate: January 6, 1992
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 34 
B. J. Armstrong
(Basketball player)
B. J. Armstrong
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 9, 1967
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 35 
Allen Robinson
(American football player)
Allen Robinson
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 24, 1993
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 36 
BeBe Winans
(Gospel and R&B Singer and Member of the Noted 'Winans Family')
BeBe Winans
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: September 17, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Best known for his collaborative work with his sister CeCe, BeBe Winans is a Grammy-winning gospel and R&B singer. He is also known for his chartbusting solo tracks such as In Harm's Way and I Wanna Be the Only One. He also released a memoir on close friend Whitney Houston.

 37 
Christian Keyes
(Actor, Model)
Christian Keyes
4
Birthdate: July 24, 1975
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, US
 38 
Donovan Peoples-Jones
(Football player)
Donovan Peoples-Jones
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 19, 1999
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 39 
Jordan Crawford
(Basketball player)
Jordan Crawford
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 23, 1988
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 40 
Ron Carter
(Musician)
Ron Carter
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ferndale, Michigan, U.S.
 41 
Greg Mathis
(Judge)
Greg Mathis
5
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: April 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
 42 
Devin Funchess
(American football player)
Devin Funchess
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 21, 1994
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 43 
Angel Haze
(Rapper)
Angel Haze
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 10, 1991
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 44 
James Young
(Basketball player)
James Young
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 16, 1995
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
 45 
Donald Byrd
(Musician)
Donald Byrd
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 9, 1932
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: February 4, 2013
 46 
Kay Felder
(Basketball Player)
Kay Felder
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 29, 1995
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 47 
Chris Byrd
(Boxer)
Chris Byrd
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 15, 1970
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States
 48 
Adina Howard
(Singer-songwriter)
Adina Howard
2
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
 49 
Bryn Forbes
(Basketball player)
Bryn Forbes
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 23, 1993
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States
 50 
Thomas Rawls
(American football player)
Thomas Rawls
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 3, 1993
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States