African-American Virginians

African-Americans have contributed much to Virginia heritage and culture. The following are a few African-Americans with historic ties to Virginia.

Booker T. Washington – (1856-1915 ) Educator, Founder of Tuskegee Institute http://www.nps.gov/bowa/

Maggie L. Walker – (1864*-1934) Richmond; First woman bank president in America, Advocate of black women's rights http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/ biographies/walker-ml.html
http://www.nps.gov/ malw/home.htm
* A discovery in 2009 revealed bank records showing Walker's birth earlier than the widely believed 1867 date.

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson – (1878-1949) Richmond; Dancer, stage and screen actor in early 1900s http://www.kathleenacademy.com/ funzone/bojangls.html

Dr. Edwin B. Henderson - (1883-1977) Washington, DC, settled in Falls Church for more than 50 years; "Grandfather of Black Basketball;" Introduced basketball to African-Americans on a wide-scale, organized basis in 1904; Author of The Negro in Sports (1939); Principle organizer of the first rural branch of the NAACP
http://www.tinnerhill.org/history/

Roger Arliner Young - (1889-1964) Clifton Forge; Aoologist; The first African-American woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in zoology http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0800427.html

Ella Fitzgerald – (1917-96) Newport News; "The First Lady of Song;" Grammy Award-winning Jazz Singer http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/

Pearl Bailey – (1918-88) Newport News; Actress, Singer and Author; Tony Award (1967); Medal of Freedom Award (1988) http://www.norfolk.gov/WalkOfFame/Pearl_Bailey.asp

L. Douglas Wilder – (1931- ) Richmond; First elected African-American Governor in U.S. history http://www.vahistorical.org/sva2003/wilder.htm

Arthur Ashe – (1943-93) Richmond; Tennis player, writer, commentator; Wimbledon champion (1975); Medal of Freedom Award (1993) http://www.cmgww.com/sports/ashe/about/bio.htm
http://www.arthurashe.org

Tim Reid – (1944 - ) Norfolk; TV actor, director "WKRP in Cincinnati", "Simon & Simon", "Sister, Sister"
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005347/

Willie Lanier – (1945- ) Clover; Football player, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-77); member, pro football Hall of Fame (1986) http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=122

Spencer Christian – (1947- ) Charles City; TV weatherman for ABC's "Good Morning America" http://premierespeakers.com/spencer_christian/bio

Rita Dove – (1951- ) Akron, Ohio; Currently teaches at UVA; Common Wealth Award of Distinguised Service (2006); Duke Ellington Lifetime Acheivement Award (2001); U.S. Poet Laureate (1993-95), Pulitzer Prize winner (1987) http://people.virginia.edu/~rfd4b/

Moses Malone – (1955- ) Petersburg; basketball player; ABA Utah Stars, St. Louis Spirits (1974-76); NBA Buffalo Braves, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers (1976-95); NBA MVP (1979, '82, '83); named "One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History" (1996); member, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2001) http://www.nba.com/history/players/malonem_bio.html

Lawrence Taylor – (1959- ) Williamsburg; football player; Second Overall Draft Pick (NFL Draft, 1981), New York Giants (1981-93); member, pro football Hall of Fame (1999) http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=212

Bruce Smith – (1963- ) Norfolk; Football player; Outland Trophy winner at Virginia Tech (1984) , First Overall Draft Pick (NFL Draft, 1985), Buffalo Bills, Washington, Redskins; member, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2005); member, College Football Hall of Fame (2006) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Smith

Blair Underwood – (1964- ) Tacoma, WA moved to different states before settling in Alexandria, VA; Actor, film and television credits include "Full Frontal," "Rules of Engagement," "City of Angels," "LAX," "L.A. Law;" NAACP Image Award Winner (1992, '95, '99, 2001) http://www.blairunderwood.com/bio.html

Pernell Whitaker – (1964- ) Norfolk; Boxer; Olympic Gold Medalist (1984); member, International Boxing Hall of Fame (2006) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernell_Whitaker

Alonzo Mourning – (1970- ) Chesapeake; Basketball player; NBA Charlotte Hornets (1992-95), Miami Heat (1995-present); Olympic Gold Medalist (2000) http://amcharities.org/

Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-ah "Tiki" Barber - (1975- ) Roanoke; Football player, sports broadcaster, author; NFL New York Giants (1997-2006); NBC's "Today," "Football Night in America" and "Sunday Night Football" (2007-present); identical twin brother of "Ronde" Barber. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki_Barber

Jamael Orondé "Ronde" Barber - (1975- ) Roanoke; Football player, author; NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997-present); Super Bowl XXXVII winner vs. Oakland Raiders (2003); identical twin brother of "Tiki" Barber. http://www.nfl.com/players/rondebarber/profile?id=BAR048197

» Back to Famous Virginians

Did we miss someone? Kindly let us know!

Family & Kids Home