10 African Americans With Native Ancestry

Being that February is Black History Month we thought it was appropriate to honor some African Americans who share some Native American ancestry. According to William Loren Katz, the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage, speculates that a “vast majority” of African Americans today also share Native Ancestry.

Though not all of the specific tribes are known, the Native heritage of these historic notables has been documented, researched or claimed by them in their lifetime in some way or another.

In appreciation of these notables who have contributed to society in some way or another, here are 10 African Americans you may not have known have some Native ancestry.

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Michael Jackson (and all the Jacksons)

In an interview with Joe Jackson in the book The Jacksons he tells the readers that he has Choctaw in his family history. There are also unconfirmed accounts that Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, has Blackfoot ancestry.