The 30 Most “Black Famous” Celebrities

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Black people have a mutual understanding about many things —especially art and entertainment— that is unspoken, yet well-understood. If you can sing along to the Tom Joyner Morning Show theme song, recognize the voice of Loretta Devine, or answer who David Ruffin said “they ain’t coming to see,”…you’re probably hip to the “black famous” folks.

The term “black famous” was recently coined to refer to celebs whose fame lies mainly within the black community. These entertainers, actors, comedians, and personalities may not be popular in the mainstream but are undoubtedly cherished in the culture and considered ‘A’s on our list of stars.

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The difference between famous black celebrities and “black famous” celebrities is best explained by writer Michael Harriot, who is credited for first initiating the dialogue around “blackfamous” stardom (via Twitter).

“Blackfamous” is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity.

For instance: The highest possible rating on the “blackfamous” scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person.

So I ask: Who is the most “blackfamous” person of all time?

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) December 14, 2019

“A person becomes ‘Blackfamous’ when most Black people know their name and face, but white people often have no clue. For example, while Barack Obama is famous famous, actor Clifton Powell is the standard-bearer for Blackfame — even if you don’t know his name, you know who he is and have enjoyed his work. ” –Michael Harriot

In no particular order, here’s our list…

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