Asante Blackk

Blackk in 2020, photo by DFree/www.bigstockphoto.com/

Birth Name: Asante Duah Ma’at

Place of Birth: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 20, 2001

Ethnicity: African-American, as well as African-Caribbean/Black British, 1/16th Jewish

Asante Blackk is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the mini-series When They See Us and the show This Is Us.

He is the son of Aiyana and Ayize Ma’at (born Myrell A. Morton). Asante’s aunt (mother’s sister) is actress Samira Wiley. His maternal grandparents, The Rev. Dennis W. Wiley and The Rev. Christine Y. Wiley, Ph.D., are co-pastors of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, known as “pillars of the LGBT religious community.”

Aside from African-American, Asante is said to have ancestors from England and Trinidad on his mother’s side. It is not clear if this is accurate.

Asante’s paternal grandfather was Ray Ellis Morton, Jr. (the son of Ray Ellis Morton and Henrietta Winston). Asante’s grandfather Ray was born in Virginia. Asante’s great-grandfather Ray was the son of Grover Cleveland Morton and Susie Tyler. Henrietta was the daughter of Doc Winston and Julia.

Asante’s paternal grandmother was Sharon Marie Johnson (the daughter of Charles Westry and Sara B. Johnson). Sharon was born in Washington, D.C.

Asante’s maternal grandfather is Dennis W. Wiley (the son of The Rev. Herley/Herlie/Hurley Wesley Wiley and Doris White). The Rev. Herley was born in North Carolina, and was one of the first African-American pastors to be in charge of a predominantly white church, in Washington D.C. He was the son of The Rev. John Westly/Wesley Wiley and Cora Bell/Belle Swift.

Asante’s maternal grandmother is The Rev. Christine Y. Wiley. The Rev. Christine was born in London, England. Her grandmother was said to be a Jewish woman who married an African-Caribbean man.

Sources: http://theopenedbox.com

Marriage record of Asante’s paternal grandparents, Ray Ellis Morton, Jr. and Sharon Marie Johnson – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Asante’s paternal great-grandfather, Ray Ellis Morton – https://www.findagrave.com

Birth record of Asante’s maternal great-grandfather, Herley/Herlie/Hurley Wesley Wiley – https://familysearch.org

Asante’s maternal great-grandfather, Herley/Herlie/Hurley Wesley Wiley, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Asante’s maternal great-grandfather, The Rev. Herley/Herlie/Hurley Wesley Wiley – http://www.legacy.com

Genealogies of Asante’s maternal great-great-grandparents, The Rev. John Westly/Wesley Wiley and Cora Bell/Belle (Swift) Wiley – https://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of Asante’s maternal great-great-grandparents, The Rev. John Westly/Wesley Wiley and Cora Bell/Belle Swift – https://familysearch.org

Asante’s maternal great-great-grandfather, John Westly/Wesley Wiley, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Asante’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Cora Bell/Belle (Swift) Wiley – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Asante’s maternal great-grandmother, Doris (White) Wiley – http://www.legacy.com

Biography of Asante’s maternal grandmother, The Rev. Christine Y. Wiley, Ph.D. – https://lgbtqreligiousarchives.org