Ashanti
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Birth Name: Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas
Place of Birth: Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: October 13, 1980
Ethnicity: African-American
Ashanti is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. Her songs include “Foolish,” “Rock wit U (Awww Baby),” “Rain on Me,” “Only U,” and “Don’t Let Them,” in a featured role, “Always on Time” and “What’s Luv?,” and, as songwriter, “Ain’t It Funny (Murder Remix).” She has also had leading roles in the films Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die, Resident Evil: Extinction, Mutant World, Mothers and Daughters (2016), and Stuck (2017); and the made-for-tv movie The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.
She is the daughter of Tina Douglas, a dance teacher, and Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, a singer. Her parents are both African-American. In an interview, she stated, “I’m black,” when talking about her ethnicity.
Ashanti is the name of a group in the African nation of Ghana, the Ashanti Empire, where the mother line is of enormous importance. The singer was named after the ethnic group by her mother.
Ashanti’s paternal grandfather was Thomas Gilbert Douglas (the son of Jack Douglas and Alma Campbell). Thomas was born in South Carolina.
Ashanti’s paternal grandmother was named Flora Campbell.
Ashanti’s maternal grandfather was James Davis, a civil rights activist (the son of Issac Davis and Eula Carpenter Jackson). Eula was the daughter of Robert Jackson and Eliza Martin, who were from Greenwood, South Carolina.
Ashanti’s maternal grandmother was named Yvonne Myers.
Sources: Ashanti’s paternal grandfather, Thomas Gilbert Douglas, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Ashanti’s paternal grandfather, Thomas Gilbert Douglas – http://www.hinesfuneralhome.com
Obituary of Ashanti’s maternal grandfather, James Davis – http://www.antonnews.com
She’s very pretty but her makeup is wayyyyyyy to light for her skintone #justsaying
Ya i agree she need to get a new make up artist.lol
I agree with you Sunny B, I am a mixed trini and so my complexion has a yellow overtone when I am not exposed to the sun and when I travel, white people always want to know where I am from….Just because you are black it does not mean you have to be really dark skinned and wear weaves, i think in this day and age it is just plain ignorance. But to me Ashanti looks dougla (east indian and black), usually us trinis can tell because we are integrated
West Indies people usually can tell because as Jem has mentioned, they are use to seeing it so they know. It is only here is the US that too many black and white people are constant asking senseless questions.
The truth the the matter is enough black americans have a similar mixed race background like the people of the West Indies. It is the history of our nation, embrace it, it is not going away.
Everyone in my family is a different skin color, we have different textures of hair and we all have our own look, there are no cookie cutters here. That is what a diverse gene pool does for one.
I hate when people on this site say things like, “Well, she or he is obviously not pure African.” It’s like stating the obvious. African-Americans are descendants of slaves and the ethnicity itself recognizes that the descendants of slaves in the United States are not purebred African. I also hate how they only do it for the African-Americans who do not have dark skin. Newsflash, African-Americans with dark skin are not pure as the driven snow either. Oprah, Don Cheadle, Chris Rock, Tyra Banks’ mother, father, and brother (who are all dark-skinned) are not purebred Africans. I think it’s because the aforementioned people fit their stereotype of “blackness” and that is why they do not bother them. It’s the same with white people. White people with blonde hair and blue eyes fit their stereotype of “whiteness.” Anyone who deviates from these stereotypes must be bothered because it bothers them that they do not look like what they think a black or white person SHOULD look like. And yes, African-Americans have the right to call themselves black, even if somewhere down the line, they have a ancestor of another race.
But I thought this was common sense.
Or do people actually believe in that “racial purity” mess?
You should be the one to use that common sense, African Americans were taken to America as slaves, some were harrassed sexually”which was unfortunate and im sorry for that”, some intermarried. Thsi however doesn’t neccessarily mean that all the afrcan americans are mixed. In the case for Africa, the colonizers were there and they experienced the same experience, some of the africans are mixed and most are pure black. You say you are all mixed?? where? accept your black roots,stop placing yourself where you are not. if you are mixed fine but some cases are just outrageouse, people saying that they are not black and they look atleast 90%.why is this so? why do you dilike the black race? Afrians look up to African Americans and speak hightly of them,if only they knew how the feeling is not mutual, not wanting to associate yourself with the black roots? however in the past 20 years or so, the races have really mixed which is a good thing, it will promote peace amongst all. GOD BLESS THE BLACK RACE. FYI im 100 percent black and married to a white american.
I agree with the person before, why do people focus on complexions all the time. I am considered dark complexion with reddish undertones, and people ask me all the time where my parents are from, what country, what ethnicity or nationality. I think that’s irritating because I look exoctic I can’t be black. Because I’m beautiful I just can’t day I’m black. People have become obbssesed and people need to stop it. It’s crazy!
Why Can’t You White People Face The Fact That She Is Just Black! She Have No White Blood, And You White People Always Try To Take Ownership Of An Full Black Person. Every Time There Is An Full Blooded Beautiful Black Woman, White People Assume They Have White Blood. Black People Come In All Shades, So Stop Jumping To Conclusions.
They do that AS IF white blood means that’s where the beautiful black women who do happen to be mixed with white got their beauty. Truth is, all the “beautifying” features come from the BLACK side of the family. For example, the full voluptuous lips, the NATURAL big round behind/breasts, the tanned/dark skin, the curly hair. So trying to paint every beautiful sista as “mixed” or in other words, supposedly NOT black, really does nothing to help their obvious low self-esteem. Though it does seem to help (thanks to some black people’s continued slave mentality) in their scheme to use physical features to divide one group of blacks from the other.
How exactly do you know it is whites who are implying she is mixed? For all you know, many of these people could be mixed or if another race.
That is so fucking true! Thankyou for saying that! Us black people provide the honey shade, the arse and boobs, the lips and the wacy hair! Say no more! :D
@LIA- THE WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY CLAIMING ANYTHING, IT’S THE AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT CANNOT ACCEPT THE AFRICAN BLOOD AND ARE TRYING TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH OTHER RACES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE CLEARLY PURE BLACK BREED. P.S I AM BLACK AND I SAY THIS.
well she only looks mixed because she doesn’t know how to put on makeup.. if you compare the tint of her face with that of her arms or any other part of her body you will see that the light make up gives her skin a brighter hue.
She has an exotic look because of her facial features not because of the horrible mismatch of foundation.
LOL.