Fantasia
Fantasia in 2008, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Fantasia Monique Barrino
Place of Birth: High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Date of Birth: June 30, 1984
Ethnicity: African-American
Fantasia, also known as Fantasia Barrino, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress. She won the third season of the show American Idol, in 2004, where she was especially known for her rendition of the song “Summertime.” Her original songs include “I Believe,” “When I See U,” “Put You Up on Game,” “Bittersweet,” and “Lose to Win.” She was the second woman to have her first single debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her acting performances include the made-for-tv movie Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, in which she played herself, based on her book autobiography; and the musical film version of The Color Purple (2023), a role she also played on stage. See other American Idol winners here.
Fantasia’s parents, Diane and Joseph Barrino, are both African-American. Her uncles, The Barrino Brothers, were a 1970s soul music group. She is married to businessperson Kendall Taylor. She has three children, including a daughter with Kendall.
African-Americans with the surname Barrino have lived in North Carolina since at least the mid 1800s, and usually came from South Carolina before that. It appears that the surname was originally Barrineau. Speculation that the family has some degree of Hispanic, specifically Cuban, ancestry, is not accurate.
Fantasia’s paternal grandfather was Curtis Barrino (the son of Jesse/Jessie Barrino and Juanita McKeythan/McKether). Curtis was born in North Carolina. Juanita was the daughter of Curtis McKeythan and Faye Thomas.
Fantasia’s paternal grandmother was Madie Medley (the daughter of Robert Medley and Ellen Chambers). Madie was born in North Carolina.
Fantasia’s maternal grandfather was named Neil/Neal C. Washington. Neal was born in South Carolina.
Fantasia’s maternal grandmother was named Addie Lee Hicks. Addie was born in South Carolina, and was a pastor.
Sources: Genealogy of Fantasia Barrino – https://www.geni.com
Fantasia’s paternal grandfather, Curtis Barrino, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Fantasia’s paternal grandmother, Madie (Medley) Barrino – http://www.genealogybuff.com
To Shane ,
Incorrect my friend,the law I gave you point blank shows what they were.Also they were called moors long before Islam showed up.The word Moor has always been linked to black people.It’s not until recent times that people are trying to change it .Also I’m well aware of the people of Sri Lanka,however we are not talking about them.It also seems your forgetting about the history of North Africa.I even talked to North Africans who themselves say that their ancestors were black people,not Nubian black ,but black
The term Moors means different things in different countries at different times in history. It is a misnomer in most understandings. Moors from North Africa were not Black. They call Muslims in Sri Lanka Moors. In Iberia, the Moors were Muslims from North Africa. Moro in Spanish and Portugese means dark and in comparison to the fair skinned Europeans, the Moors, who were olive skinned, were considered dark.
You guys do know that during the time of Africans involuntary captivity,they didn’t just come from West Africa.Don’t believe all that junk,they tell you in school.They came from (North,West,East,South East,Madagascar, Iberian).Then the Moors who came as slaves,and the free ones.Also for who thinks the moors were not here,there was a law to protect them:
Moors Sundry Act of 1790
the west africans were taken to the americas and carribean. the east afrians were taken to asia, europe and the pacific islands
She be black from West African slavery.
Fantasia is mixed. Cubans are mixed. They are not pure black or pure white. Just because she is dark skinned doesn’t make her pure black. Mixed people come in all colors. Also, her maternal grandmother who is a preacher is light skinned so Fantasia could be mixed with white & Native American ancestry.