Janet Jackson
Jackson in 2008, Entertainment Press / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Janet Damita Jo Jackson
Place of Birth: Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 16, 1966
Ethnicity: African-American
Janet Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Janet is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music.
Born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Encino, Los Angeles, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians, and is the daughter of Katherine/Kattie Esther/B. (Scruse), who had played clarinet and piano, and aspired to be a country-and-western musician, and Joseph Walter Jackson, who played guitar with a rhythm and blues band, the Falcons. Among her many siblings are musicians La Toya Jackson and Michael Jackson. She is the aunt of Paris Jackson and musicians 3T (Tariano Jackson, Taryll Jackson, and Tito Jackson), among others.
Janet is African-American.
Janet has a son with her husband, Qatari business magnate Wissam Al Mana.
Janet’s father had stated that he has Native American ancestry. Janet’s brother Jermaine has said this also. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented. Joseph also stated that he had some European roots. It has also been said that Janet’s mother has Blackfoot Native American ancestry, also as yet unverified, at least publicly.
Janet’s paternal grandfather was Samuel Joseph Jackson (the son of Israel Nero Jackson and Emeline Williams). Samuel was born in Mississippi, and was said to be of partial Choctaw Native American descent; as well as having black ancestry. It is not clear if this has been verified. Israel and Emeline are listed only as “Black” on United States censuses. Israel was the son of Jack July Gayle/Milam and Mary Freeman or Gina Gale.
Janet’s paternal grandmother was Crystal Lee King (the daughter of Samuel King and Gertrude Daniel). Crystal was born in Arkansas. Samuel was the son of William King and Nellie. Gertrude was the daughter of Thomas “Tom” Daniel and Martha “Mattie” Cason. Mattie was said to be the daughter of a white woman and a black slave man.
Janet’s maternal grandfather was Prince Albert Screws/Scruse (the son of Prince Scruse/Screws and Julia Belle/Bell Jordan). Janet’s grandfather Prince was born in Alabama. Janet’s great-grandfather Prince was the son of Prince Screws and Mary Etta Denson. Julia was the daughter of Julius Willis Jordan and Rosetta Hall.
Janet’s maternal grandmother was Martha “Mattie” Upshaw (the daughter of Daniel Upshaw and Jeanette/Jennetta Brown). Martha was born in Alabama. Daniel was the son of Jonas Upshaw and Minerva Grant. Jeanette was the daughter of Columbus Brown and Henrietta Peterson.
Sources: Genealogies of Janet Jackson – http://www.wargs.com
http://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Information (some potentially unverified) on Janet’s family history – http://www.truemichaeljackson.com
http://i845.photobucket.com
Janet’s paternal great-grandparents, Israel Nero Jackson and Emeline Williams, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Israel Nero Jackson and Emeline Williams on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Israel Nero Jackson and Emeline Williams on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Israel Nero Jackson and Emeline Williams on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Likely Janet’s great-grandfather, Israel Nero Jackson, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Janet’s maternal grandparents, Prince Albert Screws/Scruse and Martha “Mattie” Upshaw, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
So she basically Africa American .
Ugh not all “African Americans” are mixed. Mixed is when you have parents of two different “racial” categories. Ony 58% of black Americans are at least an eighth mixed. People who are 1/8 something else are just barely “mixed”. 42% of black Americans are still no more than 1/8 so no, they are not mixed.
THANK YOU. I agree 100% I think you could probably even say less then that is actually. Most aren’t mixed, and I think 1/8th is being generous. Its probably more like 1/16th-1/32nd
@leslie 2, I think Halle Berry started all this mixed talk because she is basically is black looking biracial, so anyone black and pretty who looks like her they want to call mixed. When they are not
Halle Berry looks biracial, she doesn’t look black. You’ve never seen black people if you think she looks black. Her children are white.
My role model!
shes basically black with distant european and amerindian desecnet. there you go
Some mixed people (which is rare) look either totally black, white, asian and so forth. Like Kimora, she looks totally Asian. I would classify her as Asian, because if she was in a group with Full blooded Asian you could not tell if she was mixed. And that is how the world really looks at it, plain and simple. Just like President Obama, he looks totally Black, and he knows it. So it would be stupid for him to run around talking about I am mixed. He has the sense to know how the world sees him, and it is not about denying one side over the other
Obama does NOT look totally black. I have no idea why people say that. It’s 100% obvious to anyone in the world just by looking at him that he is of mixed ethnicity. Lenny kravitz and Bob marley look blacker than Obama, and they two are mixed race
There’s not a single mixed race person who looks totally one race. Black and Asian people share broad facial features so honestly, it’s not strange that a blasian would look more asian than black. Kimora’s father likely isn’t 100% black, especially if he’s black american.
I already knew that Janet an her siblings were mixed with some Indian and a little white. I have always known that, but it was never stated on the internet or tv. I am a true believer of Black Indians, because I am. I honestly thought that Catherin was part indian and Joseph was part white, but it doesnt really matter. I am glad to finally know. I love this website!!!!