Julia Jones
Jones in 2012, photo by PrPhotos
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 23, 1981
Ethnicity:
*father – African-American
*mother – English, small amounts of Scottish and Dutch
Julia Jones is an American actress. She is known for playing Leah Clearwater, a Native American character, in the Twilight series, and for several other Indigenous roles in films, including Wind River and Cold Pursuit. She also co-stars on the shows Westworld and Dexter: New Blood.
Julia’s father is Frank N. Jones, a lawyer and political figure in Massachusetts. He has often been publicly identified as an African-American. He is originally from Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Julia’s mother is white. She has English, and small amounts of Scottish and Dutch, ancestry.
Julia has often referred to having Native American ancestry on her father’s side. She has stated, “My dad is part Choctaw, Chickosaw and African American. I didn’t realize the significance of not being white until I moved to LA.,” and also said, “I’m a Native American actress.”
It is not clear if Julia’s Choctaw Native American and Chickasaw Native American ancestry has been verified/documented. Julia’s recent paternal ancestors appear to all have been African-American.
She has also said:
I’m part Chickasaw and Choctaw, but I’m a multi-[ethnic] person. That’s just a part of my identity. I’ve been playing Native roles for a long time, a very long time. [“Twilight” is…] an opportunity to portray a group of people who are not portrayed very frequently and very accurately at all in the media. And I cherish that. I think that there should be more roles for Native actors in contemporary pieces, and it’s an important part of who I am.
Julia has a degree in English from Columbia University, which she attended after graduating from the Boston Latin School in Massachusetts.
Julia’s paternal grandfather was John/Johnny Jones (the son of John Jones/Johns and Susan/Susana Bingmen/Bingman). Julia’s grandfather John was born in Fayette, Jefferson, Mississippi, and was African-American. Susan was the daughter of Nathan Bingman/Bingamin and Laura/Lana Jackson.
Julia’s paternal grandmother was Frankie Russell (the daughter of James Russell and Beulah Douglas). Frankie was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and was African-American. James was the son of John Russell and Lelia/Lela/Lelah Harris. Beulah was the daughter of Frank Douglas and Victoria Bright/Wright.
Julia’s maternal grandfather was Roger Wells (the son of James Parrish Wells and Jesse/Jessie Maria Strowger). Roger was born in New York. James was the son of Edward Akin Wells and Elizabeth Parrish. Jesse was the daughter of Horace Bryan Strowger and Frances Maria Barnes.
Julia’s maternal grandmother was Julia Harland (the daughter of John Brisby Harland and Hazel Louise Hughston). Julia’s grandmother Julia was born in New York. John was born in Cropton, Yorkshire, England, the son of Frederick Harland and Julia Brisby. Hazel was born in New York, the daughter of E. Burton Hughston and Nettie Horning.
Sources: Interview with Julia and her family – http://www.chicagotribune.com
Julia’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Julia’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Nathan Bingman/Bingamin and Laura Jackson – https://www.familysearch.org
Julia’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Nathan Bingman/Bingamin, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Julia’s paternal grandmother, Frankie Russell, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Julia’s paternal great-grandfather, James Russell, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Julia’s paternal great-great-grandparents, John Russell and Lelia/Lela/Lelah Harris – https://www.familysearch.org
Julia’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Lelia/Lela/Lelah Harris, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Julia’s maternal grandfather, Roger Wells, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
She isn’t an OK Chickasaw nor Choctaw “Freedmen”, who are descendants of Black/African Americans who were enslaved by the 5 civilized tribes before the civil war when the tribes were divided on the slavery issue and the tribes had granted the emancipated Black Indians their rights to citizenship.
Unless this site lists the claimed indigenous heritage, I don’t get why you’re doing this on dozens and dozens of pages. It’s too much. The site is very clear about letting know when someone makes an unsubstantiated claim like this on the profiles.
I’ve always found it odd how no one talks about how Julia is literally passing as a Native American for roles. Her mother is white & her father is a black man with unconfirmed distant Native American ancestry or no Native American ancestry at all. In this article with her, her dad & brother they keep referring to themselves as black. Jessica is the only one who keeps mentioning the unconfirmed Native American ancestry. I mean yea she has the look but I’ve seen plenty of mixed (black/white) people look like completely different races than their actual mix. Her natural hair is also curly, she straightens it & possibly has altered other parts of her appearance to make herself look even more stereotypically Native American for roles. I’m convinced that Julia Jones is the Rachel Dolezal of Native Americans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-06-18-0006180013-story.html
Well actually it was mention , I even talked about it myself on here.
Late but… I meant on social media it’s not talked about, which is odd considering all the threads on *insert race* fishing of all sorts. I guess she gets away with “Native American fishing” or whatever you wanna call it because of her stereotypical Native American look so they don’t question it further when she takes Native American roles & claims to be of tribes she’s not apart of. Or maybe it’s cause she’s not famous enough. Just my opinions.
Most of her paternal ancestors are listed as black even her father identifies himself as African-American only.
This is very likely Frank on the 1940 census in Coahoma, Clarksdale, Mississippi, it matches his birth date. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYGW-4Q7
Frank’s parents were John/Johnny Jones and Frankie Russell both listed as black on the census.
John Jones was from Fayette, Jefferson, Mississippi and Frankie Russell from Clarksdale. Frankie was the daughter of James Russell, listed as black, and Beulah Douglas listed as mulatto on the 1910 census both from Hinds, Mississippi. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MP8N-7Z4
Beulah was the daughter of Frank Douglas and Victoria both listed as black on the 1900 census.
James Russell was the son of John Russell and Lelia/Lela Harris who were both described as black on the 1900 census and ‘colored’ on their marriage record in 1872. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M965-RYM
John Russell was the son of Ephraim Russell and Jemima from North Carolina.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8M1-2SC
Lelia was the daughter of Jackson Harris and Edith/Eady Long they were listed as black on the 1870 census and hailed from North Carolina.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW8H-R4T
John Jones was the son of John Jones/Johns and Susan/Susana Bingmen/Bingman. Susan was the daughter of Nathan Bingman/Bingamin and Laura Jackson, they were described as ‘colored’ on their marriage record in 1874. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D9VZ-362M
Nathan was the son of Jeff Bingman and Harriet both described as black on the 1880 census. Jeff’s parents were from Kentucky and Tennessee. Harriet’s father was from Virginia. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GX-C8M
Frank’s sister’s death record lists the maiden name of his mother Frankie Russell. Frank’s sister is only listed as African-American, no Native-American.
Family tree of Franks mother: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LY6R-RFM
Julia makes it seems as if she’s mainly Choctaw/Chickasaw with little bit African-American when it’s the opposite. If there is Native American it has to be distant. It would be interesting to see her with her natural hair instead of straightened hair.
Frank Jones’ sister’s death record: https://ibb.co/dpRhCS2
Laura/Lana Jackson was the daughter of Susan Jackson, who was described as ‘mulatto’ she was from Jefferson, Mississppi.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF3D-N61
John (Johnnie/Johnny) J. Jones’ father John Jones/Johns Sr. could one of these children on the 1880 census:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GQ-SV6
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GX-RLP
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GX-K1D
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GC-GSZ
Frank Douglas’ wife Victoria Wright/Bright was also described as ‘mulatto’ on an earlier and census she hailed from Leake, Mississippi. Frank’s parents might have been Gilbert Douglas and Emily Rayford (nee Jones). But I’m not sure.
Nathan Bingman’s father Jeff/Jeffery Bingman/Bingaman very likely got his surname from Adam Lewis Bingaman who was the owner of the Fatherland Plantation in Mississippi which was built on a former village of the Natchez Indians. So there’s a possible Native-American connection. But Jeff’s parents hailed from Kentucky and Tennessee on the census. So Jeff wasn’t native to the area and was described as Black. And the Natchez Indians along with the Choctaw and Chickasaw were displaced to western states by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48497086/adam-lewis-bingaman
She stated that her dad is of African-American, Choctaw, and Chickasaw descent:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Jones
Never mind, I didn’t see the whole article.
She looks Asian
Agree, like South-East Asian.
she doesn’t look south east asian at all, the average face of southeast asian woman has very wide(flat) nose and epicanthic fold and no prominent brow ridge
Yes, She looks like some one with Native American ancestry
no she doesn’t