Normani
Normani in 2013, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Normani Kordei Hamilton
Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 31, 1996
Ethnicity: African-American, Creole [French, African], possibly Native American and/or Indian
Normani, also credited as Normani Kordei, is an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. She was a member of girl group Fifth Harmony, along with Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and, previously, Camila Cabello.
Normani was born Normani Kordei Hamilton, and is the daughter of Derrick and Andrea Hamilton. She stated in an interview that she is of African-American, French, and Indian descent. It is not clear if she was referring to ancestry that is Native American, or Indian from India.
Normani spent her early years in New Orleans. Her family moved to Pearland, Texas, after Hurricane Katrina, in 2005. Normani has two older half-sisters, Arielle and Ashlee. She has been performing since she was three, and was an award-winning dancer and gymnast before recording her first single at age thireen. She also had a role on the HBO series Treme.
Normani’s grandmother was Barbara Bissant (the daughter of Robert Normand “Bob” Bissant, Sr. and Annabel Hymes). Robert was the son of Champion Bissant and Luda Miller. He played baseball in the Negro League. Annabel was the daughter of Mitchell Hymes and Ida Villavaso.
Sources: Obituary record of Normani’s great-grandfather, Robert Normand “Bob” Bissant, Sr. – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Normani’s great-grandmother, Annabel (Hymes) Bissant – http://obits.nola.com
correction: It should say Louisana Creole (African, French, and Native American)
I think what she means by African, French and Indian is Creole, she has family members from Louisiana
and possibly Indian too, unless she does have someone in her family from India.
Not all African-Americans from Louisiana are Creole. Not sure about the Indian part.
True, but if she says she has African and French ancestry, it seems pretty likely that it is Creole. And it’s even already discovered, the surnames Bissant and Villavaso point in that direction. Black person + from Louisiana + Latin surnames = most likely Creole.
And the Indian part should be assumed to be Native American, I think. It’s a bit misleading to just write what she said when there’s such an obvious other interpretation. I’d write:
African-American, Louisiana Creole (African, French), possibly other
I know that, if she said has African and French roots, someone in her family from New Orleans with Creole roots then must be Creole too. Maybe it should say African American, Louisiana Creole [including African, French], possibly other instead.
Speaking as a Creoles, change that to most definitely other ethnic bloodlines. Louisiana was a very popular stop for Europeans and others
Her great-grandmother:
http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=177276171
Her great-grandfather:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKRG-9F41
I think they’re maternal and that Barbara Steward is her grandmother.
Barbara Steward (Bissant) really is her maternal grandmother.
Her Her great-grandmother looks mixed and is light skinned. Ok, she got French ancestry.
I am sorry I do not believe her or she is trying to pull a Beyonce move. Unless her parents are of different races there is no point in claiming non black African ancestry from 100 years ago that every single African American has and saying you are three things. Can these people just say black. Its obvious that both her parents are Black people unless I am missing something. Since when did it become unpopular just to say “I am black” or I am African American.
Quote(Since when did it become unpopular just to say “I am black” or I am African American.)
It’s not a new idea, but it really took hold during the talk show days of the late 90’s , 2000’s . Since people are sheep, they follow the leader
This person I think is Creole, and there are some that take offense to being called black or AA , since they say we were called Creole first. Maybe that’s how she thinks. However I always thought that was just the older ones(my aunts included)
She IS African American, she’s not “of African American decent”. African American is a race category, and it’s merrily just a politically correct way of calling somebody “black” in America.
Also, what does she mean by “Indian”? Native American “Indian”, or Asian Indian? Also, Indian is a nationality, and there are a range of different ethnic groups who “originate” from India, or emigrated there a long time ago. They all are and look noticeably different.
African American is an ethnicity, not a race category. For example Idris Elba would not be African American.
Correction