Prince
Prince in 2007, photo by prphotos
Birth Name: Prince Rogers Nelson
Date of Birth: June 7, 1958
Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Date of Death: April 21, 2016
Place of Death: Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American
Prince, also known as Ƭ̵̬̊, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor, and director. He is remembered for his amazing vocal range and ability to play multiple instruments proficiently. His songwriting is also highly acclaimed. He wrote some of the best hits for many other artists.
Prince was the son of Mattie Della (Shaw), a jazz singer, and John L. Nelson (John Lewis/Louis Nelson), a lyricist and pianist. His father performed with the jazz group the Prince Rogers Trio, under the stage name Prince Rogers. Prince was formerly married to actress and dancer Mayte Garcia. They had a son, Ahmir, who died a week after birth.
Prince’s parents were both black, as were all of his grandparents and great-grandparents. A picture of Prince’s father can be seen here. A picture of Prince’s mother can be seen here.
Genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, writing for The Huffington Post, traced Prince’s roots on both sides of his family. Among her findings are that six of Prince’s eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and one of his great-grandmothers was possibly the daughter of her owner.
Early in his career, Prince stated that he had Italian ancestry, sometimes from his father, and sometimes from his mother. This is not accurate. In the autobiographical film Purple Rain, Prince’s character’s father is played by an African-American actor and Prince’s character’s mother is played by a Greek actress. This was not reflective of his real life heritage.
Prince’s paternal grandfather was Clarence Allen Nelson (the son of Edward Nelson and Emma Hardy). Clarence was born in Louisiana. Edward was the son of John Nelson.
Prince’s paternal grandmother was Carrie Jenkins (the daughter of Handy Jenkins and Dina/Lina Ann Phillips). Carrie was born in Louisiana. Dina was the daughter of Ashley Phillips and Martha.
Prince’s maternal grandfather was Frank/Franklin Shaw (the son of Preston Shaw and Eliza Britt/Brett). Frank was born in Louisiana.
Prince’s maternal grandmother was Lucille Bonnell (the daughter of Sam W. Bonnell and Katy/Kate F. Hale/Head). Lucille was born in Louisiana.
Sources: Genealogies of Prince – http://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://www.findagrave.com
Prince’s paternal grandfather, Clarence Allen Nelson, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Prince’s paternal great-grandparents, Edward Nelson and Emma Hardy, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Prince’s paternal grandmother, Carrie Jenkins, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Prince’s maternal grandfather, Frank/Franklin Shaw, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Prince’s maternal grandmother, Lucille Bonnell, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
@Greyface
Quote(typical Sicilian)
If that’s what a typical Sicilian looked like back in the day, no wonder they weren’t allowed to marry white Americans in the past
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6549566
Manila added the record of this Sicilian immigrant. It’s a good example of Sicilian look.
@Andrew
Well that an example of a Italian in 1959, however that’s just one example. Man I learn so much more about stuff when I debate people like you. Here an image I just found from Italy 1920 ,bruh got two women:
http://www.theconceptdresser.com/vintage-vintage-vintage-italy-1920s/
he might be part black, might not , but sure looks it
Here’s a better blow up:
http://www.theconceptdresser.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/photo-25283-2529going-to-the-beach-20-2527s.jpg
LOL. Are you into Nordicism now?
@Midori29
Quote(In reply to neiltennant.
@California ALL black people both light and dark skinned were slightly mixed because of slavery. But in America especially blacks DID NOT freely marry whites until about 20 yrs ago. African Americans are not that mixed. Light skin means nothing. There are dark skinned blacks more mixed than light ones. Skin tone is not an indication of admixture. Its hair, facial structure etc. That trumps skin tone. Just because a black person has light skin does not mean they are mixed. Thats a WRONG assumption.)
I sorry, but I have to interject here. What you said here about :
( But in America especially blacks DID NOT freely marry whites until about 20 yrs ago.)
That’s not correct. Blacks and whites were actually marrying each other in 16 and 1700’s. Many of the first AA families , were actually headed by white women , example( Nell Butler was famous case ) .This is one of the reasons they came up with the anti-miscegenation laws. Slave owners also encourage unions between their Black and white slaves , to produce children that were bound to slavery. Then even when they pass laws forbidding unions between the races, white men signed petitions to get the laws overturned. It’s a lot of things that went down here.
Men, first the king of pop MJ, now Prince. Another musical icon gone. R.I.P Prince
Very sad that these musical giants died too soon.
@California ALL black people both light and dark skinned were slightly mixed because of slavery. But in America especially blacks DID NOT freely marry whites until about 20 yrs ago. African Americans are not that mixed. Light skin means nothing. There are dark skinned blacks more mixed than light ones. Skin tone is not an indication of admixture. Its hair, facial structure etc. That trumps skin tone. Just because a black person has light skin does not mean they are mixed. Thats a WRONG assumption.
Genealogist Megan Smolenyak wrote on Twitter: “at least one of his great-grandmothers was the child of her one-time owner”. https://twitter.com/megansmolenyak/status/723241601598894080
So Emma Hardy, Dina Ann Phillips, Kathy ?, or another of his great-grandmothers was white.
@Savana, you can find that in every single black person.
Maybe most American black people.