Rihanna
02/24/2016 – Rihanna – BRIT Awards 2016 – Arrivals – O2 Arena – London, UK – Photo Credit: Landmark / PR Photos
Birth Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Place of Birth: Saint Michael, Barbados
Date of Birth: February 20, 1988
Ethnicity:
*father – mix of African-Barbadian and European-Barbadian [Scottish, English, Irish]
*mother – African-Guyanese
Rihanna is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, businessperson, dancer, record producer, and actress. She has been Barbadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, since 20 September, 2018.
She is the daughter of Ronald Fenty, who is from Barbados, and Monica (Brathwaite), who is from Guyana. She has two children with her partner, American rapper, songwriter, and record producer ASAP Rocky.
Rihanna’s paternal grandfather was African-Barbadian. Rihanna’s paternal grandmother, who is white, has Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry. Rihanna’s mother is of African-Guyanese descent. In an interview with Allure magazine, Rihanna stated that she was bullied in school and called ‘white’ by the other kids while growing up in Barbados.
Rihanna’s paternal grandfather was named Reginald Leslie Forde (the son of Helen Forde). Helen was the daughter of Joseph Nathanael “Joe” Forde and Louisa Jane Bascom.
Rihanna’s paternal grandmother is Elizabeth “Betty” Fenty (the daughter of Stanley Fitzherbert Fenty and Hilda Olga Coppin). Elizabeth is white. Her parents were born in Barbados. The surname Fenty is usually Scottish and the surname Coppin is usually English. Rihanna’s grandmother is also cited as having Irish ancestry. Elizabeth is from a family of “Red Legs,” descendants of slaves from the British Isles who were sent to Barbados. Stanley likely was the grandson of John Fitzherbert Fenty and Mary Louisa Jane Fenty.
Rihanna’s maternal grandfather is named Lionel Brathwaite.
Rihanna’s maternal grandmother is named Clara “Dolly” Viola Venetta Johnson.
Rihanna in 2011
Sources: Genealogy of Rihanna – https://www.geni.com
Death record of Rihanna’s paternal great-grandparents, Stanley Fitzherbert Fenty and Hilda Olga Coppin – http://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Rihanna’s maternal grandmother, Clara Viola Venetta (Johnson) Brathwaite – http://downesandwilson.com
stop bein racist and she do got talent
I think it’s so sad that people actually spend their time debating on an artist’s race/nationality rather than their talent. Honestly in my opinion rascism and colorism comes from everywhere including black people themselves. Simply because no black person would be arguing over this if the person wasn’t somewhat lightskin. We black people gotta face the fact that we just as color struck or even more than an average rascist outside of our race
I agree but it is also disturbing that because she is pretty and light, her European ancestry is underlined and if she was ugly, a crackhead and in jail, she’d be black first. You have to look at it that way too.
that is so true they only want to find and accept lineage of other races when they get famous
if obama was a criminal he would be black
look when tiger cheated society saw him as black not blasin
Do you have a link or any other evidence of this?
I agree.
People are so stupid nowadays. Every black african on this earth at some point in their family tree is linked to a white/caucasian ancestry. That’s just the way it is. Rihanna is black, and is known as a black woman. She isn’t half white or whatever you dumbasses keep calling her. Her father is kinda light skinned, and he’s linked to an irish ancestry. Big fucking deal. We ALL are linked to a different race aside from the one we appeal to everyone else as, but that 2% or whatever it is you contain of that seperate race isn’t worth calling yourself white (or whatever it be) over.
Like Fuzzy said, people act like there’s something wrong with being black. Rihanna is black, and she’s a good looking woman. Stop tripping out with this half white/irish bullshit because her skin looks 5% lighter on a sunny day (and because you think there’s something wrong with being black).
Are you serious right now? You gotta be idiot to say all Rihanna has is 2% Caucasian ancestry, she got WAY more. And plenty of Native Indian genes are there too. She’s not Black, only socially Black. Lena Horne was also socially Black, let me know when you find Lena Horne in Africa.
Rihanna could have white ancestry, but it’s doesnt’ make her non black !! This girl is black, not just socially black !!
And if you go to africa, you can find some rihannas over there, trust me !
To Informative
I agree with you,no matter how mixed you are,if you look like a black person;that’s what your called.Because like you say,if she was not a celebrity and you saw her on the street;you would call her a black woman.Particularly since we come in so many colors.It’s a sad thing that people have been taught to hate black.
well in that case you should call her brown you tardbot, you color blind.
To americanhellraiser
Now you call me names,is that the best you can do.You call me Tardbot,I assuming you think I have black skin,However I the same color she is,so if I’m called black that means she is to
oh, one other thing everyone is brown including white people,any doctor will tell you that.
well most people have melanin in their skin unless you are an albino.
That true,I only brought it up,because that person said she was brown.Now all I’m saying is that everyone is that.Also that black is simply and umbrella term that encompasses a large group of people.Now if you ask the average person on street who didn’t her,to describe her.I bet she was black would be the first thing that came out their mouth;right or wrong?
If I met her on the street. Id think she was African American but Id also be curious to find out what admixture she could have. Id then try to get her number.
Hey that’s my woman,I’m just sharing her with other people right now
one other thing,wouldn’t you be curious about every black girl you run into then,because you can’t go by appearance ?
Im very curious if they are cute, of any race.
Alright,I get that
Me too. I meet black people every day with all sorts of different eye colors but I never blink an eye and think European. They culturally are often black.
@ K.S. if you are going to rebut what I stated then at least come correct otherwise please be quiet. What I said is true, people usually identify people on physical appearance which includes skin pigmentation (color). Of course she is gorgeous but you wouldn’t automatically think she was white, now would you? Anyways I really don’t want to argue, especially not on something that lacks significance. Have a nice day
It’s not uncommon for Caribbean people to have multiple ancestries. Generally they are not as hung up on that as Americans are given their history on race relations and race identification, i.e., the ‘one drop rule’ where any black ancestry makes a person black.
Her background is common, namely heritage from a few places in the Caribbean with black and Irish ancestry. What’s often not taught in America is that the Irish were sent as slaves–not indentured servants–to the Caribbean along with blacks by the British. They bought or seized them in Africa, and they took Irish ones during the time period they conquered and oppressed the Irish.
African slaves actually sold at a higher price than Irish ones because they could handle the climate better (Irish became known as ‘redlegs’ from sunburning). The Irish were also seen as a threat because they could often read plus they were Catholics. Therefore, when not worked to death, they were either abused to death or inbred with blacks. Biracial children sold at very high premiums given their appearances (Rihanna, etc) so the Royal Africa Company, the British slave trading company, got the practice outlawed given it was cutting into their profits. Over time, the Irish were inbred into the black community or were killed off. But that’s why you’ll see many ‘black’ Caribbeans with Irish ancestry.
You’ll also see plenty with Portuguese, Spanish, French and others from colonial days. Carib Indian blood is also in many people.
And also Dutch :-) especially at Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, St.Eustatius and Saba. (ex-dutch colonies, soon to be former netherlands antilles)
To Bajan
I only have one disagreement,it’s one drop rule you spoke of.I’m always reading how people are saying it doesn’t exist here.However it’s obvious it does exist,just in reverse.One drop of white blood or whatever,and no matter how much they may fit the stereotype of a black person,they will look at you an say,I’m not black.I’ve talk to people in(African,The Dominican republic,Brazil,Arabs,also in the U.S)I’ve seen their pictures etc.People who are boosting their other ethnicity just to say they aren’t black.This North African who says he has some Arab blood,so therefore he’s not like us(N-word),his words exactly.So like I said,it’s obvious it does exist outside the U.S.
all i have to say to this comment is AMEN !!!
But actually north africans are mostly arabic, who have obviously black blood whether they like it or not.
And for this reason they don’t consider themselves as black, because we can’t associate arabic culture and black african culture (except voodoo and other things like that which also occurs in arabic countries lol)
but they don’t consider themselves as white either.
The thing is in france, north african people are considered as arabic, even if “real” arabic people (from lebanon etc ..) don’t consider north africans as arabic like them.
It’s pretty complicated actually.
Hey Drexxx. hows things?, I went to Paris a few years ago and I really enjoyed my stay. :) by the way.
Anyway I noticed a lot of foreigners in the city especially sub Saharan Africans ,Arabs and north Africans. Moreover the youngsters from these 3 groups seem to associate with each other than with white Europeans. Is this the general case in France?