Rozonda Thomas
Rozonda Thomas in 2012, photo by PR Photos
Birth Name: Rozonda Ocielian Thomas
Place of Birth: Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 27, 1971
Ethnicity: African-American, as well as 1/16th Bengali Indian, 1/16th African-Antiguan, possibly Native American
Rozonda Thomas, also known as Chilli, is an American dancer, singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She has been a member of R&B/hip hop girl-group TLC, with Lisa Lopes and Tionne Watkins, replacing original member, and co-founder, Crystal Jones. The group was managed by Perri “Pebbles” Reid.
She is the daughter of Ava Thomas and Abdul Ali. Her great-grandfather’s brother was singer Bardu Ali. Rozonda has a son with her former partner, producer Dallas Austin.
She is African-American, and also has a Bengali Indian great-great-grandfather and an African-Antiguan great-great-grandmother.
Rozonda has been described as having Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this Native American ancestry has been verified/documented.
Rozonda’s paternal grandfather was Arfien Joseph Ali (the son of Arfien/Arfin Ali and Lucille/Lucile Lyons). Rozonda’s grandfather Arfien was born in Louisiana. Rozonda’s great-grandfather Arfien was born in Mississippi, and was the son of Moksad Ali, a Bengali Muslim trader, who was born in Hooghly, West Bengal, India, and of Ella Blackman, an African-American. Rozonda’s great-grandmother Lucille was the daughter of William Lyons and Lottie Green.
Rozonda’s paternal grandmother was Margaret Augusta Lane (the daughter of Clifford Lane and Augusta M. J. Bennett). Margaret was born in New York. Augusta’s father, Edmund Robert Bennett, was born on Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, and was a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Augusta’s mother, Marguerite Fields, was born in Iowa.
Rozonda Thomas (left) with Tionne Watkins and Lisa Lopes in 1995, photo by Prphotos
Sources: Rozonda Thomas meeting her father’s family – https://www.youtube.com
Rozonda’s paternal grandfather, Arfien Joseph Ali, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rozonda’s paternal great-grandparents, Arfien/Arfin Ali and Lucille/Lucile Lyons – https://www.familysearch.org
Rozonda’s paternal great-grandfather, Arfien/Arfin Ali, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Information on Rozonda’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Moksad Ali and Ella Blackman – https://video.wedu.org
http://www.tajmahalfoxtrot.com
Rozonda’s paternal great-grandmother, Lucille/Lucile Lyons, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rozonda’s paternal great-great-grandparents, William Lyons and Lottie Green – https://www.familysearch.org
Rozonda’s paternal grandmother, Margaret Augusta Lane, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
his family is west indian muslims like the boyz from back in the day so is nicki manja is trini muslim thats why no pork
amm….how do u no she is muslim?
He doesn’t, and she isn’t. There’s nothing wrong with being Muslim of course. But Chilli isn’t.
Why when someone’s not fully black they still call them black. That’s like saying I’m black and white but I’m basically white, I thought people who are black,and Native American were called Afro-Indian, or Black Indians.
let people say whatever they want to say does it really matter? it should be whatever you identify with most or whatever you feel comfortable saying.
“let people say whatever they want to say does it really matter? it should be whatever you identify with most or whatever you feel comfortable saying.”
Thank you!
Honestly, when a person is of direct descent of more than one race, they should be able to call themselves whatever makes them feel comfortable while giving proper respect to the identities of both his/her parents, in the ideal situation. IMO, when a person is of direct descent of parents who are TWO COMPLETELY different races, that erson is considered “biracial” or “mixed” in regards to political and demographic terms. Some ppl regard ppl who are of equal Black-White descent as “Black” because of still embracing the “one drop rule” mentality: If you have a speck of Black blood in you, you’re considering Black, disregarding the face that this individual represents more than just the Black race. Although everyone has their parameters in regards to what constitutes as “Mixed” or “Black” or whatever, we must also remember to not get agitated. Everyone has their own notion of what constitutes as a certain racial identity. This entire website is filled with comments of ppl having discrepancies of what “Black” or “Afro-this” or “Afro-that” means. Native Americans, IMO, are the tribes that resided in America and Indians are from India. lol. I hate that we have that confusion. smh.
I hate when people refer to Native Americans as Indians. It really confuses me.
this is some bull***** so do f**** wit me yu r SOME races ASS MOTHER FUCKERS
What?
Chili has long Indian hair, so therefore she is bout half Indian. Her father is East Indian with Middle Eastern blood, and her mother is African American with some Native American blood in her, but not half of it. I’m not sure if her dad is even black, but her mother is obviously a black woman.
long hair doesn’t automatically make you indian
Just because you have long hair does not mean you are Indian.
:[
Ridiculous.
Her father is not half arab and Indian. He’s just Indian.
Wikipedia says he’s west Indian and her mother is Native American and African-American. I could swear though before it said she was African-American(Mother’) and East Indian muslim father. That’s it. Don’t know where Native American or Arab came from. Maybe because the father’s name is Abdul, but he’s muslim that’s why. Muslims don’t have to be middle eastern.
But that’s crazy because this is mad incorrect…her father & in his family are from New Jersey…I went to school with some of her half siblings and first cousins…The parents (including Chilli dad, who according to her family is mister Hassan…I went to school with Hassan, Jr. who was all to happy to find out Chilli was his sister) are actually Arabian and African American born in Atlantic City. & they are a Catholic family not Muslim…
* and his family
Thank you for the information.