Sanaa Lathan
Lathan in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Sanaa McCoy Lathan
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 19, 1971
Ethnicity: African-American
Sanaa Lathan is an American actress. She is known for starring in the movies Blade (1998), Brown Sugar (2002), and Alien vs. Predator (2004). Her father, Stan Lathan, is a producer and director. Her mother, Eleanor McCoy (Eleanor Leslie McCoy), performed on Broadway. Her brother is DJ Tendaji Lathan.
Sanaa’s parents are both African-American. Her first name, Sanaa, means “work of art” in Swahili.
Some websites state that she has Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented.
Sanaa’s paternal grandfather was named Stanley Edward Lathan (the son of William E. Lathan and Addie). Stanley was born in Pennsylvania.
Sanaa’s paternal grandmother was Julia Elizabeth Dunston (the daughter of Charles Dallas Dunston, Sr. and Lillian Pauline Muldrow). Julia was born in Pennsylvania. Lillian was the daughter of Phillip Muldrow and Rebecca E. Turner.
Sanaa’s maternal grandfather was Wesley Brice McCoy (the son of Wesley Duncan/Deer McCoy and Perses Helen Brice). Sanaa’s grandfather Wesley was born in South Bend, Indiana. Sanaa’s great-grandfather Wesley was the son of Duncan McCoy and Rosetta Nash. Perses was the daughter of John D. Brice and Paul.
Sanaa’s maternal grandmother was named Helen Irene Traylor (the daughter of Henry Franklin Traylor and Nittie/Mittie Rita Reeder Teasley). Helen was born in Hartwell, Georgia. She is pictured here.
Sources: Sanaa’s paternal grandfather, Stanley Edward Lathan, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sanaa’s paternal grandmother, Julia Elizabeth Dunston, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sanaa’s paternal great-grandparents, Charles Dallas Dunston and Lillian Pauline Muldrow, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sanaa’s maternal grandfather, Wesley Brice McCoy, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Its many different black people you got some Puertoricans that look black, dominicans blacker than african americans cubans.. What the fuck is a african american? Black american is the real walkin indians. The book portrayed indian to have white skin and str8 hair.. But in reality african american and real africans are not the same people..AA like any other race have african ancestory but why is american people the only one that claim someone elses country that don’t like them.. Its many black people in this world.. But in reality the puertoricans,dominicans is all the same people just some of the ancestors was sent to another country they got mix with european and speak spanish.. So if anything AA is black americans.. Now if your mom came directly from africa and had you in american you are a african american.. Black people that was already her is Native of american.. Think about it
Another very beautiful and highly under-used actress. I hope she is able to use her talent more in the future.
Liyah: Sanaa Latham is mixed race and so are you if what you say is true about your own looks. It is not always possible to tell by looking at a person with the naked eye how mix they are. An example Halle Berry daughter doesn’t look like a quadroon she looks half white and half black, the former Spice girl member Emma Bunton son’s is also a quadroon, however he looks totally white,blue eyes and straight blonde hair the same thing with the ex tennis player Boris Becker’s son also a quadroon but doesn’t show any black traits. The fact that Nahla looks mixed inspite of being a quadroon makes wonder if her father,Gabriel Aubrey, has black ancestry and may not even know it.There are other cases like the Jamie Oliver actually admitted on one of shows that he has black ancestry. A lot of Americans who claim to be pure white are not,they don’t look like white northern Europeans, Angelina Jolie is a pirme example.
It is a fact many African Americans have American Indian blood,despite the fact Gates stated the opposite. Many geniticist have stated many of these so-called quicky test dont tract the patrlineal and matralineal of both side of the family . Gates is so proud of his white blood .he wants say everbody has white blood like him
Sanaa is very pretty and when i look at her all i see is black even though she’s partly native she took alot from the black side. Some people are saying her features says it’s obvious that she’s native but i don’t believe so. Her features are pretty much black features, she has brown skin like mine, a nose like many black girls i’ve seen, her gums are dark like mine, her eyes are dark brown like mine which is very common in black females. When people say it’s noticeable that she’s partly native like there is a huge difference between her and someone who’s not i don’t get it. What is the huge difference that you could spot her out from a crowd of black women? What are “fully” black women suppose to look like? big flat noses, big lips covering their whole chin, big eyes like a cow? There is no real reason to think she was mix it’s just that she’s pretty so people think that right away and she just so happens to be. I’m not insecure i’m proud to be black i’m just stating the facts that’s all, she might have some native in her but she looks like any other black girl.