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 referred to as Ƭ̵̬̊, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (TAFKAP), and Camille, 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 starred in the films Purple Rain (1984), Under the Cherry Moon, Sign o’ the Times, Graffiti Bridge, and 3 Chains o’ Gold. He was a member of R&B/pop rock The Revolution, band The Family, and jazz fusion band Madhouse. His backing band was New Power Generation.
Prince was the son of Mattie Della (Shaw), a jazz singer, and John L. Nelson (John Lewis/Louis Nelson), a jazz musician, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist. His father performed with the jazz group the Prince Rogers Trio, under the stage name Prince Rogers. His sister was singer Tyka Nelson. 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 with his parents 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 The Rev. Edward/Ed Nelson and Emma Hardy). Clarence was born in Louisiana, and was a minister. His sister, Mittie, known as “Madame Gordon,” was a political activist and street speaker in Chicago, Illinois. The Rev. Edward was a minister in the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. He was said to have been the son of John Nelson, a white slave owner, and of a Cherokee Native American woman slave. However, he is listed on the 1880 U.S. Census as “mulatto” and the 1900 U.S. Census as “black.”
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/Presley Shaw and Eliza/Liza 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: Family history of Prince – https://www.ktalnews.com
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/Ed 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
To all the whites stop trying to claim blacks of lighter tones we come in all shades theres no color to blackness yeah he had mixed ancestry mixed ancestry and mixed are two different things his parents are both the same complexion and are black stop look up photos not hard
I looked into photos. His paternal grandmother had an interesting look: https://imgur.com/a/jJ1HTOW
That’s a black lady my grandma look the same lol
Prince had African-American, Native-American, English, Scots, Irish, French ancestry in his roots.
From what source lol hes black u dont have to be dark to be black bro theres light skins black people and if u white why u even speaking no one’s 100 % sub sharan either way hes not mixed both his parents of the same race
Iconic and legendary musician.
Prince was African American but to say he only had African DNA is not true. This article from yesterday revealed the Prince had recent Native American and European ancestry. https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/princes-family-lived-in-cotton-valley-louisiana-for-generations-heres-their-story/
The article says that The Rev. Edward Nelson was the son of a white father and Cherokee mother, but the 1880 U.S. Census lists him as “mulatto” and the 1900 U.S. Census lists him as “black.” Is there any document that lists him as anything other than black or mixed-race black?
For one thing, The Rev. Edward was a minister in the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, so him not being black is extremely unlikely.
exactly, he was mixed-race so therefore Prince has mixed heritage so he was not just black. here’s a photo of Rev. Edward Nelson.
https://media.geni.com/p13/59/47/65/5f/5344483b71026610/xut47kiv_large.jpg?hash=fd64e037607406d8119ad7eaa6500fa82b4399aa03c320746fc91f2e3fdf7d19.1722581999
Just about every African-American has ancestors listed as “mulatto” on the census. It’s not unusual. I only mention it when we know the exact white or Native American ancestor by name. In this case, the claim of Prince’s great-grandfather being a mix of white and Cherokee is clearly false.
Its not false. I’m pretty sure professionals did their research before mentioning Clarence’s mixed background in this article https://www.ktalnews.com/entertainment-news/princes-family-lived-in-cotton-valley-louisiana-for-generations-heres-their-story/
Its clearly false to claim Prince was only black when it’s obviously not the case.
They were probably relying on family stories and the like. The statement that Edward Nelson was the son of a father of European descent and a Cherokee mother is almost certainly false, given census records that list him as black or biracial black, and the fact that he was a minister at a black church.
P.S., just about all African-Americans are of mixed race at some level. The term doesn’t refer to, and rarely conotates, full African ancestry.
@follers
Just about every African-American has ancestors listed as “mulatto” on the census because they have mulatto (mixed-race) ancestors indeed. So it’s not something to downplay. The term was used to tell them from black and whites.
I disagree with you under this point.
U having mixed ancestry doesn’t make u mixed everyone has mixed ancestry last time I checked both his parents of the same race so no he’s not hes black theres no shade on black hes of African decent hes black ur not im guessing because u fighting so hard to prove hes white to hes black
His still not mixed everyone has mixed ancestry he’s still black theres no shade to black
That would be true for everyone whats your point hes still black
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/138863/138863