Bajan, Baby! 10 Of Our Favorite Celebrities of Barbadian Descent (And A Few Random Surprises…) madamenoire/204032/bajan-baby-10-of-our-favorite-celebrities-of-barbadian-descent-and-a-few-random-surprises/ 10) Stacey Dash I know what you’re thinking. Stacey Dash is clearly a mix of a lot of things, but the actress and even singer (random) is repping Barbados. Not necessarily in the public…but you get what I mean. Born in the Bronx, she’s the child of a Bajan father and a Mexican and Native American mother (Aztec and Blackfoot Native American). Definitely an interesting mix culturally, but then again, she’s an interesting lady. 9) Cuba Gooding, Jr. I’m sure you already know that Cuba Gooding, Jr. is the son of Main Ingredient singer, Cuba Gooding, Sr., as well as the brother of actor Omar Gooding (Remember him from Baby Boy?). But did you know that they’re all of Barbadian descent? Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s grandfather was a native of Barbados, who later left the island to go to Cuba. His time in Cuba is actually how his son, and grandson acquired their first name… 8) Rihanna How can you do a list like this and leave out the Bajan bad a** that is Rihanna? The famed pop and R&B singer was born in Saint Michael, Barbados. Before moving to NYC in 2005 after signing a six-album deal with Def Jam, Ri used to sell clothes with her father, formed a music group with a couple girlfriends, and was also involved in a sub-military program as an army cadet. You can still find her repping her homeland hard, getting down for Kadooment Day, and making trips each year to kick it with friends and family. 7) L.L. Cool J Lick your lips one time for the super fine L.L. Cool J! The rapper and actor is actually the grandson of a Barbadian native who came to the U.S. to make a better life for his family. Though his grandfather was supportive of his endeavors in hip-hop music, he wasn’t initially talking about buying turntables for Mr. James Todd Smith. “Yes my family’s from Barbados and my grandfather’s real cheap. Anyone who knows Caribbean people knows they’re very cheap, you know. He didn’t want to buy turntables. That wasn’t his thing soooo, he was saying no, no, no, no, no.” He wasn’t so cheap after all, because his grandfather wound up getting him a turntable to keep him out of trouble. 6) Gwyneth Paltrow Surprise, much? Oh, but it’s true. Her great-grandmother, on her mother Blythe Danner’s side, whose name was Rosamund, was actually born in Barbados. However, she left with her sister at the age of 18 to New York in search for a better life and more work opportunities, as competition for work amongst poor whites and blacks was fierce in Barbados. Paltrow’s great-great-grandfather was from St. Michael, and lived in Bridgetown. She actually just recently found out about her link to Barbados through the show, “Who Do You Think You Are?, and went there to see some sites and sounds with her kids. 5) Shontelle Born in Saint James, singer Shontelle is another big name in Barbados. Coincidentally, she participated in a sub-military program just like Rihanna, and was actually Ri Ri’s drill sergeant. Though nowhere near as huge in fame as Rihanna, Shontelle has had great success in the music industry here with songs like “Impossible” and “T-Shirt.” 4) Grandmaster Flash Grandmaster Flash, born Joseph Saddler, was actually born and bred in Barbados–Bridgetown to be specific. The iconic DJ migrated to the Bronx with his family and was deep into the music scene early on. The record collection of his father, mixed with a lot of Caribbean joints and records taking over in Black America back in the day, had a major impact on his desire to DJ. 3) Doug E. Fresh This brother is just on all of our lists these days. Doug E. Fresh, renowned beatboxer, producer and rapper, was born in Barbados too. Born Douglas E. Davis, he came up in Church Christ, Barbados, and then came to NYC with his family as a young lad. 2) Meagan Good The actress, like many of us, is mixed with lot of things, but her grandfather is from Barbados. As homegirl put it herself after being told she she looked “exotic,” she says, “My mother’s mother is Jewish and African, so I guess that would be considered Creole. My mother’s father was Cherokee Indian and something else. My dad’s mother’s Puerto Rican and black, and his father was from Barbados.” 1) Lamman Rucker Fine arse actor Lamman Rucker is also repping his Barbadian roots these days. The grandson of Ebenzer Ray, acclaimed columnist, Ray was born and raised in Barbados, and is the father of Lamman’s mother. The actor has made the trek to Barbados a regular one, almost like a second…or third home (he’s got a place in NYC and LA), and has taken many opportunities to learn more about his grandfather and his family’s roots there. As it was put in a profile of him by NationNews, “Lamman hasn’t given up trying to find out about his past. He has visited the island four times already and will be back to sort out his family tree and probably his dual citizenship.” Now you have another reason to love this man if you didn’t already!
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 22:29:40 +0000
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