• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families

You'll never guess some of these famous Black Army brats!
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
By D'Shonda Brown · Updated May 30, 2021

While Memorial Day is a long holiday weekend used to observe the contributions of those who served in the U.S. military, it’s not just to celebrate veterans alone. Oftentimes, we forget the impact of those who serve in the military on the family and close friends in their quarters – and they deserve a round of applause for holding it down as well.

We recognize those celebrities who have previously served in the military from rappers Ice-T in the army and late rapper Nate Dogg in the marines to Jackie Robinson –  the first African American to play Major League Baseball – being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in January 1943. What about those who grew up watching these heroes take flight in their own households?

Check out this shocking list below of Black celebrities who grew up with military parents – also known as “army brats” – from actors and actresses to some of your favorite rappers and singers.

01
Shaquille O’Neal
The 7’1″ basketball legend and ‘Inside the NBA’ sports analyst mentioned his stepfather Phillip Harrison, who raised him since he was a baby, joined the U.S. Army when O’Neal was only two years old. According to his autobiography, Harrison made the decision “so he could get us out of the ‘hood.” From there on out, O’Neal would go on to live on several military bases around the nation and even in Germany.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
02
Martin Lawrence
The ‘Bad Boys’ actor and former Golden Gloves boxer was born on a military base in Germany. Lawrence eventually relocated to Washington, D.C. after his father, who served in the U.S. Army, had to move. Once his parents divorced, his mother continued to raise him on her own and didn’t have to move around much like most army brats.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
03
LeVar Burton
Burton, who is best known for his roles in ‘Roots’ and host of ‘Reading Rainbow,’ was born on a base in Germany and his father was in the U.S. Army. Though his childhood wasn’t filled with the typical teenage pop culture references, the ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ actor treasures his memories of exchanging comic books with other brats on his base. “It was this experience as a child in a military family, and the excitement, comfort and escape the comics provided, that helped spark my lifelong love of reading,” he wrote for WhiteHouse .gov in 2015, as reported by TheDelite.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
04
Ciara
The ‘Level Up’ singer’s father Carlton Harris was a United States Army member. Young Ciara relocated to army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona, and Nevada throughout her childhood.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
05
Wiz Khalifa
Though the ‘Roll Up’ and ‘Black and Yellow’ rapper mainly claims Pittsburgh, he grew up in multiple places including Germany, England, and Japan. As the son of two military veterans, he is always proud to shoutout his parents for their services. His father Laurence Thomaz, who served in the Air Force, always encouraged young Wiz to pursue his dream as a musician.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
06
Tamera and Tia Mowry
‘Sister, Sister’ sisters Tia and Tamera, as well as their brother Tahj, are all proud army brats. The former ‘The Real’ host and the ‘Family Reunion’ actress were both born in Germany, as their father, Timothy John Mowry, was serving in the US Army.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
07
J. Cole
The North Carolina claiming ” i n t e r l u d e ” rapper was born on a U.S. military base in Germany to two soldiers who served in the U.S. Army. Eventually, the Grammy-nominated artist and his family landed in Fayetteville, North Carolina but his parents later split and his mother raised him solo. His mother moved forward with a job working for the U.S. Postal Service for years until early retirement thanks to Cole’s rap career success.
Black Celebrities Who Come From Military Families
TOPICS:  Memorial Day military force U.S. Army veteran
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now