Peeking into the backgrounds of your favorite Black icons may be an easy way to learn about world geography. Some have diverse genealogies, such as President Obama, while others were born in one country but became citizens of another, such as the late Tina Turner. From Caribbean stars like Rihanna to Burna Boy from Nigeria, get a global education by learning about Black celebrity genealogy.
Nigeria and Brazil rank sixth and seventh, respectively, for total population, with both countries having over 200,000,000 people, according to Geo Factbook. Black Americans may only be about 13% of the United States population, yet the global impact of Black American culture has been immeasurable, from music to language to political movements like Black Lives Matter.
Why Should People Learn World Geography?
Testing cultural heritage trivia can provide context for news, the global impact one culture can have on another, and help you ace the country flag quiz. Someone from Detroit who is planning an African safari should understand the geography they’re going into to plan a safer trip.
Regarding Global Black Culture, trace the colorful roots of music and art to see how things began to fuse from:
- Jazz in the United States
- Afrobeats in Nigeria
- Samba of Brazil
Trace the impact the transatlantic slave trade had from its origins in African communities, across the Middle Passage, to displacement in the Americas, where the formerly enslaved built new societies and cultures.
Focusing on the geographic history of the United States can reveal how and why Black Southerners expanded through the country based on the nearest train route. As the book The Warmth of Other Suns detailed, it changed the fabric of the country and, by proxy, world influence.
Where Do Some American Black Icons Come From?
Famous diaspora figures in the United States span from the Deep South to the Midwest to Hawaii.
Long before Tina Turner became a Swiss Citizen and asked the world what love had to do with anything, she was a girl from Nutbush, Tennessee. At age 16, she started her music career with a move to St. Louis, Missouri.
Before eventually moving into a compound in Encino, California, once their fame skyrocketed, the Jacksons put Gary, Indiana, on the map.
Thanks to Motown, many Detroit natives, from Diana Ross to Stevie Wonder to Smokey Robinson, were able to help change the face of American music.
The country’s first Black president, Barack Obama, already lived an international lifestyle before most people hit puberty. Life from Hawaii to Jakarta, Indonesia, marked his childhood upbringing. However, after college, a move to Chicago started his political career and introduced him to the Forever First Lady, Michelle Obama, a proud Chicago native.
Who Has International Roots in the Caribbean?
Before presenting a dignified stature on screen and becoming the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, Sidney Poitier’s talent and looks were forged in his native Bahamas.
The late reggae superstar Bob Marley put his parish, Saint Ann, on the map.
Barbados gave birth to Rihanna, the firecracker who would go on to become a billionaire with her much-needed Fenty brand. You may not see an album from her soon, but thanks to her, Black and other women of color have over 40 foundation shades to choose from instead of mixing colors each morning like Basquiat.
What Talent Comes Right From the Motherland?
Ageless and musically timeless singer-songwriter Sade was raised in England from the age of four. However, she was originally born in Ibadan, Nigeria.
A pioneer in Afro-fusion music, Nigerian artist Burna Boy made history as the first Afrobeats artist to perform at the Grammys. He’s also the first African performer to have sold out stadium concerts in the UK and the United States.
South African comedian Trevor Noah made taking over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart look easier than it should have been.
How About Black European Talent?
Beloved actor Delroy Lindo has made San Francisco his home since age 16, but he grew up in Eltham, London, England, with parents from Jamaica. He’s been nominated for and won countless awards and finally received his first Academy Award nomination this year for Sinners.
British actress Naomi Harris has dominated screens in hits from 28 Days Later to the Oscar-nominated turn in Moonlight. She’s also a Bond girl, whose character, Moneypenny, held her own opposite Daniel Craig.
Fans of The Wire were introduced to Idris Elba, who convincingly played a Black American character. Now known as Sir Alba, the London-born actor has roots going back to Sierra Leone and Ghana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Learn World Geography?
Start your global geography learning by breaking things down structurally, starting with the seven continents and major oceans for a general mental map of the planet. From there, break it down into regions, one continent at a time, such as East Africa or Western Europe.
Move on to individual countries and review why areas are divided regionally.
Physical layouts shaped human settlement and arbitrary borders. Understand the physical features such as:
- Rivers
- Mountain ranges
- Climate zones
Apply this knowledge to current events. When a location pops up in a new story related to an election or climate concern, you’ll be able to find it on the map.
What Is a Fun Fact about Geography?
The Earth is not a perfect sphere. It bulges at the equator from the impact of constantly spinning on its axis, creating an oblate spheroid shape. Despite reports, it’s not shaped like an egg.
The distortion has resulted in Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador being further away from the planet’s center than Mount Everest. Chimborazo sits very close to the equator, giving it an extra boost in distance from the core.
Black Talent Isn’t Restricted to Borders
From locating rivers and deserts on maps to understanding how cultural migration works, people have many reasons to learn world geography. This study is enhanced by learning where your favorite black icons were born and creatively cultivated.
If you learned something from this article, check out more of our website for other insightful articles.
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