Black millionaire

[ecoman]

Who was America's first black millionaire entertainer. was it Muhammed Ali or Al jolson?

[Big Al1st]

Dont Know but Al Jolson was white. Used to black his face
Rgds Al

[ecoman]

Awww caught me out,

[Big Al1st]

Hi Again Hope this helps

William Alexander Leidesdorff is probably one of the best-kept secrets in the pioneering of the West and the creation of the State of California. Born out of wedlock in St. Croix, Danish West Indies in 1810 to a Jewish Danish sugar planter and a black plantation worker, he went on to become the first Black millionaire when gold was found on his property shortly before he died in 1848.

[Postdog]

So finding gold makes him an entertainer then.....

If I were to guess, I'd say Sammy Davis Junior.

[~owzat~]

Brilliant in his day, I wouldn't have classed Muhammed Ali as an entertainer either...

Maybe some will beg to differ, after all he certainly "entertained" us in the ring!!

[FoxLee]

Some other names to conjure with - Ray Charles/Nat King Cole/Johnny Matthis and, going back, maybe Paul Robeson

[mightyWBA]

I'd say it was Nat King Cole.He sold millions of records in the 40's,50's,and 60's ,had his own TV show on NBC in the 50's,as well as radio shows.
He sold so many albums that Capitol Records HQ is know as "The house that Nat built"
Ashley and Joes Great Grandad gets the vote from me.

[Postdog]

Joe cole's great grandad eh!. I see we're back to Al Jolson...

[Big Al1st]

Perhaps I might read the question properly next time!!! Apologies.
Right about Al Jolson though lol

[dot.hawkes]

louis Armstrong

[jeanette1976]

Reginald Lewis
First black to own billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice Lewis opened TLC Group, a venture capital firm.

[jeanette1976]

Sorry, the other guy wasn't an entertainer! Anyway, check this out, cutting and pasting on the web page as it wouldn't give me the option of copying the link. if it doesn't help then at least it makes for interesting reading if you are as bored at work as me.

http://www.biography.com/black_history/bhm_bar rier.jsp

[shammydodger]

Was Rin Tin Tin considered black?