22 Celebrities You May Not Have Known Attended an HBCU

Toni Morrison The Nobel Prize winner attended Howard University, one of the historically black colleges and universities in the United States. She majored in English and chose the classics for her minor. Wendy Raquel Robinson The actress, known for her role in the BET TV show The Game, attended Howard University, where she graduated cum laude. Nikki Giovanni The famed poet entered Fisk University in 1960. Erykah Badu Singer Erykah Badu attended Grambling University, where she studied performing arts. Common Rapper Common attended Florida A&M University on scholarship and studied business administration. Will Packer Filmmaker Will Packer graduated magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. Diddy The music mogul and entrepreneur attended Howard University while he interned at Uptown Records. The Rev. Jesse Jackson The civil rights activist and minister attended North Carolina A&T University after transferring from the University of Illinois. It was at the North Carolina college where he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Langston Hughes The famous Black writer who emerged during the Harlem Renaissance finished his college education at Lincoln University. Alice Walker The novelist, poet and activist attended Spelman College on a state scholarship. K. Michelle The singer and reality TV star went to Florida A&M University on a music scholarship where she earned a degree in psychology. Samuel L. Jackson The actor graduated from Morehouse College in 1972. He majored in acting. Jacque Reid The journalist, who currently co-hosts New York Live, attended Clark Atlanta University, where she pursued journalism. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King attended Morehouse College, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. Jerry Rice The former NFL wide receiver enrolled at Mississippi Valley State University in 1981. Oprah Winfrey The media mogul attended Tennessee State University on a full scholarship where she majored in speech communications and performing arts. Keshia Knight Pulliam The actress, noted for her role on The Cosby Show, attended Spelman College. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and earned a degree in sociology. Anika Noni Rose The actress, noted for her role in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, is a Florida A&M University alum. She received her degree in theater. Spike Lee The film director attended Morehouse College. He completed his first student film Last Hustle in Brooklyn while at Morehouse. Taraji P. Henson The Think Like a Man actress attended Howard University, where she majored in the theater arts. Tom Joyner The radio personality attended Tuskegee University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology. Lance Gross The actor attended Howard University on a full track and field scholarship.