9 Black Celebrities Born In August, Leo & Virgo Stars

People born in August have either the Leo or Virgo zodiac sign. Those born on or before August 22 are Leos, known to have lots of passion and enthusiasm. Practical, hardworking Virgos are born on August 23 or later.

Check out our list of Black celebrities born in August and see if you share a birthday with anyone!

Barack Obama

On August 4, 1961, Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. He attended Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review. Obama worked as a professor and attorney specializing in civil rights before getting into politics.

He served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004 and the United States Senate from 2005 until 2008. As a member of the Democratic party, he defeated John McCain in 2009 to become the first Black president of the United States.

He served as president for two consecutive terms until 2017. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. During his time in office, he made significant contributions to affordable health care, protection for minorities, including those in the LGBT community, and advocated for gun control.

Whitney Houston

Singer and actress Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in New Jersey. In 1985, she released her debut self-titled album. Her hit songs include I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, and How Will I Know.

She is the highest-selling female R&B artist of the century, having sold over 200 million albums. In 2001, at the age of 37, she became the youngest person to receive a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.

Houston was also an accomplished actress who starred alongside Kevin Costner in the 1992 blockbuster film The Bodyguard. She also acted in Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher’s Wife..

She was an advocate for children’s health and literacy, veterans, and education. She also worked to support organizations involved in addressing homelessness and child abuse. Houston passed away at the age of 48 in California.

Halle Berry

Actress Halle Berry was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 14, 1966. She starred alongside Eddie Murphy in the 1992 film Boomerang. During the 1990s, she also appeared in Bulworth and The Flintstones films.

Her role in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge won her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 2000. In 2002, she became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball. She also won the BET Best Actress Award for this film.

She also starred in Die Another Day in 2002 and Catwoman in 2004. Between 2000 and 2014, she played Storm in the X-Men movie series.

Magic Johnson

Former basketball player Magic Johnson was born in Michigan on August 14, 1959. He was selected first in the 1979 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He played for 13 seasons with the Lakers.

In 1991, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV. At this time, many people believed that HIV was a “gay disease”–Johnson’s public announcement about his diagnosis helped educate the public that heterosexuals were also at risk of this virus.

Johnson became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment, diminishing some of the stigma that was associated with the disease. Notably, he created the Magic Johnson Foundation, participated in the National Commission on AIDS, and spoke at one of the United Nations World AIDS Day conferences.

Johnson won five NBA championships and an Olympic gold medal with the United States team in 1992.

Angela Bassett

On August 16, 1958, actress Angela Bassett was born in New York City. During the 1990s, she established herself as a successful actress, beginning with her role in the 1992 film Malcolm X.

In 1993, she played Tina Turner in the film What’s Love Got To Do With It, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. In 1995, she acted alongside Whitney Houston in the film Waiting to Exhale.

In 2002, she played the title character in The Rosa Parks Story. More recently, she appeared in 2018’s Black Panther and 2019’s Avengers Endgame. She has won several NAACP Image Awards, most recently in 2022, for her work in the television show 9-1-1 which she produces and acts in.

Young Thug

Jeffery Lamar Williams was born on August 16, 1991, in Atlanta, Georgia. A rapper and songwriter, he is better known by his stage name Young Thug.

He was signed to Gucci Mane’s record label in 2013 and released his 1017 Thug mixtape featuring the song Picacho. That same year he released the single Stoner. He has collaborated with various artists, including Drake, Calvin Harris, Ariana Grande, and Camila Cabello.

Other hit songs include Ride for Me, Hot, Bubbly, The London, and Go Crazy.

Coolio

Artis Leon Ivey Jr, better known as Coolio, was born in California on August 1, 1963. In 1994, he released his debut album, It Takes a Thief, which included the song Fantastic Voyage.

He is best known for his song Gangsta’s Paradise, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song was featured in the film Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Other hits by Coolio include 1995’s 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) and 1996’s It’s All the Way Live. He has released a total of eight studio albums. In 1996, he won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist.

David Robinson

Former basketball player David Robinson was born in Florida on August 6, 1955. He played for the San Antonio Spurs between 1989 and 2003. He won Rookie of the Year in 1990.

Robinson won his first Olympic gold medal with the United States team in 1992 and his second in 1996. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA in 1995.

A two-time NBA championship winner in 1999 and 2003, Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Robinson regularly contributes to and supports charitable organizations. In 2001, he opened the Carver Academy in Texas to provide educational opportunities for youth in San Antonio.

James Baldwin

Activist and writer James Baldwin was born in New York City on August 2, 1924. He is well known for his 1953 novel Go Tell It On The Mountain.

His writing covered topics like sexuality, race, and politics. Some of his other works include Giovanni’s Room, Another Country, Just Above My Head, and Notes of a Native Son.

Beginning in the 1950s, Baldwin began to publish essays about the civil rights movement in America. He traveled throughout the southern United States, speaking with people about inequality.

His 1974 novel If Beale Street Could Talk was made into a 2018 film and won an Academy Award.

Black Celebrities Born in August, Final Thoughts

This list of Black celebrities born in August highlights some of the immense talent and strengths in the Black community. From athletes and actors to musicians and activists, these Black celebrities are people to look up to. Their dedication and hard work are an inspiration to keep trying to reach our goals.