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: <ul> <li>Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, Columbia and UPenn all have the distinction of being named Ivy League institutions of higher education. Since February 1954 these eight universities have been heralded for their academic excellence and standout athletic achievements.</li> <li>Almost 60 years later, those institutions are still recognized as the most prestigious centers of higher learning nationwide. While the general train of thought would be that the Elite 8 would solely produce cerebral types, some of today’s most notable and creative African American celebrities have walked their hallowed halls as well. With the <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/backtoschool/">back to school</a> season in full swing, BlackEnterprise.com highlights 10 celebrities you probably didn’t know attended an Ivy League school. —Amber McKynzie</li> </ul>

: <ul> <li><a title="10 Most Expensive Divorces for Black Celebrities" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/07/25/10-most-expensive-divorces-for-black-celebrities/">ROBERT “BOB” JOHNSON</a></li> <li>Princeton University</li> <li>MA, Public/International Affairs</li> <li>Class of ’72 </li> </ul> Johnson is the founder of Black Entertainment Television [BET], which launched in 1980. Starting as just a two-hour program, BET developed into a nationwide television channel, becoming the first African American owned company to be acknowledged by the New York Stock Exchange in 1991. After selling the all-Black television network to Viacom in 2001, Johnson became the first African American billionaire.

: <ul> <li>HILL HARPER</li> <li>Brown University</li> <li>BA, Theatre</li> <li>Class of ’88 </li> <li>Harvard University Law School</li> <li>MA and JD, Public Administration</li> <li>Class of ’92</li> </ul> Pursuing an acting career upon his undergraduate graduation, Harper began making a name for himself in theater and film. First playing an extra in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, the actor became a supporting actor in He Got Game (1998) and The Skulls (2000). Four years later, Harper acquired a leading role in CSI: NY as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes. He also made waves on stage, starring in Off-Broadway shows such as Our Handsome Captain, Freeman, and David Mamet's American Buffalo. He is also a member Boston's Black Folk's Theater Company. But one of the most interesting facts of all, Harper was a classmate of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law.

: <ul> <li><a title="Black Music Month Power Player: Ryan Leslie, The Producer" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/06/07/black-music-month-power-player-ryan-leslie/">RYAN LESLIE</a></li> <li>Harvard University</li> <li>BA, Government and Economics</li> <li>Class of ’98 </li> </ul> Scoring a perfect score of 1600 on his SATs at the age of 15, Leslie went on to deliver Harvard’s “Harvard Oration” at his graduation ceremony when he was just 19 years old. Joining Cambridge’s elite jazz group, The Krokodiloes, the child prodigy discovered his love for music. Since then he as written music and produced for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment, Donnell Jones, New Edition, Cheri Dennis and more. Still recognizing the importance of education, Leslie recently hosted a “mini-music seminar” for Harvard’s Black Student Law Association in 2009 called “The Bizness Behind the Business.”

: <ul> <li><a title="Preview Our World: Actress Sanaa Lathan Returns to the Stage" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/07/22/sanaa-lathan-returns-to-stage/">SANAA LATHAN</a></li> <li>Yale University</li> <li>BA, Drama</li> <li>Class of ’95 </li> </ul> The daughter of notable director Stan Lathan (Sanford and Son, Hill Street Blues), got her television break one year after her graduation from Yale, landing a one-time role on In The House, which led to cameo appearances on other sitcoms. It wasn’t until 1999 that the budding actress broke into feature films, playing the adult version of Alicia in The Wood. She later emerged as a leading lady in The Best Man and Love & Basketball. Since then, Lathan has played alongside Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Mike Epps, Taraji P. Henson, Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates.

: <ul> <li><a title="Backtalk with John Legend" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2010/12/01/backtalk-with-john-legend/">JOHN LEGEND</a></li> <li>University of Pennsylvania</li> <li>BA, English</li> <li>Class of ’99 </li> </ul> Legend began singing while attending UPenn as a member of the school’s a capella group, Counterparts, serving as their music director and president. Six years later, the musically diverse singer/songwriter went on to win six Grammy’s—the first coming in 2005 as Best New Artist. Legend has now had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s biggest stars such as Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and Kanye West, and gives back regularly through his various philanthropic efforts. In 2009, Legend was asked to be UPenn’s commencement speaker.

: <ul> <li>RASHIDA JONES</li> <li>Harvard University</li> <li>BA, Religion and Philosophy</li> <li>Class of ’97 </li> </ul> As the daughter of the legendary music producer <a title="Preview Our World: Music Industry Titan Quincy Jones" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/08/12/our-world-quincy-jones/">Quincy Jones</a>, Rashida was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age. But in 2006, the Harvard grad became a household name when she landed a role on The Office as Karen Filipelli. But TV wasn’t the only thing on her plate. In the last three years Jones has conquered the big screen in three major motion pictures—I Love You, Man (2009), The Social Network (2010) and this summer’s Our Idiot Brother.

: <ul> <li>ANGELA BASSETT</li> <li>Yale University</li> <li>BA, African-American Studies</li> <li>Class of ’80 </li> </ul> Bassett applied to Yale University in 1973 and was accepted on a scholarship. Spending seven years at the Ivy League institution, with her final three years focused on a post-graduate study in drama, she acquired her most notable roles in film beginning in 1991 when she played Reva Styles in the classic <a title="WATCH: John Singleton on Boyz N the Hood’s 20th Anniversary" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/07/12/john-singleton-on-boyz-n-the-hood-20th-anniversary/">Boyz n the Hood</a>. Since then Bassett has starred in several hit films, including Malcolm X (1992), What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993), Waiting to Exhale (1995), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) and <a title="Bishop T.D. Jakes ‘Jumping the Broom’ Into Film & TV" href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/05/06/td-jakes-jumping-the-broom/">Jumping the Broom</a> (2011).

: <ul> <li>COURTNEY B. VANCE </li> <li>Harvard University</li> <li>BA, History</li> <li>Class of ’82 </li> <li>Yale University</li> <li>MFA, Drama</li> <li>Class of ’86 </li> </ul> Best known for his role on Law & Order: Criminal Intent as ADA Ron Carter, Vance discovered his niche in acting during his time in Yale’s graduate drama program. An accomplished performer, he’s also well known for his roles in Dangerous Minds (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996). Vance married fellow Yale colleague, Angela Bassett, in 1997.

: <ul> <li>TYRA BANKS </li> <li>Harvard University</li> <li>BA, Business</li> <li>Currently attending</li> </ul> Banks was originally set to attend Loyola Marymount University, but just months before stepping foot on the Los Angeles campus the statuesque beauty was whisked away to embark on her successful modeling career. Now, after years in the spotlight and traveling the world, the America’s Next Top Model and Tyra Show host is ready to add a business degree to her long list of accomplishments.

: <ul> <li>JOY BRYANT </li> <li>Yale University</li> <li>Did not finish</li> </ul> After receiving a full scholarship to attend Yale University, Bryant was discovered by Next Model Management and decided to leave the Ivy League school to pursue a career in modeling. She has now been the face of Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria’s Secret, as well as performing alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Mekhi Phifer in Carmen: A Hip Hopera in 2001, which has been followed by roles in films like Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Antwone Fisher, and a starring part in the TV series Parenthood.

Posted: August 19, 2011

J A Walker

Nice list, but what about Benjamin T. Jealous President and CEO of the NAACP and graduate of Columbia University.

Alfred Edmond, Jr.

Jealous absolutely holds an important and prominent position, but I don’t think even he would classify himself as a celebrity, at least not in the context of this particular post.

Alfred
austin jay

What about Barrack Obama he went to Harvard

Atorr

he went to Columbia

Pingback: Max n' Out Entertainment » Blog Archive » 10 Black Celebrities Who Attended Ivy League Schools!
J

Great list! However, the entry on Tyra is incorrect. I am a student at Harvard Business School and she is not a two-year MBA student. However, she did pay for and attend the Executive Education program meant for business leaders- these programs range from roughly 3-6 weeks. And it’s still an impressive accomplishment for the model turned media mogul. This should be corrected.
ron

good news to my ears
Pauly

Impressive list, though Tyra Banks’ inclusion for showing up at an executive program takes away from the list.

- First lady Michelle Obama (Princeton’85)
- Jazz great Stanley Jordan (Princeton ’81)
- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (Yale Law ’74)

Z

Great list, but lets just quietly leave Clarence Thomas off that list please… If he’s a celebrity he’s known in infamy.

lecloche

Don’t forget Dartmouth grad Aisha Tyler.
austin jay

Bill clinton went to yale university
austin jay

who is going to yale please reply with a yes or no or a comment
Kevin

Robinne Lee received a B.A. in Psychology from Yale University, and graduated from Columbia Law.
A RICH

SANAA, RASHIDA!
Succesful Sim

Great list! Very informative and valuable for the younger generation to be privy to.
Latest med tech

Some useful bits of information here, thanks very much!
mochaboywndr

Courtney B. Vance did his undergrad at Harvard and has an MFA from Yale. He met his wife Angela Bassett at Yale, from where she is also a graduate. Rashida Jones is a Harvard grad. Obama went to Columbia and Harvard, and Michelle went to Princeton. Hill Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown and cum laude from Harvard law. Sanaa Lathan is a grad of both UC Berkeley and Yale. Aisha Tyler is a Dartmouth grad. John Legend is a Penn grad. Joy Bryant is a Yale alum.

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