Photos: Afros in popular culture

Life

Photos: Afros in popular culture

Images of Black political leaders, entertainers, athletes and activists who have popularized the afro hairstyle.

Between 2012 and 2019, Aevin Dugas, a 45-year-old social worker from outside of New Orleans was in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the biggest afro in the world, measuring about 4 feet 7 inches around.

The Jackson 5, wearing their iconic afros in an undated promotional image: in front, Marlon and Michael; in back: Tito, Jackie and Jermaine. (AP file)

Revolutionary Angela Davis smiles in 1972 after being released on bail in San Jose, Calif. (AP file)

Soul singer Aretha Franklin is shown at a news conference on March 26, 1973. (AP Photo)

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, right, confers with Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, at the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Ind. in 1972. (AP file)

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott was elected to the office in 2020 after serving for years on the city council. (City of Baltimore)

Prince sported an afro at the 2015 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Matt Sayles / AP file)

Clarence Williams III, right, played Linc on the television show "The Mod Squad" from 1968-73. At left is actress Gloria Foster, who guest-starred in an episode, and who was Williams' wife offscreen. (ABC Television)

Social critic Cornel West spoke at the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. (John Spink / jspink@ajc.com)

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick warms up before a game in 2016. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP file)

Musician Billy Preston visits President Gerald Ford in the Oval Office on Dec. 13, 1974. (David Hume Kennerly / White House Photographer)

The cover of Minnie Riperton's 1974 album "Perfect Angel."

Pam Grier starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film "Foxy Brown." (AP file)

Questlove, the drummer for The Roots, in an undated photo. (Handout)

Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, seen here circa 1879, documented his escape from slavery in his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave." (George K. Warren / National Archives)

Julius "Dr. J" Erving, in 1972 when he briefly played for the Atlanta Hawks (his hair was accented for publication in this photo). (Chuck Vollersten / AJC file)

Mariah Parker, a 26-year-old University of Georgia doctoral student, made news when she was sworn in as an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner in 2018, and took her oath over a copy of "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." (Raphaëla Alemán)

Jill Scott, performing at Atlanta's FunkJazz Kafé Arts and Music Festival in 2012. (Shannon McCollum)

Cleveland outfielder Oscar Gamble slides safely into third during a 1974 game against the Detroit Tigers. Gamble played for nine teams in his 17-year career. (AP file)

Jimi Hendrix performs on the Isle of Wight in England in 1970. (AP file)

UCLA player Lew Alcindor, center, celebrates winning the NCAA championship final in 1968. At left is his teammate Mike Warren and at right, coach John Wooden. Alcindor would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (AP file)

Musician James Brown, left, discusses race relations with Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox in 1970 in the office of Brown's radio station in Augusta. (AP file)

Poet and novelist Maya Angelou, speaks to a reporter in 1980. (Ray West / AJC file)

Actor Richard Roundtree, seen here in 1973, is best known for playing "Shaft" in the 1971 blaxploitation classic. The film spawned two sequels, a television show, and a reboot in 2000. (CBS Television)

Singer Solange Knowles, seen in 2013 at a special screening of "The Great Gatsby" film. (Evan Agostini / AP file)

Center Ben Wallace, seen here in 2008, wore a large afro for most of his 16-year NBA career, nine of which were with the Detroit Pistons. (Nam Y. Huh / AP file)

Muhammad Ali prepares for his title fight against Joe Frazier in Manila, Philippines, in 1975. (Jess Tan / AP file)

Musician Sly Stone, seen here at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, from the documentary "Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)." (Mass Distraction Media)

Esperanza Spaulding performs at the 55th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival at the Monterey Fairgrounds in 2012. (David Royal / Monterey County Herald)

Comedian Richard Pryor performs in 1977. (AP file)

The neo soul singer Maxwell, seen here in 1996. (Carolyn Cole, Los Angeles Times)

Actor Ice Cube appears at MTV Studios in 2008. (Evan Agostini / AP file)

Esther Rolle as Florida Evans, with John Amos as James Evans, from the television show "Good Times," which premiered in 1974. (CBS Television)

1/33

Between 2012 and 2019, Aevin Dugas, a 45-year-old social worker from outside of New Orleans was in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the biggest afro in the world, measuring about 4 feet 7 inches around.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia Tech BYU Football

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech battles BYU in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Jimmy Carter ‘forever’ stamp

PHOTOS: 2025 AJC Photos of the Year

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

More Galleries

gainesville, thomas county central

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title

jefferson, sandy creek

PHOTOS: Sandy Creek defeats Jefferson for Class 3A championship

Savannah Christmas Train Villages

PHOTOS: Savannah Christmas model train garden began under the tree

aajc 121725 class 3a-a private

PHOTOS: Calvary Day and Hebron Christian battle for Class 3A-A title