Notable Alumni of Tuskegee University

Al Green 1947–

U.S. Representative from Texas

Also attended: Florida A&M University, Texas Southern University

Ray Nagin 1956–

60th Mayor of New Orleans

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana

Amelia Boynton Robinson 1911–2015

Civil rights leader, key figure in the Selma marches

Betty Shabazz 1934–1997

Educator and civil rights advocate, wife of Malcolm X

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, New Jersey City University

Child: Ilyasah Shabazz (Fordham University, State University of New York at New Paltz)

Child: Qubilah Shabazz (Princeton University)

Ptolemy Reid 1912–2003

Former Prime Minister of Guyana

Daniel James, Jr. 1920–1978

US Air Force general, first African American four-star general

Charles McGee 1919–2022

Air Force brigadier general and Tuskegee Airman

Bankole Awoonor-Renner 1898–1970

Ghanaian politician, journalist and Pan-Africanist

Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University

Sarah Rector 1902–1967

Oil magnate from childhood

Bettye Washington Greene 1935–1995

Chemist, first African American woman PhD chemist at Dow

Bachelor of Science · Chemistry · Class of 1955

Also attended: Wayne State University

Cecile Hoover Edwards 1926–2005

African American nutritional researcher

Master of Science, Bachelor of Science · Organic chemistry · Class of 1947

Also attended: Iowa State University

Lionel Richie 1949–

Singer, songwriter and record producer

Also attended: Auburn University

Child: Nicole Richie (University of Arizona)

Ralph Ellison 1914–1994

Author of Invisible Man

Keenen Ivory Wayans 1958–

Actor, comedian and filmmaker

Sibling: Marlon Wayans (Howard University)

Sibling: Damon Wayans (New York Film Academy)

Teddy Wilson 1912–1986

Jazz pianist and swing bandleader

Also attended: The Juilliard School

Claude McKay 1889–1948

Writer and poet of the Harlem Renaissance

Also attended: Kansas State University

Iceberg Slim 1918–1992

Writer and former pimp, author of Pimp

Danielle Spencer 1965–2025

Actress known as Dee Thomas on What's Happening!!

Also attended: University of California-Davis

Albert Murray 1916–2013

Literary and music critic, novelist

Big Bill Morganfield 1956–

Blues singer, son of Muddy Waters

Also attended: Auburn University

Alice Coachman 1923–2014

High jumper, first black woman Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Albany State University

DeJuan Collins 1976–

Former professional basketball player

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Carl Bailey 1958–

Former basketball player

John Robinson 1903–1954

Aviator and activist known as the Brown Condor