Profile Text
Jackson in 2008, Entertainment Press / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Janet Damita Jo Jackson
Place of Birth: Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 16, 1966
Ethnicity: African-American
Janet Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Janet is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music.
Born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Encino, Los Angeles, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians, and is the daughter of Katherine/Kattie Esther/B. (Scruse), who had played clarinet and piano, and aspired to be a country-and-western musician, and Joseph Walter Jackson, who played guitar with a rhythm and blues band, the Falcons. Among her many siblings are musicians and actors La Toya Jackson and Michael Jackson . She is the aunt of musicians 3T (Tariano Jackson, Taryll Jackson, and Tito Jackson), actor and musician Jermaine Jackson II , singer, songwriter, and musician Austin Brown , singer, dancer, and actor Jaafar Jackson , and actress and singer Paris Jackson , among others.
Janet is African-American.
Janet has a son with her husband, Qatari business magnate Wissam Al Mana.
Janet’s father had stated that he has Native American ancestry. Janet’s brother Jermaine has said this also. It is not clear if this ancestry has been verified/documented. Joseph also stated that he had some European roots. It has also been said that Janet’s mother has Blackfoot Native American ancestry, also as yet unverified, at least publicly.
Janet’s paternal grandfather was Samuel Joseph Jackson (the son of Israel “Nero” Jackson and Emeline/Emmaline Williams). Samuel was born in Mississippi, and was said to be of partial Choctaw Native American descent; as well as having African ancestry. It is not clear if this has been verified. Israel and Emeline are listed only as “Black” on U.S. Censuses. Janet’s great-grandfather Israel was born in Amite, Mississippi, the son of Jack/July Gayle/Milam and Gina. He eventually took on the surname Jackson, after his father. Jack was owned by a family of French Huguenot origin, the Richbourgs; he may have also been descended from them.
Janet’s paternal grandmother was Crystal Lee King (the daughter of Samuel King and Gertrude Daniel). Crystal was born in Arkansas. Samuel was the son of William King and Nellie. Gertrude was the daughter of Thomas “Tom” Daniel and Martha “Mattie” Cason. Mattie was said to be the daughter of a white woman and a black slave man.
Janet’s maternal grandfather was Prince Albert Screws/Scruse (the son of Prince Scruse/Screws and Julia Belle/Bell Jordan). Janet’s grandfather Prince was born in Alabama. Janet’s great-grandfather Prince was born in Alabama, the son of Prince Screws and Mary Etta Denson. Julia was born in Alabama, the daughter of Julius Willis Jordan and Rosetta Hall.
Janet’s maternal grandmother was Martha “Mattie” Upshaw (the daughter of Daniel Upshaw and Jeanette/Jennetta Brown). Martha was born in Alabama. Daniel was the son of Jonas Upshaw and Minerva Grant. Jeanette was the daughter of Columbus Brown and Henrietta Peterson.
Sources: Genealogies of Janet Jackson – http://www.wargs.com http://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com
Information (some potentially unverified) on Janet’s family history – http://www.truemichaeljackson.com http://i845.photobucket.com https://blog.familytreedna.com
Janet’s paternal great-grandparents, Israel “Nero” Jackson and Emeline/Emmaline Williams, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Israel “Nero” Jackson and Emeline/Emmaline Williams on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Israel “Nero” Jackson and Emeline/Emmaline Williams on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Israel “Nero” Jackson and Emeline/Emmaline Williams on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Likely Janet’s paternal great-grandfather, Israel “Nero” Jackson, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Janet’s maternal grandparents, Prince Albert Screws/Scruse and Martha “Mattie” Upshaw, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org