| Entry Name | Birth | Death | Primary Category |
| Uggams, Leslie | 1943 | Theater / Film | |
| Uncle Jack | 1747? | 1842 | Slave Narrative |
| Uncles, Charles Randolph | 1859 | 1933 | Religion |
| Unseld, Westley Sissel | 1946 | Sports (bsk) | |
| Unthank, DeNorval | Activism | ||
| Upshaw, Eugene Thurman, Jr. (Gene) | 1945 | Sports (ftb) | |
| Vails, Nelson | 1960 | Sports (cycling) | |
| Vaird, Lauretha | 1996 | Crime | |
| Valentine, Kid Thomas | 1896 | 1987 | Music |
| Van Engle, Dorothy | 1917? | 2004 | Theater / Film |
| Van Peebles, Melvin | 1932 | Theater / Film | |
| Vanderpool, Jacob | Crime | ||
| Vanderzee, James Augustus Joseph | 1886 | 1983 | Art |
| Vandross, Luther | 1951 | 2005 | Music |
| VanDuvall, Ernestine | Business | ||
| Vann, Robert L. | 1879 | 1940 | Journalism |
| Varick, James | 1750 | 1827 | Religion |
| Vashon, George Boyer | 1824 | 1878 | Education |
| Vashon, Susan Paul Smith | 1838 | 1912 | Education |
| Vaughan, Sarah | 1924 | 1990 | Music |
| Veale, Charles | 1856 | Military | |
| Vedrine, Soliny | Religion | ||
| Veney, Bethany | 1815 | Slave Narrative | |
| Verrett, Shirley | 1931 | Music | |
| Vesey, Denmark | 1767 (approx.) | 1822 | Activism |
| Vick, Harold | 1936 | 1987 | Music |
| Vick, Samuel Hynes | 1863 | 1935? | Activism |
| Vivian, Cordy Tindell (C.T.) | Activism | ||
| Vogelsang, Peter | 18XX | Military | |
| Voorhis, Robert | 1700? | 18XX | Slave Narrative |
| Vroman, Mary Elizabeth | 1924 (approx.) | 1967 | Writing |
| Waddles, (Mother) Charleszetta Lina Campbell | 1912 | 2001 | Religion |
| Waddy, Harriet M. West | 1904 | 1999 | Military |
| Waddy, Joseph C. | 1911 | 1978 | Law |
| Wade Gayles, Gloria | 19XX | Education | |
| Wagoner, Henry O. | 1816 | 1901 | Activism |
| Waits, Freddie | 1943 | 1989 | Music |
| Walcott, Bess Bolden | 1886 | 1988 | Education |
| Walcott, Derek | 1930 | Writing | |
| Walcott, Jersey Joe | 1914 | 1994 | Sports (box) |
| Walcott, Joe | 1872 | 1935 | Sports (box) |
| Walden, Austin Thomas | 1885 | 1965 | Law |
| Waldron, J. Milton | 1863 | 1925 | Activism |
| Walker, Aida Overton | 1880 | 1914 | Theater / Film |
| Walker, Albertina | 1929 | Music | |
| Walker, A'Lelia | 1885 | 1931 | Business |
| Walker, Alice Malsenior | 1944 | Writing | |
| Walker, Arthur Bertram Cuthbert, Jr. | 1936 | 2001 | Science |
| Walker, Charles Thomas | 1858 | 1921 | Religion |
| Walker, David | 1796? | 1830 | Writing |
| Walker, Edwin G. | 1831? | 1901 | Politics |
| Walker, George Theophilus | 1922 | Music | |
| Walker, Kara | 1969 | Art | |
| Walker, Madam C. J. | 1867 | 1919 | Business |
| Walker, Maggie Lena | 1867 | 1934 | Business |
| Walker, Margaret | 1915 | 1998 | Writing |
| Walker, Moses Fleetwood | 1857 | 1924 | Sports (bsb) |
| Walker, Quok | Slavery | ||
| Walker, T-Bone | 1910 | 1975 | Music |
| Walker, Weldy | 1860 | 1937 | Sports (bsb) |
| Walker, William [i] | 1819? | Slavery | |
| Walker, William Otis | 1896 | 1981 | Journalism |
| Walker, Wyatt Tee | 1929 | Activism | |
| Wall, Fannie Franklin | 1860? | 1944 | Organizations |
| Wallace, Charles | Business | ||
| Wallace, Coley | 19XX | 2005 | Sports (trk) |
| Wallace, Daniel Webster | The West | ||
| Wallace, Sippie | 1898 | 1986 | Music (blues) |
| Wallace, William "Onikwa" | Art | ||
| Waller, Fats | 1904 | 1943 | Music |
| Waller, John Louis | 1853 | 1907 | Politics |
| Waller, Odell | 1917? | 1942 | Work |
| Walley, Augustus | 1856 | 1938 | Military |
| Walls, Josiah Thomas | 1842 | 1905 | Politics |
| Walls, William Jacob | 1885 | 1975 | Religion |
| Walrond, Eric | 1898 | 1966 | Journalism |
| Walters, Alexander | 1858 | 1917 | Religion |
| Wamba, Philippe Enoc | 1971 | 2002 | Journalism |
| Ward Sears, Leah Jeanette | 1955 | Law | |
| Ward, Calvin Edouard | Music | ||
| Ward, Clara | 1924 | 1973 | Music |
| Ward, Gertrude Mae | 1901 | Music | |
| Ward, Samuel Ringgold | 1817 | 1866? | Activism |
| Ward, T. M. D. | 1823 | 1894 | Religion |
| Ward, Theodore (Ted) | 1902 | 1983 | Writing |
| Ward, William | 1839/40 | Activism | |
| Ware, Wilbur | 1923 | 1979 | Music |
| Warfield, Paul | 1942 | Sports (ftb) | |
| Warfield, William Caesar | 1920 | 2002 | Music |
| Waring, Laura Wheeler | 1887 | 1948 | Art |
| Warwick, Dionne | 1940 | Music | |
| Washboard Sam | 1910 | 1966 | Music |
| Washington, Augustus | 1820 (approx.) | 1875 | Art |
| Washington, Booker T. | 1856? | 1915 | Education |
| Washington, Denzel | 1954 | Theater / Film | |
| Washington, Dinah | 1924 | 1963 | Music |
| Washington, Fanny Smith | 1858 | 1884 | Education |
| Washington, Forrester Blanchard | 1887 | 1963 | Education |
| Washington, Fredi | 1903 | 1994 | Theater / Film |
| Washington, George | 1817 | 1905 | The West |
| Washington, Grover, Jr. | 1943 | 1999 | Music |
| Washington, Harold | 1922 | 1987 | Politics |
| Washington, Harry | 1740? | Slavery | |
| Washington, James Melvin | 1948 | 1997 | Education |
| Washington, James W., Jr. | 1909 | Art | |
| Washington, Jerome | Activism | ||
| Washington, Kenny | 1918 | 1971 | Sports (ftb) |
| Washington, Madison | Slavery | ||
| Washington, Margaret Murray | 1861 | 1925 | Organizations |
| Washington, Mary Helen | 1941 | Writing | |
| Washington, Mary Thelma | 2005 | Business | |
| Washington, Mildred | 1933 | Theater / Film | |
| Washington, Ora | 1899 | 1971 | Sports (ten, bsk) |
| Washington, Valores J. (Val) | 1901 | 1995 | Politics |
| Washington, Walter E. | 1915 | 2003 | Government |
| Washington, Warren Morton | 1936 | Science | |
| Washington-Williams, Essie Mae | 1925 | Politics | |
| Waters, Ethel | 1896 | 1977 | Music |
| Waters, Maxine | 1938 | Politics | |
| Waters, Muddy | 1915 | 1983 | Music (blues) |
| Waters, Sylvia | 1940 | Dance | |
| Watkins, Julius | 1921 | 1977 | Music |
| Watkins, Mel | 1940 | Journalism | |
| Watson, Anthony J. | Military | ||
| Watson, Barbara Mae | 1918 | 1983 | Government |
| Watson, Bob (The Bull) | 1946 | Sports (bsb) | |
| Watson, Ella | Work | ||
| Watson, James Lopez | 1922 | 2001 | Law, Military |
| Watson, Johnny "Guitar" | 1935 | 1996 | Music (blues) |
| Watson, Samuel Codes | 1832 | 1891 | Politics |
| Watt, Melvin | 1945 | Politics | |
| Wattleton, Alyce Faye | 1943 | Activism | |
| Watts, André | 1946 | Music | |
| Watts, J. C. | 1957 | Politics | |
| Wayans, Keenen Ivory | 1958 | Theater / Film | |
| we Langa, Wopashitwe Mondo Eyen | Activism | ||
| Weaver, Anna Bolden | Education | ||
| Weaver, Robert Clifton | 1907 | 1997 | Government |
| Weaver, William B. | Education | ||
| Webb, Chick | 1902 | 1939 | Music |
| Webb, Frank J. | 1828 | 1894? | Writing |
| Webb, Jane | ca. 1680 | Slavery | |
| Webb, Mary | 1828 | 1859 | Activism |
| Webb, Wellington Edward | 1941 | Politics | |
| Webster, Ben | 1909 | 1973 | Music |
| Webster, Milton Price | 1887 | 1925 | Activism |
| Wedgeworth, Robert, Jr. | 1937 | Education | |
| Weeks, James | |||
| Weems, Carrie Mae | 1953 | Art | |
| Weems, Renita J. | 1954 | Education | |
| Weir, Reginald S. | 1911 | 1987 | Sports (ten) |
| Weir, Samuel | 1812 | 1844 | Religion |
| Welch, Elizabeth | 1908 | 2003 | Music |
| Welcome, Verda Freeman | 1907 | 1990 | Politics |
| Wells, Dicky | 1907 | 1985 | Music |
| Wells, James Lesesne | 1902 | 1993 | Art |
| Wells, Junior | 1934 | 1998 | Music (blues) |
| Wells, Willie | 1908/05 | 1989 | Sports (bsb) |
| Wells-Barnett, Ida Bell | 1862 | 1931 | Activism, |
| Wesley, Charles Harris | 1891 | 1987 | Religion |
| Wesley, Cynthia | 1949? | 1963 | Activism |
| Wesley, Dorothy Burnett Porter | 1905 | 1995 | Education |
| West, Cornel | 1953 | Education | |
| West, Dorothy | 1907 | 1998 | Writing |
| West, Miguel S. | Medicine | ||
| West, Togo D., Jr. | Politics | ||
| Westbrook, Peter | 1954? | Sports | |
| Weston, Maudelle Bass | 1908 | 1989 | Dance |
| Wharton, Clifton Reginald | 1899 | 1990 | Government |
| Wharton, Clifton Reginald, Jr. | 1926 | Business | |
| Wheatley, Phillis | 1753 (approx.) | 1784 | Writing |
| Wheatstraw, William Bunch (Peetie) | 1902 | 1941 | Music (blues) |
| Wheeler, Emma Rochelle | 1882 | 1957 | Medicine |
| Wheeler, John Hervey | 1908 | 1978 | Business |
| Whetsol, Artie | 1905 | 1940 | Music |
| Whipper, Ionia Rollin | 1872 | 1953 | Medicine |
| Whipper, William | 1804 | 1876 | Activism |
| Whipper, William J. | 1835 | 1907 | Politics |
| Whipple, Dinah | 17XX | 17?? | Education |
| Whipple, Prince | 17XX | 1797 | Military |
| Whitaker, Effie | 1892 | 1964 | Activism |
| Whitaker, Mark | 1957 | Journalism | |
| White, Augustus Aaron, III | 1936 | Medicine | |
| White, Barry | 1944 | 2003 | Music |
| White, Bukka | 1909? | 1977 | Music (blues) |
| White, Charles | 1918 | 1979 | Art |
| White, Charley C | 1885 | 1974 | Religion |
| White, Eartha Mary Magdalene | 1876 | 1974 | Activism |
| White, George Henry | 1852 | 1918 | Politics |
| White, Jacob C., Jr. | Religion | ||
| White, Jesse Clark, Jr. | 1934 | Sports | |
| White, John H. | 1942 | Art | |
| White, Josh | 1915 | 1969 | Music |
| White, Lulu Belle | 1900 | 1957 | Activism |
| White, Reginald Howard "Reggie" | 1961 | 2005 | Sports (ftb) |
| White, Sarah | 1958 | Activism | |
| White, Slappy | 1921 | 1995 | Theater / Film |
| White, Solomon | 1868 | 1955 | Sports (bsb) |
| White, Walter Francis | 1893 | 1955 | Activism |
| White, William Jefferson | 1832 | 1913 | Journalism |
| White, William Sylvester, Jr. | Military | ||
| Whitehead, Colson | 1969 | Writing | |
| Whiteside, Larry | 1938 | 2007 | Journalism |
| Whitfield, James Monroe | 1822 | 1871 | Activism |
| Whitfield, Owen | Activism | ||
| Whitman, Albery Allson | 1851 | 1901 | Writing |
| Whittaker, Johnson Chesnut | 1858 | 1931 | Education |
| Whitten, Jack | 1939 | Art | |
| Wickham, DeWayne | 1946 | Journalism | |
| Wideman, John Edgar | 1941 | Writing | |
| Wilberforce, Daniel Flickinger | 1855 | Education | |
| Wilder, Douglas | 1931 | Politics | |
| Wilkens, Lenny | 1937 | Sports (bsk) | |
| Wilkerson, Doxey Alphonso | 1905 | 1993 | Education |
| Wilkerson, Vernon Alexander | 1901 | 1968 | Medicine |
| Wilkins, Ernie | 1919 | 1999 | Music |
| Wilkins, J. Ernest, Jr. | 1923 | Science | |
| Wilkins, Joe Willie | 1921 | 1979 | Music |
| Wilkins, Roger Wood | 1932 | Journalism | |
| Wilkins, Roy | 1901 | 1981 | Organizations |
| Wilkinson, Henry B. | Writing | ||
| Wilkinson, Marion Birnie | 1870 | 1956 | Organizations |
| Willet, Chappie | 1907 | 1976 | Music |
| Williams, Aaron | Theater / Film | ||
| Williams, Bert, and George Walker | 1874 | 1922 | Theater / Film |
| Williams, Big Joe | 1903 | 1982 | Music (blues) |
| Williams, Billy Leo | 1938 | Sports (bsb) | |
| Williams, Camilla Ella | 1919/22 | Music | |
| Williams, Carla | 1965 | Art | |
| Williams, Cathay | 1844 | The West | |
| Williams, Clara Belle | Medicine | ||
| Williams, Clarence | 1893 | 1965 | Music |
| Williams, Claude "Fiddler" | Music | ||
| Williams, Cootie | 1910 | 1985 | Music |
| Williams, Daniel Hale | 1856 | 1931 | Medicine |
| Williams, Doug | 1955 | Sports (ftb) | |
| Williams, Edward Christopher | 1871 | 1929 | Education |
| Williams, Ella V. Chase | 1852 | Education | |
| Williams, Emily Harper | 1873 | 1933 | Education |
| Williams, Eugene | 19XX | 1919 | Activism |
| Williams, Fannie Barrier | 1855 | 1944 | Organizations |
| Williams, Frances E. | 1905 | 1994 | Theater / Film |
| Williams, George Washington | 1849 | 1891 | Activism |
| Williams, Hosea | 1926 | 2000 | Activism |
| Williams, Isaac D. | 1821 | 1898 | Slave Narrative |
| Williams, James | 1825 | Slave Narrative | |
| Williams, Joe | 1918 | 1999 | Music |
| Williams, John Alfred | 1925 | Writing | |
| Williams, Kenny J. | 1928 | 2003 | Education |
| Williams, Lavinia | 1916 | 1989 | Dance |
| Williams, Leon Lawson | Business | ||
| Williams, Marion | 1927 | 1994 | Music |
| Williams, Mary Lou | 1910 | 1981 | Music |
| Williams, Melvin Jr. | Military | ||
| Williams, Melvin Sr. | Military | ||
| Williams, Paul Revere | 1894 | 1980 | Art |
| Williams, Peter, Jr. | 1780? | 1840 | Activism |
| Williams, Peter, Sr. | 1749 | 1849/23 | Religion |
| Williams, Preston | Education | ||
| Williams, Robert Franklin | 1925 | 1996 | Activism |
| Williams, Sally (Aunt Sally) | 1796? | Slave Narrative | |
| Williams, Serena, and Venus Williams | 1982 1981; V '80 | Sports (ten) | |
| Williams, Sherley Anne | 1944 | 1999 | Writing |
| Williams, Smokey Joe | 1886 | 1951 | Sports (bsb) |
| Williams, Stanley "Tookie" | 2006 | Crime | |
| Williams, Tony | 1945 | Music | |
| Williams, Walter E. | 1936 | Journalism | |
| Williams, Wesley | Misc. | ||
| Williamson, Fred | 1938 | Theater / Film | |
| Williamson, John Hendrick | 1844 | Slavery | |
| Williamson, Sonny Boy [Aleck Miller] | 1914 | 1948 | Music (blues) |
| Williamson, Sonny Boy [No. 1] | 1910 | 1965 | Music (blues) |
| Willis, Deborah | 1948 | Art | |
| Willis, William Shedrick, Jr. | 1921 | 1983 | Education |
| Willmott, Kevin | Theater / Film | ||
| Wills, Harry | 1889 | 1958 | Sports (box) |
| Wills, Maury | 1932 | Sports (bsb) | |
| Willson, Joseph | 1817 | 1895 | Writing |
| Wilson, Alyce McCarroll | Activism | ||
| Wilson, August | 1945 | 2005 | Writing |
| Wilson, Butler | 1860 | 1939 | Activism |
| Wilson, Cassandra | 1955 | Music | |
| Wilson, Ed | 1925 | Art | |
| Wilson, Edith Goodall | 1896/1906 | 1981 | Music (blues) |
| Wilson, Ellis | 1899 | 1977 | Art |
| Wilson, Ernest Judson | 1899 | 1963 | Sports (bsb) |
| Wilson, Flip | 1933 | 1998 | Theater / Film |
| Wilson, Frank H. | 1886 | 1956 | Theater / Film |
| Wilson, Fred | 1954 | Art | |
| Wilson, Gerald | 1918 | Music | |
| Wilson, Harriet E. | 1828 (approx.) | Writing | |
| Wilson, J. Finley | 1881 | 1952 | Activism |
| Wilson, Jackie | 1934 | 1984 | Music |
| Wilson, John Woodrow | 1922 | Art | |
| Wilson, Margaret Bush | 1919 | Law | |
| Wilson, Mary | 1944 | Music | |
| Wilson, Milton James | Business | ||
| Wilson, Olly | 1937 | Music | |
| Wilson, Orlandus | 1917 | 1998 | Music |
| Wilson, Shadow | 1919 | 1959 | Music |
| Wilson, Sunnie | 1908 | 1999 | Business |
| Wilson, Teddy | 1912 | 1986 | Music |
| Wilson, William Joseph | Writing | ||
| Wilson, William Julius | 1935 | Education | |
| Wimberly, Dred | 1848 | 1937 | Activism |
| Winfield, Dave | 1951 | Sports (bsb) | |
| Winfield, Hemsley | 1907 | 1934 | Theater / Film |
| Winfield, Paul | 1941 | 2004 | Theater / Film |
| Winfrey, Oprah | 1954 | Business | |
| Winkfield, Jimmy | 1882 | 1974 | Sports (jockey) |
| Winston, Isabella | 1888 | 1971 | Business |
| Withers, Ernest C. | 1922 | Art | |
| Withers, William "Bill" | 1938 | Music | |
| Witten, Juan Bautista (Big Prince) | Military | ||
| Wolfe, George C. | 1954 | Theater / Film | |
| Womack, Bobby | 1944 | Music | |
| Wonder, Stevie | 1950 | Music | |
| Wood, William Vernell | 1936 | Sports (ftb) | |
| Woodard, Beulah Ecton | 1895 | 1955 | Art |
| Woodbey, George Washington | 1854 | 1937 | Religion |
| Woodby-McKane, Alice | 1863 (approx.) | 1946 | Medicine |
| Wooding, Sam | 1895 | 1985 | Music |
| Woodruff, Hale Aspacio | 1900 | 1980 | Art |
| Woods, Granville T. | 1856 | 1910 | Invention |
| Woods, Mattiebelle | 1904 | 2005 | Journalism |
| Woods, Sylvia | 19XX | Business | |
| Woods, Tiger | 1975 | Sports (golf) | |
| Woodson, Carter Godwin | 1875 | 1950 | Education |
| Woodyard, Sam | 1925 | 1988 | Music |
| Work, John Wesley, III | 1901 | 1967/68 | Music |
| Work, John Wesley, Jr. | 1873 | 1925 | Music |
| Work, Monroe Nathan | 1866 | 1945 | Journalism |
| Wormley, James | 1819 | 1884 | Business |
| Wright, Binkley T. | Crime | ||
| Wright, Charles S. | 1932 | Writing | |
| Wright, Cleo | 1916 | 1942 | Crime |
| Wright, Jane | 1919 (approx.) | Science | |
| Wright, Jonathan Jasper | 1840 | 1885 | Law |
| Wright, Louis Tompkins | 1891 | 1952 | Medicine |
| Wright, Mary Herring | Writing | ||
| Wright, Richard | 1908 | 1960 | Writing |
| Wright, Richard Robert, Sr. | 1855 | 1947 | Slavery |
| Wright, Stan | 1921 | 1998 | Sports (trk) |
| Wright, Theodore Sedgwick | 1797 | 1847 | Activism |
| Wright, Wild Bill | 1914 | 1996 | Sports (bsb) |
| Wyatt, Addie L. | 1924 | Activism | |
| Wysinger, Edmond | Activism | ||
| Xuma, Madie Hall | 1894 | 1982 | Education |
| Yancey, Mama | 1896 | 1986 | Music (blues) |
| Yarbrough, Emmanuel (Manny) | Sports | ||
| Yarrow, Mamout | 1706 (approx.) | 1820 (approx.) | Slavery |
| Yates, James | 1906 | 1994 | Activism |
| Yates, Josephine A. | 1859 | 1912 | Education |
| Yates, William Henry | 1816 | 1868 | Activism |
| Yerby, Frank | 1916 | 1991 | Writing |
| Yergan, Max | 1892 | 1975 | Activism |
| York | 1772 (approx.) | 1832 | The West |
| Young, Plummer Bernard | 1884? | 1962 | Journalism |
| Young, Al | 1939 | Writing | |
| Young, Andrew Jackson, Jr. | 1932 | Government | |
| Young, Buddy | 1926 | 1983 | Sports (ftb) |
| Young, Charles | 1864 | 1922 | Military |
| Young, Coleman | 1918 | 1997 | Politics |
| Young, James Hunter | 1858 | 1921 | Activism |
| Young, Jean Childs | 1933 | 1994 | Activism |
| Young, Kevin | 1970 | Writing | |
| Young, Lester | 1909 | 1959 | Music |
| Young, Preston Bernard | 1884 | 1962 | Journalism |
| Young, Roger Arliner | 1889 | 1964 | Science |
| Young, Rosa J. | 1890 | Education | |
| Young, Trummy | 1912 | 1984 | Music |
| Young, Whitney Moore, Jr. | 1921 | 1971 | Activism |
| Younge, Sammy Leamon | 1944 | 1966 | Activism |
| Zampty, John Charles | Activism | ||
| Zollar, Jawole | 1950 | Dance | |
| Zuber, Paul Burgess | 1927 | Activism |