Black Stars On The Hollywood Walk of Fame

Martin Lawrence, Missy Elliot, J-Hud and more have been honored on the famed walkway.

042123-celebs-missy-elliott-martin-lawrence-jennifer-hudson.jpg

1 / 16

Since its inception in 1953, there have been more than 2,500 stars unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — 15 blocks of brass stars embedded on Hollywood Boulevard dedicated to honoring stars who have achieved the pinnacle of success. Here, BET.com takes a look at some of the African-Americans inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Photo: Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images)

Photo By (Photos from left: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images, Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images, Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

How Are Celebs Inducted? - To be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, “anyone, including a fan, can nominate a celebrity as long as the celebrity or his/her management is in agreement with the nomination,” according to the organization’s website. When celebs are chosen to be inducted, they must agree to pay the Chamber of Commerce $30,000 for the creation and installation of their star.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

2 / 16

To be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, “anyone, including a fan, can nominate a celebrity as long as the celebrity or his/her management is in agreement with the nomination,” according to the organization’s website. When celebs are chosen to be inducted, they must agree to pay the Chamber of Commerce $55,000, as of 2022, for the creation and installation of their star. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

042123-celebs-martin-lawrence.jpg

3 / 16

On April 20, 2023, comedy legend Martin Lawrence was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 58-year-old told the crowd, "I've been crying all week so I figured if I had my glasses on today, maybe y'all won't see the tears, but they're most definitely tears of joy."

Photo By (Photo by Erik Voake/Getty Images)

Salt-N-Pepa

4 / 16

In November 2022, Salt-N-Pepa received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not only was it history-making for a hip hop great to receive a star, Spinderella joined them, which was their first public appearance together s ince Spinderella left the group in 2019

Photo by @saltnpepaofficial via Instagram

Jenifer Lewis

5 / 16

In 2022, Jenifer Lewis, the mother of Black Hollywood, was awarded a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She delivered an unforgettable speech in this viral video.

Photo by @jeniferlewisforreal via Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT
042123-celebs-missy-elliott.jpg

6 / 16

In November 2021, Missy Elliot received the 2,708th star on the famous walkway. Ciara, Lizzo and Elliott’s manager Mona Scott-Young also spoke at the ceremony.

Photo By (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

042123-celebs-50-cent.jpg

7 / 16

In January 2020, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson was honored with a star. Eminem was in attendance and said during his speech “One of the first things I noticed when he walked into the room was his presence. It just kind of felt like he’s going to be a star … He was the whole package.”

Photo By (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

042423-celebs-jennifer-hudson.jpg

8 / 16

Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson was awarded the 2,512th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. Her star was unveiled at 6262 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the W Hollywood Hotel. Hudson is a Grammy and Oscar Award-winning star who got her debut on American Idol in 2004.

Photo By (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

"Still I Rise" - “Still I Rise” was the title and one of the singles from the Outlawz's official debut with Tupac on Death Row Records. The album was released after Pac’s murder and featured Makaveli depicting the trials of a Black male born into hopelessness but determined to make it out despite the odds. Pac was kicking realness with rhymes like, "Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser/Only plan he had for momma was to f--k her and abuse her/Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me/Stranded on welfare, another broken family."(Photo: Steve Eichner/Getty Images)

9 / 16

After rendering 31,000 signatures, a petition to support Tupac Shakur’s induction was successful. The Walk of Fame only awards one posthumous star annually and Tupac Amaru Shakur made the cut in 2013 as he became the fourth rapper inducted. His star is set to be unveiled in a 2014 ceremony.(Photo: Steve Eichner/Getty Images)

Photo By Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Diddy - When mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was told he was going to have the honor of receiving the 2,362nd star on the Walk of Fame in 2008, in honor of his budding acting career, he went all out. For his “coming-out party,” the rapper, actor and self-proclaimed “Ciroc Boy” held a full press conference for interviews and had a lavish party to celebrate the milestone.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

10 / 16

When mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was told he was going to have the honor of receiving the 2,362nd star on the Walk of Fame in 2008, in honor of his budding acting career, he went all out. For his “coming-out party,” the rapper, actor and self-proclaimed “Ciroc Boy” held a full press conference for interviews and had a lavish party to celebrate the milestone.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Halle Berry - In addition to becoming the first African-American female to win an Oscar for leading actress, Halle Berry received the 2,333rd Walk of Fame star in 2007. Berry is one of few African-American actresses to have an Emmy, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Walk of Fame Star.(Photo: Nikki Nelson/ WENN)

11 / 16

In addition to becoming the first Black woman to win an Oscar for leading actress, Halle Berry received the 2,333rd Walk of Fame star in 2007. Berry is one of few Black actresses to have an Emmy, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Walk of Fame Star.(Photo: Nikki Nelson/ WENN)

Muhammad Ali - In honor of the 2002 biopic Ali, starring actor Will Smith, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, as opposed to being awarded a traditional star on Hollywood Boulevard, Ali’s star was embedded on the wall of the Kodak Theater.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

12 / 16

In honor of the 2002 biopic Ali, starring actor Will Smith, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, as opposed to being awarded a traditional star on Hollywood Boulevard, Ali’s star was embedded on the wall of the Kodak Theater.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Tina Turner - Anna Mae Bullock, better known by her stage name Tina Turner, set the music industry on fire in the 1960s with her Grammy Award-winning hit “River Deep, Mountain High.” She was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August 1986.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

13 / 16

Anna Mae Bullock, better known by her stage name Tina Turner, set the music industry on fire in the 1960s with her Grammy Award-winning hit “River Deep, Mountain High.” She was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Chuck Berry  - When Tina Turner won a coveted slot on the Walk of Fame in 1986, Chuck Berry, the “Father of Rock and Roll,” and arguably one of the best guitarists to ever walk the earth, did not make the cut. Executives at his label MCA Records felt “snubbed.” But Berry was inducted the following year with the 1,857th star in September 1987.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

14 / 16

When Tina Turner won a coveted slot on the Walk of Fame in 1986, Chuck Berry, the “Father of Rock and Roll,” and arguably one of the best guitarists to ever walk the earth, did not make the cut. Executives at his label MCA Records felt “snubbed.” But Berry was inducted the following year with the 1,857th star in 1987.(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

Hattie McDaniel in Gone With the Wind (1939) - Known as a comic actress, McDaniel beat out tough competition to play the role of opinionated house slave Mammy in this classic epic drama. Though the film makes contemporary audiences bristle at the racial epithets and themes, it did land McDaniel a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, the first ever for a Black woman.(Photo: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images)

15 / 16

When Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar in 1940 for supporting actress in Gone With the Wind, she was the first African-American invited to the Academy Awards. But even with an Oscar accomplishment, she wouldn’t make it to the Hollywood Walk of Fame until 1975, when she was inducted posthumously. (Photo: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images)

Sammy Davis, Jr. - The iconic entertainer experienced his first brush with racism during a stint with the US Army in World War II. "Overnight, the world looked different," he explained. "It wasn't one color anymore."   (Photo: Gilles Petard/Redferns)

16 / 16

In honor of the 2002 biopic Ali, starring actor Will Smith, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, as opposed to being awarded a traditional star on Hollywood Boulevard, Ali’s star was embedded on the wall of the Kodak Theater.(Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)