Five African American Celebrities with Sickle Cell Disease

1. Tionne Tenese Watkins also known as "T-Boz" is a singer in the girl group TLC. She was born April 26 1970, in Des Moines, Iowa. When she was child she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease and has been battling it up to now. Even though she had sickle cell disease, it did not stop her from winning 4 grammies with her group TLC and selling millions of records worldwide. She was told by doctors that she would not live pass thirty years old and she would never have children, she is now fourteen years passed that life expectancy and has a 14 year old daughter. She is now spreading awareness by being a Sickle Cell Disease advocate. (Wikipedia)

2. Albert Jones known buy his stage name "Prodigy" is a famous rapper in the group "Mob Deep". He was born in Hamstead, New York on November 2 1974. Prodigy was diagnosed with sickle cell when he was a child and since being a rapper he was able to express anger of his suffering in his rap songs. Also her has wrote an autobiography documenting his life of his struggles. Now he is a advocate for Sickle Cell Disease and has worked with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America to spread awareness and also raise funds.(Wikipedia)

3. Larenz Tate is an American film actor. He was born September 8, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. You may know him from his role as O-Dog in the drama film "Menace II Society". he also has was in movies like Dead Pesident, Love Jones, Biker Boyz, and many more. With his brothers Lahmard and Larron they created the Tate Brothers Foundation to bring awareness for persons with Sickle Cell Disease. Larenz focuses on educating people about sickle cell. He currently is married and has three sons.(Wikipedia)

4. Tiki Barber is a American football athlete that played for the New York Giants for ten seasons. He was born April 7 1975 in Blacksburg, Virginia. He played as the running back and retired as the all time rushing and reception player of the team. Barber was a correspondent for NBC's "The Today Show" and "Football Night in America/Sunday Night Football". He has she awareness for Sickle Cell by heading "Be Sickle Smart: Ask Tiki About Iron" which informed people who had Sickle Cell on how to take care of their health.(Wikipedia)

5. Ryan Terry Clarke is a pro American football player and that played for the Washington Redskins. He was born on October 12 1979 in Marrero, Louisiana. He played as a safety and has played in the Pro Bowl (NFL all-star games) in 2012. He does not have sickle cell disease but he does have the trait which prevented him from playing in cities with high altitudes. Throughout his career he has also played for the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his season in 2007 he had to be hospitalized during a game against Denver. At the end of the season he lost his spleen and gallbladder be cause of his sickle cell trait. He just announce his retirement in February of this year. He runs an organization called the Ryan Clarks Cure League that raises money for sickle cell research, clinical care and to spread more awareness. (Wikipedia)