Stephen A. Smith Embraces African American Ethnicity With Saint Thomas Roots

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Currently commentating on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith is a sports journalist, sports radio host, and sports television personality. His parents were originally from Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, and he is of African American ethnicity.

Key Takeaways

  • He was born to his mother, Jane, and his father, whose name is unknown, worked at a hardware store. Originally, they came from the Virgin Islands’ Saint Thomas.
  • The rest of Smith’s grandparents were Black, but his maternal grandmother was White.

As an NBA analyst, Stephen frequently appears on ESPN’s NBA broadcasts, NBA Countdown, and SportsCenter.

In addition, he has hosted ESPN Radio’s The Stephen A. Smith Show and co-hosts ESPN’s First Take, which he is mostly known for.

He began his television career in 1999 on the now-defunct cable network CNN/SI. Over 24 years later, he has established himself as a prominent figure in sports television, and his talk show First Take is a favorite among viewers.

Smith has also experimented with acting and appeared in a number of cameos in various television programs.

Since playing Brick on General Hospital in 2016, he has returned to the show annually as a guest.

Additionally, he hosts a podcast called The Stephen A. Smith Show on his YouTube channel, where he calls guests and primarily discusses sports-related subjects with them.

Even though Stephen A. Smith has been seen on many channels for years, many people are still intrigued about his ethnicity and upbringing, which most are unaware of.

Stephen A. Smith‘s Parents Are Originally From Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Stephen Anthony Smith, commonly referred to as Stephen A. Smith, was born in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, on October 14, 1967. He grew up in Queens’ Hollis neighborhood.

Smith is the youngest of six children. His oldest brother, Basil, passed away in a vehicle accident in 1992. He has four older sisters and a half-brother from his father’s side.

He was born to his mother, Janet, and his father, whose name is unknown, who worked at a hardware store. They originally came from the Virgin Islands’ Saint Thomas.

Stephen A. Smith's African American Ethnicity With Roots In Saint Thomas
Stephen A. Smith’s mother, Janet. (Source: YouTube)

The rest of Smith’s grandparents were Black, but his maternal grandmother was White. Black people who are descended from African slaves make up the majority of the Virgin Islands population.

Stephen A. Smith’s ethnicity is African American, which he gladly embraces, as well as his Saint Thomas heritage.

Sadly, Smith’s mother, Janet, died in 2017, but the closeness and the importance of his parents’ heritage have always been a part of him.

He talked about how difficult the loss of his mother was for him and how he wished he had passed away instead.

Being the proud father of two daughters, he instills in them the importance of life and the importance of remembering one’s roots.

Smith, who is currently unmarried, shares his accomplishments with his children.

In Case You Didn’t Know

  • When hosting First Take, Smith is notorious for using catchphrases like “blasphemous” to describe things that are absolutely out of his league and incomprehensible.
  • Smith supports the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Yankees, and New York Knicks.
  • On September 22, 2022, he started a YouTube channel, “Stephen A.Smith.”
Ritesh Thapa
Ritesh Thapa
Ritesh Thapa is a content writer focusing in the sports and entertainment industry. His enthusiasm for storytelling combined with his acute sense of trends allow him to create engaging content that appeals to a wide range of people. Aside from his professional life, Ritesh is an avid musician who writes and performs songs.

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