Celebrating Prominent Black Caregivers And Advocates
- Elder Love USA
- Feb 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
2026 UPDATE: We've added public figures who have openly shared real caregiving journeys.
Many prominent Black figures have channeled their caregiving experiences into honoring their loved ones while also raising awareness and driving meaningful change.
Their stories stand as powerful testaments to the unwavering strength of caregivers. Those who show up daily, often unrecognized, to support the ones they love.
This Black History Month, we celebrate the extraordinary work of these Black caregivers and advocates who continue to make a profound impact, inspiring us all to support and uplift one another.
Here are just a few of those individuals who are leading the charge:
Queen Latifah
In the mid-2000s, legendary actress and musician Queen Latifah cared for her mother, Rita Owens, who battled heart failure and interstitial lung disease.
Latifah has often shared how her mother’s remarkable strength and positivity became a guiding force during this challenging time.
This experience sparked a deeper awareness in Latifah about her own health and well-being.
She has since dedicated herself to raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of heart failure and interstitial lung disease.
Holly Robinson Peete & Rodney Peete
Actress Holly Robinson Peete’s caregiving journey began when she was a freshman in college, after her father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Holly quickly stepped into the role of caregiver, learning firsthand the challenges and rewards of supporting a loved one through a serious illness.
Alongside her husband, former NFL player Rodney Peete, Holly also became a caregiver to their son, RJ, who was diagnosed with autism.
Together, the Peetes have dedicated themselves to raising awareness and providing resources to families with loved ones affected by autism and Parkinson’s disease through their foundation, Hollyrod.
Michelle Obama
As First Lady, Michelle Obama worked tirelessly to highlight the needs of military families, with a particular focus on military caregivers.
She was honored by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for her outstanding support of military caregivers, who often face heightened emotional and physical stress, financial and legal challenges, employment struggles, and feelings of isolation due to the immense responsibility and limited resources available to those caring for someone who served.
Through her efforts, Michelle Obama brought crucial attention to the unique challenges that military caregivers endure.
Jamie Foxx
Foxx made the decision to have his sister, DeOndra Dixon, who had Down syndrome, move into his home so he could provide her with the care and support she needed.
DeOndra was a central part of Jamie’s life, and he often spoke about the deep impact she had on him.
After DeOndra’s passing in 2020, Foxx continued to honor her legacy by supporting organizations like the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, where DeOndra had been an active advocate. Recently, he lobbied for increased research into Down syndrome, aiming to further progress in the field.
Gabrielle Union
She has openly shared her experience navigating her father’s dementia journey and the realities of caregiving decisions.
As she explained, “You know, nursing homes, what’s covered by insurance, what’s not, home health aides — that all adds up, and having to be really cognizant of an additional expense, I have to go where the money goes.”
She also highlights a reality many caregivers face, having to consider her father’s condition when making career choices and balancing professional opportunities with family responsibilities.
Tisha Campbell
Actress Tisha Campbell has spoken openly about her journey caring for a son on the autism spectrum.
In an interview with ABA Centers, she described the emotional shock, grief, and eventual shift into action after struggling to get answers from multiple doctors. She spoke about the need for a strong support system, the challenges families face, especially in underserved communities where diagnoses often come later, and the importance of getting everyone, including family members, aligned with therapists and treatment plans.
Throughout the conversation, she stressed that while the journey is difficult, progress is possible, small wins matter, and parents must care for themselves while learning how to reach and support their child.
Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood and his siblings reflected on their shared experience caring for their aging parents
They spoke about the importance of planning, including updating wills and understanding end-of-life wishes, while also navigating the practical realities of aging, disability, and long-term illness, particularly their mother’s multiple sclerosis.
They also emphasized gratitude for the time they still had together, the emotional challenges and rewards of caregiving, and the value of family, support systems, and compassion for both professional and family caregivers who take on the responsibility of caring for loved ones at home.
These remarkable individuals have not only embraced the role of caregiver but have also used their experiences to inspire change and raise awareness. Their unwavering dedication to their loved ones and their communities serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of caregivers everywhere.
Brandy Evans
In this Breakfast Club interview, Brandy Evans discussed balancing her acting career with full-time caregiving for her mother, Diana Harrington, who has multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and is also a paraplegic She described caregiving as doing “everything,” from medical coordination and supplies to emotional support and constant supervision that often felt like caring for a newborn.
She shared how inconsistent state benefits and the high cost of care shaped major life decisions, including moving her mother from Memphis and navigating setbacks when benefits changed during filming. She emphasized the need for caregivers to be checked on and supported too.
Evans explained that her “village,” especially close friends, stepped in during emergencies and work travel, and she talked candidly about exhaustion, therapy, guilt, and learning to take breaks without pouring from an empty cup.
Sope Aluko
Actress Sope Aluko has shared how caregiving profoundly shaped her life and future path.
After losing her father following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, she was faced with another life-changing challenge when her mother was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.
Aluko became her mother’s caregiver for more than two years until her passing in 2009, navigating the emotional demands that so many family caregivers know firsthand.
"And I actually fell into a deep depression. I always struggled with depression, but at that time, losing both my parents back to back kind of really drove me into an area that I struggled."
(Source: Jesus Calling Podcast, Episode 412)
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