Superstar Heather Hunter is one of the most well-known black porn stars of all time, and the first black woman to become a Vivid contract girl. Check out our star profile of Ebony Ayes here. It's no wonder compilations like Ebony Eyes Collection were made to commemorate her transcendent appeal. Ebony's rapid rise to stardom gave her recognition as a "crossover" performer, with a variety of genres she was known for and a broad audience and fanbase. Known for her incredible, all-natural 36JJ breasts and beautiful smile, Ebony reached peak popularity in the late-80s, filming dozens of movies a year. After meeting and falling in love with fellow performer Jean Afrique, the two left the industry and moved to Denmark to pursue a new life together.Įbony Ayes is another unforgettable legend of the classic-porn era. Ray Victory put in a great deal of work in the decade-or-so he spent in the adult industry. Prior to his retirement in '96, Ray shot hundreds of films, like his memorable moment in the classic, Night Trips (1989). Muscular, well-hung classic stud Ray Victory was a staple star in porn productions in the late 80s-early 90s. She sought to represent and showcase black female sexuality at a time and in an industry sorely lacking it, and her prolific, award-winning career is testimony to her achievement in doing so. How come there are not more black women doing this?" Jeannie was the first black female inductee into the AVN Hall of Fame, and later entered the XRCO Hall of Fame as well. In an interview about her decision to enter the mostly-white world of adult film in the early 80s, she's quoted as saying, "I just wanted to show the world. Jeannie Pepper found success in the adult industry purely based off her authentic desire to share her sexuality with the world. Johnnie Keyes & Marilyn Chambers in Behind The Green Door 2. The importance of Johnnie Keyes' contributions to adult entertainment, and the other communities whose lives he touched, cannot be overstated. His interesting life was also profiled in the 2017 Netflix documentary, After Porn Ends 2. postage stamp made in his honor for facing the criticism of being "the first black man in an interracial porno." Beyond his work in adult, Johnnie was an active boxer, participated in musical theater, and served in the Vietnam War. Comedian Michael Che made the argument that Johnnie deserved a U.S. In 2015, Johnnie Keyes received a shoutout during the "Weekend Update" segment on NBC's popular Saturday Night Live program. Johnnie later admitted to receiving multiple death threats for this scene, also starring Marilyn Chambers, which understandably affected him greatly. Johnnie's most-memorable role in the 1972 classic, Behind The Green Door, was considered a "landmark" interracial porn scene and a groundbreaking moment for pornography in general. Johnnie Keyes: Active 1972-2013Ī legend of the Golden Age of Porn, Johnnie Keyes enjoyed decades of success working in the adult industry, remaining in the public eye up until his passing in 2018. Here are 30 porn performers who shaped the adult industry with their unforgettable careers. This isn't an all-encompassing list of influential black performers, as there many still, but these stars undeniably made a name for themselves in adult entertainment and paved a way for their successors. The adult industry, while not without its own problems regarding race, created markets of influence and opportunity for black performers early in the business' inception, and continues to do so to this day. With anything we enjoy present-day (porn included), we should take time to reflect upon the contributions provided us by people of color-not just in February for Black History Month, but year-round.