Ernie Hudson Jr. facts for kids

Earnest Lee Hudson Jr. (born September 16, 1965) is an American actor, author, poet, and film producer. He is known for his acting roles and for his work connecting people through DNA.

In October 2021, he was honored as Togbui Kpogo Afenya I. This means he became an Ewe Chief in Frankadua, a town in Ghana. He now leads the Center for Ewe Culture. This group helps families reconnect when their DNA matches people in Africa.

Early Life and Learning

Earnest's father, Ernie Hudson, was a playwright and actor. This inspired Earnest from a young age. He started his acting training at the InnerCity Cultural Center in Los Angeles. There, he was one of the first members of their Children’s Repertory Company.

As a young adult, Earnest performed in the 1984 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies. He also won a national gold medal in Oral Forensics in 1989. This is a type of public speaking competition. He also earned a master's degree in Exercise Science. Earnest is also a skilled martial artist, holding a 5th Degree Black Belt.

He has continued acting, appearing on the TV show "HBO's "Oz"." He also wrote a book called "Freestyle Prophecies & Sacred Ciphers." Earnest also helped produce the movie "The Karma Club."

Connecting with Ancestors

Earnest's mother was a professor who studied African cultures. This inspired him to learn about his own family history. He started studying genealogy, which is the study of family lines. He learned that some of his family members had DNA matches with people in Nigeria and Ghana. These matches suggested they shared an ancestor who might have been enslaved long ago.

Many people think it's impossible to find specific family connections in Africa. Earnest saw this as a chance to show that it is possible. He decided to reconnect with as many of his African DNA-matched families as he could.

In 2021, Earnest traveled to Ghana. He met three different branches of his father's DNA family tree. When he arrived, his Ewe family performed a special ceremony. They learned that he was the reincarnation of his great-grandfather, Regent Kpogo I. Because of this, Earnest was honored as "Kpogo Afenya I." He was later given the title "Togbui," which means "Grandpa" or "King." This title shows he is a leader among his people.

Today, Togbui runs the Center for Ewe Culture. This non-profit group works to help the town of Frankadua in Ghana. It also teaches people about the importance of DNA testing, especially for those with African DNA.

Earnest is a Lifetime Member of American Mensa, a group for people with high IQs. He also helps many charities. He currently lives in New York.

Film and TV Roles

Movies

Television Shows

Voice Over Work

Books Written