- Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-19731
- Rathburn, Chelsea, 1975-1
- Ray, James Earl, 1928-19981
- Reagon, Bernice Johnson, 1942-1
- Reagon, Cordell Hull, 1943-19961
- Reese, Willie Joe1
- Remus, Uncle (Fictitious character)1
- Robinson, Jackie, 1919-19721
- Robinson, Ruby Doris Smith, 1941-19671
- Root, Sidney, 1824-18971
- Rosenwald, Julius, 1862-19321
- Rothschild, Jacob M., 1911-19731
- Ruellan, Andrée, 1905-20061
- Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-19711
- Sanders, Carl, 1925-20141
- Satcher, David, 1941-1
- Saussy, Hattie, 1890-19781
- Schley, William, 1786-18581
- Schroeder, Gerhard1
- Screws, Claude, approximately 1897-1
