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Black Celebrities and the Presidency (21 photos)

Donald Trump Jr. recently defended his father from charges of racism in an interview with the Daily Caller, offering as evidence a past history of photographs taken of the elder Trump with African-American celebrities. Since the mid-20th century, U.S. presidents and those who dream of becoming President have all made a practice of being photographed with prominent African-American performers and artists. Below, a sampling, from President Harry Truman meeting with Duke Ellington in 1950 to President-Elect Trump with Kanye West in 2016.