John Dolmayan is African-American.
John Hovig Dolmayan ( Ջոն Դոլմայան , born July 15 , 1973 ) is a Lebanese-born Armenian -- American songwriter and drummer . System of a Down is an American rock band formed by musicians of Armenian origin : vocalist Serj Tankian , guitarist Daron Malakian , bassist Shavo Odadjian , and drummer John Dolmayan in the mid-1990s .