Before Jackie Robinson opened the door for people of color to be grudgingly accepted into America's sports culture, Lena Horne opened America's white movie theaters, night clubs and living rooms to black female entertainers.
A lot of it was based on her "safe" looks, but she could back the looks up with a deep wealth of talent. Sexy, soulful and fiercely intelligent, her contributions to American culture will be long remembered and her presence will be missed.
According to her Kennedy Center bio, "During World War II, when entertaining the troops for the USO, she refused to perform "for segregated audiences or for groups in which German POWs were seated in front of African American servicemen. " If she hadn't been blackballed (pun unnecessary) for her progressive political views and unable to get work in Hollywood, what kind of star could she have been?
She now truly resides in The Cabin In The Sky.
Thanks to Basil Nelson for the video.
No comments:
Post a Comment