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Lena Mary Calhoun Horne died May 09, 2010 at 92 years young.
This Brooklyn, New York native was a beauty like none other.
She was our American singer, actress and dancer that open the doors for individuals such as Halle Berry, Monique, Jennifer Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys among countless others.
Ms. Horne began her career at the tender age of sixteen by joining the chorus of the infamous Cotton Club in New York, before heading west to be a star in Hollywood.
Being a woman of color she only received small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the films “Cabin in the Sky” and “Stormy Weather”.
Ms. Horne was not just a beauty who was going to sit in the back and do as she was told.
NO SHE HAD A VOICE!
She was a woman of character and was not going to tolerate the mistreatment of Black people nor perform “for segregated audiences”.
However, unfortunately she was a women ahead of her time, thus, she found her herself blacklisted and unable to get work in Hollywood.
But, it’s amazing how she continued to be steadfast and become involved in the civil rights. “She was at the March on Washington and spoke and performed on behalf of the NACCP, and the National Council of Negro Women. She also worked with Eleanor Roosevelt to pass anti-lynching laws, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Ms. Horne, never once forgot who she was. Despite her fair skin, she was a WOMEN OF COLOR, and proud of it.
Ms. Horne has always epitomized class, sophistication, but more importantly promoted social justice through her creative endeavors.
Ms. Horne you will be missed, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for touching our lives!
Side Bar ~ In a 2005 interview Ms. Oprah Winfrey stated she was considering producing a biopic of Ms. Lena Horne and casting Alicia Keys as Horne.
Wouldn’t that be amazing!
Doesn’t Alicia Keys favor Ms. Horne so much!
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