Thank You Lena Horne!

I was unaware yesterday that Lena Horne had passed away. I heard the news as my radio alarm went off this morning and I was surprised and sad. I guess the fact that Ms. Horne was 92 makes it more bearable, but it is still upsetting to lose such an iconic and important figure in the struggle for black equality. It's hard to imagine now, but in 1951, when MGM made Showboat, they gave the role of the "mulatto" Julie to Ava Gardner. Apparently Gardner, a friend of Ms. Horne's, was "duskied up" with makeup that MGM staff had created for Horne. The makeup was called "light Egyptian." This is just one of many, many stories that illuminate the kind of racism and ignorance Ms. Horne had to endure when it came to Hollywood. In the closing paragraph of The New York Times' obituary it says: "Looking back at the age of 80, Ms. Horne said: “My identity is very clear to me now. I am a black woman. I’m free. I no longer have to be a ‘credit.’ I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody; I don’t have to be a first to anybody. I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.”


"I'm me, and I'm like nobody else." Those are words to live by!

Outfit:

Shirt: This is another classic Salvation Army find that I've had since high school. I love the print!

Sweater: Another hand me down from my cousin Taylor! Mossimo.

Brown Pants: Goodwill. I.N.C.

Shoes: Mossimo. I still have to wear shoes that don't touch my heel!

This is Leo getting in on the action!