First published 2021
Marcellas Reynolds examines the careers of influential Black actresses across film, television, and theater. The book combines striking photographs with personal interviews and biographical profiles. Reynolds traces the path from Hattie McDaniel's 1939 Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress to Dorothy Dandridge's 1954 nomination for Best Actress. He explores Ethel Waters becoming the first African American actress on an American sitcom in 1950 and Cicely Tyson starring as the first African American lead in a TV drama in 1963. Through career milestones and personal stories, Reynolds reveals how these women began their acting journeys and identifies the pioneers who opened doors for others. He examines their defining moments and the impact of racial prejudice on their professional paths. The book celebrates actresses who have shaped culture and transformed beauty standards. Gabrielle Union provides the foreword for this tribute to women whose performances created lasting memories of laughter, love, and loss for audiences.
Genres: biography, history, african-american, non-fiction, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biographical, historical, pioneers
Period: 1939, 1950, 1954, 1963
240 pages · Kindle Edition · Abrams Books