In honor of Women's History Month, I will be blogging and Facebooking about Black women in several fields whom I believe to be trailblazers and positive examples for us.
The first...Ms. Diahann Carroll.
Many people may not know, but I began my acting "career" in theatre, as did Diahann. Her achievements in theatre led to groundbreaking achievements for Black women in television, as well as film. Broadway roles for black singers were rare but at age 19, Diahann was cast in the Harold Arlen/Truman Capote musical "House of Flowers". Starring the indomitable Pearl Bailey.
In 1954 she and Ms. Bailey supported a riveting Dorothy Dandridge as femme fatale Carmen Jones (1954) in an all-black, updated movie version of the Georges Bizet opera "Carmen."
Little did Diahann know that in the late 1960s she would break a major ethnic barrier on the small screen. Though it was nearly impossible to suppress the natural glamour and sophistication of Diahann, she touchingly portrayed an ordinary nurse and widow struggling to raise a small son in the series "Julia" (1968). Despite other Black American actresses starring in a TV series Diahann became the first full-fledged African-American female "star" -- top billed, in which the show centered around her lead character. The show gradually rose in ratings and Diahann won a Golden Globe award for "Best Newcomer" and an Emmy
nomination.
The breast cancer survivor and Tony award winner is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. "I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn't my original intention."
Thank you for opening these doors and helping shape roles for Black women in television and film! Diahann Carroll is flawless. Period. Point blank. When I think of modern-vintage I think of her. She has a timeless look and has always embodied the epitome of class and grace.
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