[miss marmelstein]

The south I understand, maybe, but not in my house. And not in many other places. Sidney was married to a white woman as was Sammy Davis and a hell of a lot of other people. Dorien Leigh was engaged to Harry Belefonte although it never went through - that was in the 50s.

[biff]

Inger Stevens was secretly married to a black man or at least it was kept very hidden. Wondered if that social pressure led to her suicide.

[fatnotlazy]

When Sammy Davis, Jr. married May Britt, a white woman, he was not allowed to perform at JFK's inauguration. Whether that decision was Kennedy's or someone close to him, I don't know, but it seems the White House was concerned about a scandal. Or at least, that was the story.

Davis faced a great deal of bigotry in his life. For example, he could perform with the Rat Pack at the Sands in Las Vegas and other such resorts, but he could not stay there. I believe it was Frank Sinatra who finally said he would not perform unless Davis was allowed to stay at the resort.

It's unfortunate because Davis was a huge talent. I suppose eventually, it was his talent that people began to focus on, not his skin color, and that allowed him to be successful.

[Bob]

In New Jersey as well. Racism in the 50’s and 60’s was very common there when I was growing up.