Posted on 05/10/2010 4:08:07 AM PDT by Biggirl
NEW YORK – Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress who reviled the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialize with them, slowing her rise to Broadway superstardom, died Sunday. She was 92.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Geez...they had to deal the damn race card in the very first sentence; rather than address Ms. Horne’s stellar accomplishments right out of the gate...
Well that is the AP for you! Play the race card even to the end of a person’s life.
My daughter and I were just watching “An American Songbook” last night which featured the contributions of Jewish, Black and Irish songwriters in forming the musical legacy of America. It was the first time my teenager saw Lena Horne. It is a shame that we awoke this morning to find out she was gone. But she led a really dynamic, long life.
To ignore Ms. Horne’s race is to be less than honest. The truth is she performed in places that she was not allowed to patronize. She was often cut out of movies shown in the South. She broke the barriers of race that the time frame put on all blacks at the time. It is not the race card its the truth.
Shame on the author of this piece...
I am quite clear on Lena’s history; having been a great admirer of hers when I was younger, but this is so typical of the PC media to play the card before her talents; which should never be forgotten...she overcame. She was amazing.
Someone please explain to me how speaking about the race of a performer who is black and broke barriers during the horrible time of Jim Crow, is pulling the race card. This is a woman who could not walk in the front door and sit down at many of the places in which she performed. Her scenes in the movies she was in were often cut in the South. In the end she marched with others in the Civil Rights struggles during the 50’s and 60’s. Her race, while it is not all that she was, is relevant.
rip
Well, it seems that the AP is making Lena Horne's race "all that she was." There is no doubt that the racial issue, rather than her talent, dominates the opening statement in the article.
Damn straight she could sing.
“Lena Horne, the enchanting jazz singer and actress who reviled the bigotry that allowed her to entertain white audiences but not socialize with them, slowing her rise to Broadway superstardom, died Sunday”
Maybe some day the ‘race angle’ in all this reporting can RIP as well. Or will we just beat it into the ground with a stick F O R E V E R ???? MOVE ON, already!!!
The story of ‘Racism’ in the US will be dredged up and gratuitously foisted onto the public ad infinitum. This crying need for the perpetual guilt and hand-wringing of white Americans, generations removed from slavery, will continue no matter what, how costly or how extensive progress against it has become...consequently it will NOT be permitted to go the way of high button boots and hoop skirts, and how could it?
Yes, racism is an impediment to minorities….. yes, progress has been made, is being made. However the need to wear the history of the oldest and worst racist offences like some kind of a emblem, by people who by now have the most and best opportunities for their futures, has become itself a most insurmountable impediment and one of their own making.
Doesn’t it say in the Bible: If you would find your enemies, look in your own house.
If news coverage later today covers BOTH her struggles AND feeds us some retro clips of her on stage; then I’ll apologize.
My local news channel just showed such a feature, I accept your apology.
However the need to wear the history of the oldest and worst racist offences like some kind of a emblem
The Jews are the ones that remind us to “never forgot”, lest we let the same thing happen again, right.
All that has been put into perspective for a very long time now.
It is possible (necessary) to be aware of what took place, as an historical fact, but is is not necessary to force each subsequent generation to a sense of complicity... which they do not have. THAT is immoral and unethical.
What an actress and as young as she was in the movies I’ve seen there was no dealy in her rise to stardom.
Loved the voice and that smile!
Lena Horne - Stormy Weather
It just don’t get any better than that.
Plus Ms Horne was a pure pleasure to gaze upon.
RIP
If anyone reads the truth and gets offended by it, I wager it is their own guilt bubbling up to the surface. My lovely husband happens to be white and he never breaks down in guilt at the mention of race. I don’t expect him to. I am still baffled by how the mention of race can elicit that type of response from anyone. Really, white people, give yourselves a break. You shouldn’t break out into a sweat at the mention of race in history, just like you shouldn’t (for example) feel angst that Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general.
I just hope that today, where ever she is, she looks back and realizes what a gift she gave to us.
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