[brwnsuga]

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.

[Philo1962]

Her race, while it is not all that she was, is relevant.

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.

[who knows what evil?]

AP (and the media at large) has an agenda. Of course her race is relevant; what happened to her denied many Americans access to her talents for many years; a loss we can never recover. I'm sorry, but I am of the opinion AP is using her to advance their agenda, and that offends me to no end. If news coverage later today covers BOTH her struggles AND feeds us some retro clips of her on stage; then I'll apologize. This article is written like "oh...and she could sing, too".

Damn straight she could sing.