A Colorful History

Lena Horne (1917-2010) was an African American singer, actress, and civil rights activist. At age 16 she would drop out of school and become a dancer at the Cotton Club to help support her family; she quickly moved from being a backup performer to starring in her own shows. She would move on to sing for different orchestras until she was discovered and given her own solo show in Carnegie Hall. In 1942 she would move to L.A. to act, appearing in many movies including Cabin in the Sky (’43) and Stormy Weather (’43); she would enjoy an active acting career all the way until her death. As an actress, she refused to accept roles that stereotyped black women and was black-listed from Hollywood for her left-leaning political views.  She would have many bestselling albums and an award winning and highly celebrated one woman show on Broadway.  More than just a performer, she vehemently advocated for civil rights by singing at Café Society and refusing to perform for segregated audiences. She was an active member of the NAACP, SNCC, and the NCNW, and would participate in the March on Washington. She would meet and work with many politicians, including Eleanor Roosevelt, to pass anti-lynching laws. Over her lifetime, she received a Drama Critics’ Circle Award, an NAACP Image Award, a special achievement Tony Award, and a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement, among many others.

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