Supply: Bettmann / Getty
When discussing the pioneers of Black Hollywood, names like Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horne typically come to thoughts. However earlier than them, there was Fredi Washington. As we have fun Black Historical past Month, we needed to highlight the gifted actress, activist, and author whose contributions to leisure and civil rights stay largely ignored.
One lady’s TikTok reminded us of how a lot Washington’s contributions went ignored. Take a look at the TikTok to be taught extra about her journey.
Learn extra concerning the trailblazer’s story beneath:
A Star Forward of Her Time
Born in 1903 in Savannah, Georgia, Washington was a strikingly lovely, light-skinned Black lady whose expertise shined on display screen. Her most well-known function got here within the 1934 movie Imitation of Life, the place she performed Peola, a younger lady who chooses to cross as white to flee racial discrimination. Her emotionally charged efficiency captivated audiences and showcased her unimaginable vary, but it surely additionally got here at a value—many Hollywood executives noticed her racial identification as an issue.
Throughout an period when roles for Black actors had been restricted to maids and servants, Washington’s refusal to cross as white off-screen value her main roles in main productions. Whereas many assumed she might have had a extra profitable profession by passing, she proudly embraced her Black identification. She as soon as stated, “Nobody in Hollywood gave me an opportunity to behave as a result of I used to be too gentle. They didn’t know what to do with me.”
Extra Than an Actress
Relatively than conforming to Hollywood’s racist requirements, Washington grew to become an outspoken advocate for Black illustration within the arts. She was a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America, a corporation that fought for honest remedy and higher alternatives for Black performers. She additionally labored as a journalist and editor, utilizing her voice to spotlight racial injustice and uplift Black artists.
Legacy and Influence
Although Hollywood could not have given her the popularity she deserved, Washington’s affect is plain. She helped pave the best way for future generations of Black actors by refusing to cover her identification and difficult the business’s colorism. Right this moment, as conversations about illustration and inclusivity in Hollywood proceed, Washington’s legacy serves as a robust reminder of the struggles and triumphs of early Black artists.
Fredi Washington could not have obtained the mainstream fame she deserved, however her impression on Black cinema and civil rights is plain. This Black Historical past Month, we honor her bravery, expertise, and dedication to breaking boundaries in an business that attempted to silence her.
Black Historical past Highlight: Meet Fredi Washington The Trailblazing Actress Hollywood Neglected
was initially revealed on
globalgrind.com