#ethel waters

milkandheavysugar:

“Ethel Waters (1896-1977), as Hagar in Dorothy Heyward’s Mamba’s Daughters, became the first Black woman to perform the leading role in a dramatic play on Broadway in 1939.” - Jessie Carney Smith

                                          “Rufus Jones for President”

                                                           1933
                            Sammy Davis Jr. (First Picture) & Ethel Waters

universitybookstore:

Continuing the celebration of the photographer’s birthday today, a selection of Carl Van Vechten’s  brilliant color portraits of African American performers: Billie Holiday, Geoffrey Holder, Pearl Bailey, Carmen De Lavallade, Ella Fitzgerald, Joyce Bryant, Harry Belafonte, Ethel Waters, James Earl Jones, and Blanche Dunn.