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Happy Black History Month!
Let's chat about the "most exciting woman in the world," Miss Eartha Mae Kitt.
Let's chat about the "most exciting woman in the world," Miss Eartha Mae Kitt.
Eartha Mae Keith was born in 1927 on a cotton plantation in South Carolina.
She was the offspring of the plantation owner's son, who took advantage of Eartha's mother.
She was the offspring of the plantation owner's son, who took advantage of Eartha's mother.
Her mother abandoned Eartha at a young age because the black man she was to marry refused to accept Eartha because she was a 'yellow gal'.
She was sent to work for another black family in exchange for her shelter and food.
Eartha experienced an unimaginable childhood filled with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Eartha experienced an unimaginable childhood filled with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
At the age of 8, Eartha was sent to live with her Aunt in Harlem, New York.
During this time, Eartha started Piano lessons and began to show interest in performing arts.
During this time, Eartha started Piano lessons and began to show interest in performing arts.
Though Eartha escaped her brutal home in North Carolina, she still faced emotional abuse from her Aunt.
She would get on the subway and ride it all night long as an escape from her unloving and abusive household.
She would get on the subway and ride it all night long as an escape from her unloving and abusive household.
Eartha attended a performing arts high school and auditioned for the Katherine Dunham Company in 1943; she traveled the world with the troupe and performed for the British royal family.
In 1948, Eartha moved to Paris and became a resident singer for a nightclub.
She quickly established a fan base, including Orson Welles. Her talent enchanted him so much that he cast her as Helen of Troy in "Dr. Faust."
She quickly established a fan base, including Orson Welles. Her talent enchanted him so much that he cast her as Helen of Troy in "Dr. Faust."
She relocated to New York City and was cast in the Broadway musical "New Faces Of 1952," in which she sang 'Monotonous'.
This opportunity launched Eartha's music career, and she released her first album in 1954.
She became known for her best selling records "I Want To Be Evil", "C'est Si Bon," and the classic "Santa Baby."
This earned her a Grammy nomination.
She became known for her best selling records "I Want To Be Evil", "C'est Si Bon," and the classic "Santa Baby."
This earned her a Grammy nomination.
Miss Kitt could sing in seven different languages and was fluent in French and three other languages.
Along with a flourishing singing career, Eartha's performance in "Mrs. Patterson" earned her first Tony nomination.
She began to act in major films alongside Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Nat King Cole.
She began to act in major films alongside Sidney Poitier, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Nat King Cole.
In 1967, she was cast in her most famous role as the "villainous vixen" Catwoman.
She embodied the role like no other.
She embodied the role like no other.
In 1968, Miss Kitt attended a luncheon by Lady Bird Johnson at the White House where she expressed her thoughts on the Vietnam War, stating,
"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot."
"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot."
This deeply offended Lady Bird Johnson so much that the White House, which had sent a car for her, didn't arrange a car for her departure, and she had to catch a cab.
She was blacklisted by President Johnson.
She was blacklisted by President Johnson.
The CIA created a defamatory dossier and branded her as a “sadistic nymphomaniac”.
She was unable to get jobs in the United States, Miss Kitt was forced to work abroad.
She maintains that she would have spoken out even if she had known the consequences.
She was unable to get jobs in the United States, Miss Kitt was forced to work abroad.
She maintains that she would have spoken out even if she had known the consequences.
In 1978, Kitt was cast in the Broadway musical of Timbuktu, which earned her a Tony Nomination and a personal invitation to the White House where President Carter met her, saying, "Welcome home, Eartha."
Eartha Kitt continued to work until her death in 2008.
She starred in productions such as Boomerang, Holes and voiced Yzma on The Emperor's New Groove.
She starred in productions such as Boomerang, Holes and voiced Yzma on The Emperor's New Groove.
She remains one of the best entertainers, and hopefully, one day, and she'll get the recognition she deserves.
Happy Black History Month and thank you Eartha!
Happy Black History Month and thank you Eartha!
Further readings:
https://earthakitt.com/about/
https://polisci.usca.edu/aasc/kitt.htm
https://earthakitt.com/about/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094263733X?pf_rd_r=FW6BMQT1J3THETPV8DRN&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35-9071-dc3240e894a8&pd_rd_r=adb47866-e2e8-40bd-af67-e8495085a27e&pd_rd_w=7GBOe&pd_rd_wg=gHdol&ref_=pd_gw_unk
https://earthakitt.com/about/
https://polisci.usca.edu/aasc/kitt.htm
https://earthakitt.com/about/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094263733X?pf_rd_r=FW6BMQT1J3THETPV8DRN&pf_rd_p=5ae2c7f8-e0c6-4f35-9071-dc3240e894a8&pd_rd_r=adb47866-e2e8-40bd-af67-e8495085a27e&pd_rd_w=7GBOe&pd_rd_wg=gHdol&ref_=pd_gw_unk
