"Gorgeous both visually and textually, this book brings to light, as the title indicates, the "struggle for visibility" faced by African American actresses during what is usually called Hollywood's "Golden Age." Regester (African and Afro-American studies, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) organizes the book more or less chronologically, and begins with the career of Madame Sul-Te-Wan, who was a pioneering African American actress of the silents and continued working well into the sound era. The author follows this with discussions of Nina Mae McKinney, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne, Hazel Scott, Ethel Waters, and Dorothy Dandridge—all of whom were underutilized to a degree that seems almost criminal. Historically sound and superbly written, this volume highlights the numerous obstacles these talented women faced working in films during an overwhelmingly racist era. Pursuing their craft with elegance, style, and determination, all these women fought a constant battle against racial stereotyping, demeaning roles as servants and maids, and the racism that infected the country as a whole. An exemplary study of race in US cinema, this is easily the best book on the subject to date. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. — Choice"

Gorgeous both visually and textually, this book brings to light, as the title indicates, the "struggle for visibility" faced by African American actresses during what is usually called Hollywood's "Golden Age." Regester (African and Afro-American studies, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) organizes the book more or less chronologically, and begins with the career of Madame Sul-Te-Wan, who was a pioneering African American actress of the silents and continued working well into the sound era. The author follows this with discussions of Nina Mae McKinney, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne, Hazel Scott, Ethel Waters, and Dorothy Dandridge—all of whom were underutilized to a degree that seems almost criminal. Historically sound and superbly written, this volume highlights the numerous obstacles these talented women faced working in films during an overwhelmingly racist era. Pursuing their craft with elegance, style, and determination, all these women fought a constant battle against racial stereotyping, demeaning roles as servants and maids, and the racism that infected the country as a whole. An exemplary study of race in US cinema, this is easily the best book on the subject to date. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. — Choice

"In this important work, Charlene Regester brings into focus the lives and careers of representative black women actresses in Hollywood across generational divides in order to reposition them beyond the confining shadow of otherness and marginality. The sum result is a re-telling and correction of history."

In this important work, Charlene Regester brings into focus the lives and careers of representative black women actresses in Hollywood across generational divides in order to reposition them beyond the confining shadow of otherness and marginality. The sum result is a re-telling and correction of history.

Gorgeous both visually and textually, this book brings to light, as the title indicates, the "struggle for visibility" faced by African American actresses during what is usually called Hollywood's "Golden Age." Regester (African and Afro-American studies, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) organizes the book more or less chronologically, and begins with the career of Madame Sul-Te-Wan, who was a pioneering African American actress of the silents and continued working well into the sound era. The author follows this with discussions of Nina Mae McKinney, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne, Hazel Scott, Ethel Waters, and Dorothy Dandridge—all of whom were underutilized to a degree that seems almost criminal. Historically sound and superbly written, this volume highlights the numerous obstacles these talented women faced working in films during an overwhelmingly racist era. Pursuing their craft with elegance, style, and determination, all these women fought a constant battle against racial stereotyping, demeaning roles as servants and maids, and the racism that infected the country as a whole. An exemplary study of race in US cinema, this is easily the best book on the subject to date. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. — Choice