A Tribute To An Icon

Lena Horne. The name, alone, conjures up different feelings and
emotions. Some will say she is a pioneer in the entertainment world
for black performers. Others will say she is a civil rights activist
who never got enough credit as being one. Everyone will agree she is
the crowned jewel in black cinema. That's why May 9, 2010 will forever
be one of the darkest days in black entertainment. Lena Horne passed
on that day.

Born in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in
an upper-middle class family. Her father left the family when she was
only three and her mother, being a stage actress toured constantly.
She was raised by her grandparents. She knew at a young age she was
destined to be a star. Plus, Lena had the ambition, passion, and drive
to make it become a reality. Taking jobs in chorus lines and bit parts
in low budget films, Horne made a name for herself. So much so that in
1942, she became the first black performer to sign a long term
contract with a major movie studio, which was MGM. She made her debut
in 'Panama Hattie', but wasn't really noticed until she sung the title
song in 'Stormy Weather'.

Lena's complexion was an advantage for her in her film career, but it
was also a great source of pain.Once Horne reflected, "I was unique. I
was the kind of black that white people could accept. I had the worst
kind of acceptance because it was never for how great I was or what I
contributed. it was because of the way i looked." Though she was fair
skinned, she still suffered the discrimination of darker skinned
performers. During her years working with MGM, she was never featured
in a leading role because of her race. Films in which she was featured
in had to be re-edited to be made suitable for states that didn't show
films with black actors.

By the time the 1950s approached, Lena was becoming dissatisfied with
her acting career and began to focus more time and energy on her
nightclub career. Her outspokenness with her political views didn't
help her either. She refused to perform for segregated audiences or
for audiences that seated white guest in front of black guests. Horne
once remarked, "I was always battling the system to try to get to be
with my people. Finally, I wouldn't work for places that kept us
out...it was a damn fight everywhere I was, every place I worked. It
was a fight in New York, in Hollywood, all over the world." She
continued her civil rights activism throughout the rest of her life.
Lena Horne attended the March On Washington and was elected to speak
for and by the NAACP. Horne also had a major hand in getting
anti-lynching laws in place.

Lena Horne was a lot of things to a lot of different people. She
kicked down the doors in Hollywood with style, poise, and grace. She
made civil rights an important issue to people who only considered it
topical conversation. She was a sex symbol who showed us what we could
do with hard work and drive. But to herself she was an average person.
she said in an interview, "I am a black woman. I'm free. I don't have
to be a symbol to anybody." Lena Horne might not have wanted to be a
symbol to anybody, but she is. Rest in Perfection.