Black Diva History Month, Part 1 Addendum (1886-1922)

Before I get to Part 2, here's a few great African American women who I mistakenly left out of Part 1.Ma Rainey (Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett 1886-1939) was one of the first known blues singers to record. She was known as The Mother of the Blues and she influenced every major blues performer to come along after her.

Josephine Baker (1906 – 1975) was a controversial American expatriate entertainer who became a celebrated French citizen in 1937. She was given the nicknames the "Bronze Venus," "Black Pearl", "Créole Goddess" and in France, she was known as "La Baker". She was portrayed by Lynn Whitfield in 1991 TV film, THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY.

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (1922–1965) was an Academy Award-nominated American actress and pop singer. She starred in CARMEN JONES in 1954. She was portrayed by Halle Berry in the 1999 HBO film, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE.