An established singer, actor, intellectual, professional athlete, and activist, to say Robeson was talented would be an understatement. Mark Alan Rhodes, II argues that Paul Robeson was one of the greatest athletic activists in history. He was an all-American football player at Rutgers in 1917 and 1918. In 2015 Rutgers celebrated their 250th anniversary by honoring Robeson. Paul Robeson: Celebrating Rutgers’ 250th anniversary - YouTube. It could be argued that no one has ever performed a better Othello, and he was also an outstanding film actor. He dedicated a lot of time advocating for working people through renditions of Labor Songs and African American spirituals. A member of W.E.B. Du Bois’ “talented tenth”, a title given by Du Bois to the most highly educated or influential 10 percent of African Americans, Robeson was an advocate for many global causes in Asia, Africa, and America. Robeson’s affinity towards black upward mobility was a significant interest of his. He had a strong stance against colonialism in Africa. He believed strongly in the richness of black history and was proactive in anti-lynching efforts along with advocating for desegregation in the military. Robeson was the co-founder of the anti-colonial Council on African Affairs.

In 1923, he graduated from Columbia University with a law degree. The year prior to him graduating he played for the Milwaukee Badgers, one of the little-known former NFL teams. During this time, Robeson lived in Milwaukee. He played his games at Athletic Park, just north of Bronzeville and also had interactions with Marquette College, also in close proximity to the African American community.

For more (including 4 images) view the original article

Born in Wichita, Kansas on June 10^th of 1893, Hattie McDaniel would have an illustrious career in show business. She was skilled in dance, acting, comedy, and singing on film, radio, and live stages. In addition to performing songs, she also wrote them. In 1925 she sang on the Denver radio station KOA, a performance often credited as being one of the first African woman singers to have performed on the radio. McDaniel was frequently booked by the Theatrical Owners Booking Association (TOBA), an organization made up of African American theatre owners. While playing the character of “Queenie” on a TOBA sponsored road production of the play “Showboat,” the company fell victim to the stock market crash in October of 1929, causing them to go bankrupt while the tour was in Chicago. This left McDaniel, along with other performers on the tour, stranded in the city. While there, she received word of an opportunity for work in Wisconsin at Sam Pick’s Club Madrid, located on the outskirts of Milwaukee. McDaniel moved to the African American community in Milwaukee, residing on 1640 N. 7^th St.

Despite McDaniel’s immense talent as a vocalist and performing artist in musical theatre, barriers based on race resulted in her being initially hired as a washroom attendant. This would not last however, as she broke the color barrier and began to perform on stage. Her invigorating performances led to her gaining a large crowd of fans from “prestigious” communities in the Milwaukee area. In 1930, McDaniel took residence in the Sixth Ward of Milwaukee at 550 N. 17^th St. Successfully performing for the “well-to-do” clientele at Club Madrid sparked people to suggest that she go to Hollywood and play on the big screen.   With support from her social base in Milwaukee, McDaniel took the journey to Hollywood, leading to an extensive career in movies. Although receiving on-screen credit for 83 movies, she actually appeared in over 300 films. McDaniel won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gone with the Wind in 1939, making her the first African American to win an Oscar. In 1947, she wrote an op-ed for the Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on her accomplished career. McDaniel shared the backstory prior to getting into movies, describing herself as “a tourist from Milwaukee” when she had initially arrived at the capital of the film industry, saying “Milwaukee was really my springboard to Hollywood.”

She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975. In 2006 she became the first Black Oscar winner honored with a U.S. postage stamp. In 2010, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Hattie McDaniel became an extremely decorated figure in the show business industry. Her time in living in Bronzeville played a pivotal role in her remarkable career.

For more (including 2 images) view the original article