Serenity… refocus – seek joy – thrive

1. Doc Logan

   7:05 pm on May 11th, 2010 1

   This one hurt.

   Lena Horne endured indignities and outrages no one should bear. She was an astonishing beauty, and despite her assertions that she wasn’t much of a singer when she began, she certainly grew to become a magnificent vocalist. So when you read of her sleeping in a fairground because no hotel would allow her to stay, well, your blood boils a little, and you’re saddened that anyone, much less an artist of her caliber, could be treated like that.

   Beyond her talent, she deserved great credit for her courage. She insisted that she not play a servant in any of her films, perhaps inspired by her time with Noble Sissle’s orchestra (Sissel and Eubie Blake refused to perform in blackface, an audacious stance at the time), perhaps inspired by her own moral outrage that Hollywood was perpetuating the image of people of color as second class citizens. Whatever the reason, she was brave enough to take a stand. And it did make a difference.

   So many reasons to admire her, from standing with her friend Paul Robeson (his story is another American outrage) to her unabashed activism.

   So sorry she’s gone.

2. Nanette

   12:06 pm on May 15th, 2010 2

   I’m sorry she’s gone, too. I’ve always admired her though – shamefully – I knew less about her life than I should have. She was one brave and wonderful woman.

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