Dorothy Dandridge | Fashion Crush: Black History Month Edition ♡

Miss Dandridge I Love Your Style

In honor of Black History Month I would like to take the time to recognize an African American Women every week this month to pay homage to the women who had to fight before me. As philosopher Bernard of Charles said, " If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Nothing in this world in truly ours so it is important to pay respects to the giants who have cleared and paved the way for you.

The Life. The Legacy.

An American Actress born November 9, 1922 was an icon for being a noteworthy African American performer. Her early beginnings consisted of her and her sister, Vivian, touring much of Southern America performing a song-and-dance act created by their mother Ruby. Throughout her years of filmography she was very much noted as being stunningly beautiful.

With a total of 37 known movies, 23 known songs, and countless night club performances she was an inspiration for many minority girls and women that there was hope. Her most noteworthy work is for her role in Carmen Jones where she became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award.

In the Black community she has been deemed "our Marilyn Monroe." Meaning the black Marilyn Monroe. There are plenty of articles that debate the two beauties but needless to say Dandridge was very much so under appreciated, which is to be expected considering her skin tone. During the time that the great Dorothy Dandridge was alive was very much a time were black lives didn't matter and it was seemingly okay. God bless her soul for being so strong and courageous during that time were our country really didn't fight for us.

There are many actresses and celebrities that pay homage and credit her works as their inspiration including Halle Berry who produced and starred in a feature film in her honor entitles Introductong Dorothy Dandridge. She was a style icon, role model, and a positive force within the entertainment industry during that time.

Style Influence

She was known for her slim but shapely figure, smooth voice and sweet smile. She was fun, playful, energetic, and sexy without being a complete sexual figure. I have so much respect for a woman of this caliber to be classy and conservative. In today's day and age you almost can't get a movie role without nudity. Though the times now and then are vastly different I hope that somewhere down the line wearing clothes and preserving your sexy comes back in style.

This is Dorothy Dandridge.

Dorothy was an African American entertainer during the 40-60's.

Dorothy was sexy and keep it classy.

Dorothy is best known for her feature in Carmen Jones.

Dorothy made waves.

Be like Dorothy.

*All of these images do not belong to me. They were not created by me nor meant to be assumed that they were taken by me. The images belong to the respective websites that were linked above.*