Lena Horne

by Kathleen Benson and James Haskins

Book Overview

Chronicles the private life and professional career of the legendary Black entertainer, detailing her rise to success, Hollywood career, marriage, friendship with Paul Robeson, blacklisting, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0698205863
• ISBN13: 9780698205864
• Release Date: November 1983
• Publisher: Putnam Publishing Group
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Lena Horne

Lena Horne was born on June 30, 1917 and was an actress and singer. Her childhood was filled with alot of people. For seven years she grew up living in Brooklyn with her grandparents. Her grandmother was an activist for African-Americans and because she made sure Lena was involved in programs. She influenced Lena to help out in the civil rights movement. Then after those seven years Lena's mother took her away to travel with her, while she was pursuing a career to be an actress. Lena lived in Florida, Georgia and Ohio and faced alot of racism during that time. When she went to school the black students would make fun of her because she talked northern and had a light complection. During this time Lena was taken care of by strangers and some of them abused her. After traveling with her mother for seven years she moved back with her grandparents. Then when her grandparents died she lived with her mother and stepdad. They did not have alot of money so Lena had to drop out of school. Next she became a chorus girl at the Cotton club at the age of 16. The only reason why she got that job is because she was light-skinned, tall and had a good shape, not because of her singing. Soon her career started to take off and she married Louis Jones at 18 and shortly afterwards she had two children. She starred in a bunch of movies like "the Wiz", "Duke Is Tops", "Cabin in the Sky", and others. Lena also performed songs with white singers that broke some of the racism in show biz. There was one incident when a white man said a racial remark to Lena in club and she threw things at him. I believe he tried to sue her and lied and said he never said anything racist too. Lena is a memeber of the Delta Sigma Theta. She divorced Louis and married Lennie Hayton secretly because he was white. Lena's biggest hit single was called "Stormy Weather", which she also starred in the movie. In 1970 and 1971 Lena lost three important men in her life, her father, her son and her husband. When they died she felt like she couldn't go on but from the help of friends they encouraged her to continue to sing and act. In 1980 she retired from show biz and gave her last tour. Then after the tour she agreed to do a one woman show in Broadway. I think Lena Horne is one of the most beautiful and strongest person ever.