10 Pioneering Black Actors You’ve Never Heard Of

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Let’s face it: Hollywood has never been an equal opportunity employer. During the early years of silent film most black roles were played by whites in blackface. However, these ten actors all worked during Hollywood’s infancy and kicked down doors for black performers to follow. Many have sadly fallen into obscurity, which is why we want to give them their due.

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Text version: https://www.toptenz.net/10-pioneering-black-actors-youve-never-heard.php

Coming up:

10. Lillian Randolph (1898-1980)
9. Herb Jeffries (1913-2014)
8. James Edwards (1918-1970)
7. Ernest Morrison (1912-1989)
6. Fredi Washington (1903-1995)
5. Theresa Harris (1906-1985)
4. Nina Mae McKinney (1912-1967)
3. Noble Johnson (1881-1978)
2. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (1873-1959)
1. Slim Thompson (???)

Source/Further reading:

Lillian Randolph (1915-1980)

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/18/entertainment/la-et-book18-2010mar18
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-31/news/mn-275_1_sunshine-sammy-series
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-31/news/mn-275_1_sunshine-sammy-series

http://www.essence.com/2010/10/07/vintage-vamp-nina-mae-mckinney/
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/noble-johnson-and-frank-silvera-the-original-race-shifters
http://www.legacy.com/news/legends-and-legacies/madame-sul-te-wan-movie-pioneer/754/
http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/43639/Slim-Thompson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Al_Jolson_Jazz_Singer.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stepin_Fetchit-Chubby_Johnson_in_Bend_of_the_River.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lillian_Randolph_in_It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lillian_Randolph_Beulah_Radio_1952.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lillian_randolph_birdie_1955.JPG

https://fi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiedosto:Herb_Jeffries_Billboard.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harlem_Rides_the_Range_poster.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Home_of_the_Brave_1949_poster.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stanley_Kramer.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Edwards_in_The_Joe_Louis_Story.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poitier_Belafonte_Heston_Civil_Rights_March_1963.jpg
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Erniemorrison.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Quiet_Street_(1922)_-_1.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penrod_(1922)_-_2.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Imitation_of_Life_(1934)–Fredi_Washington2.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Imitation_of_Life_(1934)_trailer_8.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Imitation_of_Life_(1934)–Fredi_Washington.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Robeson-Fredi_Washington_in_The_Emperor_Jones.jpg
https://morestarsthanintheheavens.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/babyface_00003.jpg

source

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