I absolutely Love Marilyn Monroe...to me she represents Glamour, Sophistication and Sex Appeal, however as an African American woman, she doesn't represent me!!! In the spirit of Black History Month I want to shed light on an All American black beauty named Dorothy Dandrige who has been overlooked and shadowed by Eurocentric figures such as Ms. Monroe. I think of all the black female rappers who name themselves after Marilyn Monroe but forget that African Americans also have a figure just as sophisticated, sexy and beautiful. Looking at the pictures of Dorothy Dandridge makes me extremely proud to be represented by such a beautiful person who paved the way so that actresses such as Halle Berry and Nia Long, can be as successful as they are today. She was so multi-talented, not only being a groundbreaking actress and the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award but a singer as well. Classy and the epitome of Beauty are two ways to describe Dorothy Dandridge. I wish images of her were reprinted and glamorized in posters like they are of Marilyn Monroe so I can put them all over my room wall but they are not. It could be a race thing however I know when I go into stores to buy posters Ms. Dandridge isn't there and that is disheartening. To celebrate her and her achievements Halle Berry produced and stared in a Hbo film "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" about her life which I will never forget. It was an amazing film that dealt with the racial injustices she had to face as well as the many barriers she broke to make it to where she was. Among some of Dandridge's major roles were "Carmen Jones" and "A day at the Races."She was an extraordinary person that deserves recognition for her accomplishments.
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