Skip to content
BlackPast Logo

BlackPast is dedicated to providing a global audience with reliable and accurate information on the history of African America and of people of African ancestry around the world. We aim to promote greater understanding through this knowledge to generate constructive change in our society.

  • BlackPast Store
  • New Visual Timeline
  • BlackPast.org Site Guide
  • Donate
  • African American History
    • MAP: BlackPast and the United States
    • New Visual Timeline
    • Events
    • Institutions
    • Groups & Organizations
    • People
    • Places
    • Primary Documents
    • Speeches
    • Perspectives Articles
    • Black History Month on BlackPast.org
    • Blacks in Classical Music
    • The Tuskegee Airmen
    • African American Museums
    • Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals
    • African American Digital Archives
    • African American History: Research Guides & Websites
  • Global African History
    • MAP: BlackPast and the World
    • New African Heads of State page
    • New Caribbean Heads of State page
    • Events
    • Institutions
    • Groups & Organizations
    • People
    • Places
    • The African Capitals
    • Primary Documents
    • Speeches
    • Perspectives Articles
    • Museums of the African Diaspora
    • Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals
    • Global African History: Research Guides & Websites
  • Main Features
    • What’s New on BlackPast
    • How to Write for BlackPast.org
    • The Music Library
    • Sponsored Entries
    • Sponsored Pages
    • The Children’s Page
    • Timelines
    • Bibliographies
    • Historic Landmarks
    • Genealogy
    • Multimedia
    • Robert Fikes’s Corner
    • The Mentoring Page
    • Using BlackPast.org in the Classroom
    • The Black National Anthem
  • Special Features
    • The COVID-19 Page
    • 101 African American Firsts
    • Barack Obama Page
    • The Commanders
    • Major Office Holders
    • Lynching in the U.S.
    • Race, Crime, and Incarceration
    • Racial Violence
    • Black Lives Matter
    • STEM
    • STEM Educators
    • Black Inventors and Inventions
    • Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors
  • About Us
    • BlackPast.Org Video – A Story of Dreams
    • Our Historians
    • Board of Directors
    • Academic Advisory Board
    • International Advisory Board
    • The Support Team
    • BlackPast Awards and Distinctions
    • Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters
    • Testimonials
    • Recent Public Events
    • Other Resources: BEHHA

Tag: Performing Arts – Actors

Harry Baird (1931-2005)

The physical presence that black British actor Harry Baird brought to the movie screen was largely a consequence of the United Kingdom going through the birthing pain of racism during the 1950s and 1960s.  Born in Guyana, this premier black actor was no Paul Robeson, … Read MoreHarry Baird (1931-2005)

Posted on January 23, 2007December 3, 2020by contributed by: Clarence Spigner
African American History: African American History: People

Madame Sul-Te-Wan (1873-1959)

Madame Sul-Te-Wan was born on September 12, 1873 as Nellie Conley in Louisville, Kentucky where her widowed mother worked as a laundress.  Madame Sul-Te-Wan was a pioneering stage and film actress who became one of the most prominent black performers in Hollywood during the silent … Read MoreMadame Sul-Te-Wan (1873-1959)

Posted on January 21, 2007June 9, 2020by contributed by: Shirley Ann Wilson Moore
African American History: African American History: People

Hattie McDaniel (1895-1952)

Hattie McDaniel is best known as the first black Oscar winner.  She won the award on February 29, 1940, for Best Supporting Actress for her role as “Mammy” in Gone With the Wind. McDaniel’s career began three decades earlier.  She gave her first public performances as a grade school … Read MoreHattie McDaniel (1895-1952)

Posted on January 19, 2007December 3, 2020by contributed by: Moya Hansen
African American History: African American History: People

James Baskett (1904-1948)

James Baskett, the first male African American to win an Academy Award, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 16, 1904.  After high school Baskett planned to study pharmacy, but after he was offered a small part in a show in Chicago, Illinois his career … Read MoreJames Baskett (1904-1948)

Posted on January 17, 2007March 30, 2019by contributed by: Brent Campbell
African American History: African American History: People

Bert Williams (1874-1922)

Egbert Austin “Bert” Williams was born in New Providence, Nassau on November 12, 1874. When he was eleven or twelve his family settled in Riverside, California, and it was not long before Williams became attracted to show business. In 1893, Williams got his start in … Read MoreBert Williams (1874-1922)

Posted on January 17, 2007January 13, 2022by contributed by: Brent Campbell
African American History: African American History: People

Posts navigation

Previous Page 1 … Page 8 Page 9

African American History

  • People
  • Places
  • Groups & Organizations
  • Events
  • Primary Documents
  • Institutions
  • Speeches
  • Perspectives

Global African History

  • People
  • Places
  • Groups & Organizations
  • Events
  • Primary Documents
  • Institutions
  • Speeches
  • Perspectives

About BlackPast

  • Mission Statement
  • About Us
  • Academic Historians
  • Independent Historians
  • Student Historians
  • Board of Directors
  • Academic Advisory Board
  • International Advisory Board
  • Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters

Contact BlackPast

  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • How You Can Help Us
  • Accessibility
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
©2007–2022 Blackpast.org. All Rights Reserved.
Blackpast.org is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Organization. All Donations are Tax Deductible.
Scroll Up