Watch my Dorothy Dandridge video next : “Dorothy Dandrige- Dorothy Dandrige - The Black S3X Goddess & Marilyn's Secret Muse!” th-cam.com/video/bT3JZ_ycE3E/w-d-xo.html
I grew up in Hollywood, was even born on Sunset Blvd and you're right about the sinister nature of the film industry. My mother would have been in the middle of all that stuff she looked like Dorothy Lamour when she was young and won many beauty pageants how even my grandmother wouldn't let her do films because the studios wanted to do degrading stereotyped parts so no film career for my mom she had four of us kids instead and raised us.
I am shocked you keep saying that Dorothy was Marilyn’s muse and honestly feel you should stop saying that cause one it’s not true, two Marilyn based that persona on dumb woman so you saying that is like saying that Dorothy was dumb which she wasn’t nor did Dorothy ever play dumb! Frankly I find it sad to say that cause Dorothy was anything but that! Think this narrative you are pushing is desecrating, Dorothy Dandridge image. This is all love girl trust me I have been subscribed to you for years but I have to keep it real with you.
@extrashotofespresso_ baby...her cheek bones and eyes are every bit of black. That facial structure is everything. "They" don't have definition like that.
@@extrashotofespresso_don’t tell me your one those that believe all blacks looks like lupita very darkskin nappy hair I hate the fact you guys think when blacks are light we don’t look black
@fanatik9590 not in my opinion her face looks like a black woman's face, black people can tell this. Just like I could immediately tell Mariah Carey was part black. I don't know how non blacks couldn't tell.
My grandmother had an opportunity to passed for white but she loved being a black woman and wanted to live in her truth! I salute her for telling me never be ashamed of who you’re.
@@pierrerochon7271 it's your life but in this day and age?I could understand it yrs ago when black people could not get good jobs but it's your life and I hope that if you're exposed that you can handle the consequences I know of a situation back in the seventies where a woman's white husband divorced her when he found out she was black and then you could have a child that looks undeniably black genes are unpredictable good luck with your masquerade I will include you in my prayers
That's because your grandmother loved and respected herself to each his own but I don't think anyone with a drop of self respect would pass for white when you deny who and what you are whatever it is black Jewish latino gay etc you are committing a form of suicide the mask that you have to wear as you masquerade gets HEAVY!!!!
Sorry, but if you pass for white then you are white. So weird how we call mixed race people black with only one black relative. I have a white relative 7 generations ago… and Im I a white person that can pass black?! Very silly concept. Race is based on phenotype
Passing is not always a matter of being ashamed of your heritage, but a means to make a better life for you, your relatives, and your children/descendents.
My grandmother was mixed and passed to get a job. She was a seamstress and the factories in Philly wouldn't hire black women. And it was piece work, you worked every day and was paid by the number of pieces you completed. My grandmother told me she would rougue her cheeks and lips and wouldn't talk. She had absolutely no shame in it. She was divorced and had two children to feed, my mother and uncle. '❤❤
@yeshuasbeloved549. Keep believing that… but it’s not only a lie, but a cowardice. Every time a person authenticates a document or verbally asserts that they are white, and they are not, it is a Lie. Read the final destination of all liars in Revelation 21:8. Surely with a tag like yours , you are somewhat familiar with the Word of God. Case closed.
@yeshuasbeloved549. Perhaps not always a matter of being ashamed, but certainly in my opinion a cowardice way to provide.. Nevertheless, “pretending “ to be white when one is not .. IS a Lie. The practice of pretense solidifies one as a Liar. And judging from your tag, surely you are familiar with biblical text that declares All liars will have their part in a very hot Lake with others that practice sin. Revelation 21:8. No disrespect to anyone, but I have spoken the Gospel Truth whether people like it or not.
@@SDC1949let god judge her, not you….and any ways she had to provide for her kids to get a JOB, You are acting like she was selling her body?? God gave her a blessing to provide for her kids and you are acting like you knew god personally and he told you to say such negative things! All humans sin, stop acting like you’ve been perfect your whole life you fraud🤨🙄
Marilyn put herself on the line for Ella Fitzgerald refusing to enter a club unless Ella was able to walk through the front door and not through the kitchen.
Marilyn did the same for Black people when weren’t even famous. There is a picture of her laughing with two Black men who were working on one of her films and when the studio saw it they were going to fire them and threatened her career. She told them that if they fired those guys she wouldn’t return to the set and they backed down and left the men and her career alone.
We only ever hear about Dorothy Dandridge. I was given Dorothy's biography by my black mom as a teenager, to reinforce confidence in my mixed heritage as one of only three black girls at an all white high school. To be truthful I was lucky. My classmates considered me one of their own, were uniquely inclusive and never made me feel otherized. It's wonderful to know their were many other afro-descended actresses trying to stake their claim in Hollyweird and so, so very sad she had to wear a white mask to do it. Look how beautiful and talented she was. I remember it was very, very important to both my black mother and white father (Civil Rights advocates) that my sister and I, NOT try to pass as anything other than exactly who we were. We were made to watch the film "Imitation of Life" many times, I guess to warn us that denial of our racial identity would only lead to regret.
I think bi-ratial kids that look black, should not forget that they are still half whits. You dna has memory and carries many things which the facial look is just small part of it.
@@myownlilbubbledon’t put all of us together I know y’all love to put us all in one basket and wonder why ppl say y’all are the racist stereotypical white ppl
Hollywood is as dark as its host country. If you think there are nations darker than the U.S., or any single country in the world has more blood in its hands, you are lying to yourself.
I for one do not buy into this "racist propaganda" of "passing". She was not hiding herself but reinventing herself. Everyone has a God given right to the "pursuit of happiness". Personally as a mixed woman I find someone who would identify me as "passing", equivalent to calling blacks the "N" word. Yes that's just how vulgar it is. It's like a slithering snake throughout history to persecute, constrict and cast shame upon people who were simply exercising their dual heritage to pursue their happiness. And I truly believe those who continue to perpetrate this persecution will suffer. A day of reckoning is coming.
You get it. You actually get it. I'm glad the internet is here now so we can start to uncover the truth about all of this - but you're also honoring the inherent talent, strength and pioneerism in the arts of Black women who never got their proper flowers while alive.
This 💯 black women have been so slighted and discredited for the amazingness. So much influence on so many cultures, and always denounced. The Internet is great
My grandmother told me this was a norm. I remember we went to a family reunion and I was like “mom who these white folks” it tickled her so much!!! She was “Gal these black folks”. Lol fooled the hell out of me 😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am cracking up. I'm Bi-racial; I was walking down the street with an old boyfriend and one of his friends called him and said, " who was that white girl you was walking with"? Me: WHITE?? let me go stand in the Sun cause 🤨🤣
I had a similar experience. We had a family reunion on my mother’s side of the family and I was seeing all these fair skinned people with green and gray eyes and blonde and sandy brown hair and I asked my mother why these white people were at our family reunion and she said they’re not white they’re your cousins and I was amazed. I learned that day that black people run the gamut from the lightest light to the darkest dark and all are beautiful.
As a Black woman, I see a Black woman in her. She reminds me of women on my mother's side of the family, some of whom did "pass" back in the day. Thank you for another informative piece, Karine. I appreciate the work that you put into this channel.
Several years ago I auditioned for X-Factor. I made it to the 3rd round of auditions and a few of the staff came into the room where about 300 of us were waiting, and told us that we needed to come up with our back story to impress the judges. They also told us the more emotional we were, the better. People literally started "testing" out fake sad stories with each other and sharing techniques on how to cry. I felt like I was in the Matrix on Mars. When I got in the room with the judges, sang, and then shared by normal life and I was immediately rejected. I sang well but my story didn't grab them. Oh well. 🤷🏽♀️😭😭
Same thing happened to me with X Factor. My back story wasn't sad enough. This mess was CRAZY. I'M SO SORRY that happened to you, I was hoping nobody else went through that, cause it almost broke my heart
I know that this is about a woman, but this reminds me of the late artist, Romare Bearden. He was a light skinned black man (pretty sure he was mixed) and he played baseball. He was offered the opportunity to play in the major leagues, but only if he passed for white to play on a specific team. He refused, quit baseball and he eventually became a well-known artist! And his art reflected the everyday lives of African Americans and black musicians, as opposed to the negative narratives we see about black people in media.
You can be Mexican and white, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can be Mex and Black, etc. Salma Hayak is Mexican and Arab. Just like an American can be any race, ethnicity, race or combination/mix of ethnicity or races, so can Mexicans. To be Mexican is a nationality, and not a racial designation. Lupita Nyong'o is Mexican because she was born there to parents from Kenya. She has Mexican and Kenyan nationality, she's Mao Mao ethnically, being from Sub Saharan Africa, she's also Black.
It was so scary that J Edgar hoover became for decades one of the most powerful men in USA despite bein bi racial and gay and people being aware of it.
@@extrashotofespresso_ No, it is not silly - in some of the pictures she did look white and in other pictures she looked other nationalities - Maybe it was because of the lighting in some - so that commenter is not wrong!
EXACTLY! And we must not forget about ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. HE was assumed to be everything except a black man but he stood on his BLACKNESS,AND WAS VERY PROUD OF WHO HE WAS TOO! I simply loved the man for his boldness and charisma!
You said it in the end, she disassociated, she never stopped being in character, so her true identity was buried so deeply she never got to be herself. Great video, I'm subscribing to hear more stories ❤️🌹🌸💐
My grandmother’s cousin passed for white, abandoned her family, and married a politician who went on to become Vice President of the US. I don’t think it ever came out that she was actually black.
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fm No, I'm not hating on her. I understand that these people did what they had to do. I was just pointing out that she along with the studios made an entirely different background for her.
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fmAll these terms like bi racial ,tri was not used back then,you were either black or not especially someone who had 3 generations of grandparents black . Yes obviously they had admixtures which of course most AAs do due to slavery,messa doing what ever he wanted to and with those black women in slavery and after. During Dona’s time slavery was over but we were treated the same mother racism very much intact,actresses black only did maid roles or what they called black movies back then,race movies. Of course they we’re not like what big Hollywood studio’s produced,do major roles,get equal pay. Even black artist who did clubs white ones had to enter the back doors despite their names being on the marquee’s,could not mingle with wte people. Even back then so called race movies were restricted in wte movie ,some had race night,day but you had to sit in the balcony when viewing their movies away from them,a rope reminding you. Many places like the Cotton Club innHarlem had all black entertainers singers,big band greats dancer who performed for all white audiences. They were not allowed on the floor with them,mingle ,had to enter in the back door as with all other places. So what Dona did could have caused her life to be taken,or she beaten until almost unalived. Again I since you are younger,do not get this history,segregation black Americans faced that included where you can go,live,what type you could get and more ,,slavery ending way before this times did not change the mindset of those who did it,ancestors did ,it was just replaced by Jim Crow ,everywhere. Most noticing it more in the south and like now studios wanting to make money would not insult those wte audiences who if they found out could ruin their business.
A person can be Hispanic of any race. There are white Hispanics, Black Hispanics, mestizo Hispanics, etc. However, in this case, being born in Mexico only makes Marilyn’s mom’s nationality Mexican, not her ethnicity.
@@rebeccaskylar8430she was a white American woman who’s White American mom just so happened to be born in Mexico. My friend is mestizo Mexican and doesn’t have curves at all. Curves don’t belong to only one certain group of women.
❤❤ You are correct. And those in the industry are just as guilty. Many black and white artist work together and collaborate on many projects. But when the project is over and the light are “down”, the separation is still there . And it’s 2024.
@@esjae2693 people lie about a lot of things and they get success, we are seeing it almost everywhere across the world and many close their eyes to the truth. The difference is they don't have any reason to unlike this woman who was in a seriously unjust system.
Most of the people back then were on a whole different diet and beauty regiment in the America’s. If we went back to that allot of us would look the same
Donna Drake and Dorothy Dandridge. My God all shades of black diversity is beautiful. Two of the most beautiful women that ever graced the silver screen regardless of their race and heritage.❤
Not the point. RACE is a made up concept anyway to promote racism. The fact she had to do it in this country is pathetic and wrong. Our history is a cruel.
@@celina6438 no her dad was Mexican and nobody knows who he was as to keep that a secret but to me it’s obvious her curves and facial features look it too plus her natural hair color was dark and she dyed it blonde
Not all chose to pass. Fredi Washington for example had the opportunity but chose not. She played Peola in Imitation of Life - a film about passing. She told reporters in 1949 that she identified as Black "...because I'm honest, firstly, and secondly, you don't have to be white to be good. I've spent most of my life trying to prove to those who think otherwise ... I am a Negro and I am proud of it." - so people did chose to pass but those with pride and strength of character chose not to.
Fredi Washington is commendable n courageous but in those times I can't say others who pretended 2 b white were any less brave! Life was hard n if u had a chance 2 do something u took it, not just acting, anything! These people did what they had 2 do 2 survive in a world that hated them n the price of being found out could easily have cost them their life! Terrible way 2 have 2 live n deny what u r! 2 day we can stand proud only because black people have fought 4 every single right n broken down so many barriers but even after all we have achieved... things ain't changed cept u don't have 2 pretend 2 b white!
She certainly played the part in that movie … so well that those images of the character’s treatment of her own mother stayed with me for decades .. and my utter disdain for people like that as well.
I myself can pass also. I get treated so much differently when folks think I'm "white". I have to correct people and let them know my father is what we call Afro Latino man and half Nigerian. Personally, I will never try to pass for white because I'm very proud of my Black and African side of my family. My folks had 10 children. We all look different because of our blood lines but we definitely know where we come from and we love it. I have 6 children, their father is Black American and Nigerian. When people who don't know my family see me with my children they automatically think I'm just a friend of theirs. They don't believe I'm their mother(my children are adults now with their own children) and many think that my children have different fathers once they find out they are my actual children. It's really sad how people treat and view Black folks compared to white foks
@@madamedellaporte4214 Two of my great aunts passed for white for years. They had black husbands, but did not "come out" in the white community until they retired. They embraced their blackness in the black community, but made passing work to their advantage as far as employment and other opportunities. One of them had a black grandson who became a concert pianist.
My best friend is white passing and I tell her don’t let know any better. She confirms the different treatment she gets if they think she white as opposed to mixed, and this is 2024 people!
It is SO different. I live in the UK right now, but when I’m in the US mixed me vs white me are treated completely different. Conservative and liberal people are condescending and patronising to me when I’m mixed. If they think I’m white, they treat me with much more respect and have a much less limiting narrative in their heads, for me when they think I am White. When I’m mixed they tend to assume I don’t know who my father was, I grew up with poverty, I am uneducated etc etc. People are so ignorant 😂 I really enjoy telling them “ I am half black“. Let’s me know a lot about them. Some have literally never spoken to me again after that. Others just look 🫨.
Yeah. I have a friend who passes. I mean she acknowledges who she is, but to me it's only when it's a convenience to her. I didn't even know that she was black until she mentioned it. She has a lot of Amish clients. They are very particular who they deal with, and trust me, she hides that she's part black because she knows that if they knew, she would not be able to work with them. She said the things that they say about us is horrible, yet she'll sit there and listen without saying anything, because she looks so white smh
I'm so glad that you are covering this forgotten actress and entertainer. Dona Drake was more of a contract player during the Golden Age of Hollywood and never really became a household name like popular actresses of her heyday, including Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Like Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge, Dona was very fair-skinned but concealed her true ethnic identity until her later years away from the limelight. Concealing one's ethnic origin was a common practice during the Jim Crow era if an entertainer possessed "negro" ancestry. Carol Channing, Merle Oberon, Shirley Bassey, and Korla Pandit, all concealed their ethnic origin for professional purposes. It was a tragic practice that fair-skinned Blacks, Middle Easterners, Asians, Indians, and Hispanics often adopted at that period when they wanted to achieve professional success!
I would say it is tragic that the laws made it so they would have to, just to legally be allowed to work certain jobs in the industry. And, that they didn't fight it as well as Bill Robinson. But, I applaud their efforts to get and remain gainfully employed against incredible odds.
Actress and singer Carol Channing was half black (from her father's side). I believe Carol's father wasn't a part of her life but her mother did tell Carol she was part black for reasons I don't know Unfortunately, Carol had to hide her African race in order to work in Hollywood as an actress/singer. I can't remember what TV special that (late 1960's) Carol and Pearl Bailey starred on but they sang a duet called "Soul Sister's". The two women sang Soul Sisters but I would like to know if Pearl ever found out that Carol was actually half black.
Wow that is a very true statement it has happened in many African American households as the result of reconstruction aftermath that echoes through society to this day every family can recall these instances in their family tree members tragic results that lasts for generations.
I'm half black, half white. always ❤being who I am. growing up, my black sistas in my school would ask 'which side do you choose?' and I would say 'don't have to. im both. that's a fact. cant change it'. never had any problems with my race. never found it awkward to fit in anywhere. always been comfortable in my own skin. never had issues getting a job/apartment. my race has never been a hamper.
She was a knockout 🤩 I always say Hollywood is smoke and mirrors nothing is what it seems but I see how people get involved in drugs and alcohol. A lot of people passed it’s heart breaking 💔
I love old Hollywood stories & biographies since I was 10!( I’m in my forties now) and this lady I was so fascinated about ! There are so many others … great covering for this story!
Marilyn Monroe had no Mexican heritage whatsoever. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Monroe, was born in Mexico because her parents happened to be there. Her father was a railway worker from Minneapolis and her mother was from Arkansas, and they relocated to Los Angeles when Gladys was a child.
Look up "Define Mexican." Since her mother was born in Mexico and she was born in the United States, she would be considered a white U.S. American of half Mexican descent.
One of my great grandfather's passed as white but still married my beautiful dark skinned great grandma and gave her a nice life. One of my cousins looks a lot like this lady. We have lots of light eyed kids in my family even though both parents are African American on both sides of my family.
That’s the beauty of genes, you never know what you’re gonna get. My white boyfriend is mostly italian, Irish and French genetically but some of his family members look vastly different from him, as in different races. and both his parents are white. Edit: Obviously some people here are brain dead. I quite literally stated that he’s WHITE of French, Italian and Irish ancestry. What’s so confusing?
Italian. Irish and French is not a race it’s a nationality. If he’s white then that’s his race. Race is what you are. Nationality is where you’re from. People really need to understand that.
@@lettiegrant9447 he is white. If I didn’t say anything abt his nationality why are you bringing it up? His ancestry DNA results said “Irish, French, Italian” and more. Go argue w somebody who cares
@@lettiegrant9447 “if he’s white then what’s his race” girl wtf drugs are you on? Caucasian, European, white who gives af? My point is that he’s a white man😂
@lettiegrant9447 And then there's ethnicity to further muddy the water as you can tell from the comments in this thread. So sorry someone got so defensive about your comment. Understood you were only adding clarification so the people in the back could understand. 😍
Yeah that's what I'm saying she was beautiful. But not in the sense of an Afrocentric way that people present. Like we know like Afrocentric beauty. But she doesn't really make that cut
Thank you for your comprehensive biography. My father-in-law met her at the Paramount Studios in March 1943 and obtained her autograph along with others. She signed herself Doña Drake so it is very possible that her assumed name was meant to be pronounced with a Latin inflection (Don-ya!). She was filming 'Let's Face It' along with Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, Marjorie Weaver, Zasu Pitts and others and they all signed his autograph book which we still have. She also appeared in a promotional 'short' - 'Hollywood Victory Caravan' which was a showcase made to promote the sale of War Bonds. She appeared in that along with Betty Hutton, Marjorie Weaver and a chorus line in an energetic singing and tap-dancing number 'Plain Jane Doe'. This was realeased in 1945 but I suspect it was also filmed in 1943 when they were all together with Bob Hope on the set of 'Let's Face It''. It is also worth noting that in her various films around that time she was was seen to be kissing many of her leading male actors (including Bob Hope). Had her true ethnicity been admitted this would never have been allowed. In fact, these amatory episodes predate the first 'official' Hollywood interacial kiss by around ten years. For what it is worth, I believe the studios did know her ethnicity and made up the Latino/European heritage story to suit their own ends. So what was my wife's father doing there in 1943? Frank Oakley was a British air cadet who visited Hollywood in March of that year, on leave from Falcon Field Airfield in Mesa, Arizona, where he was a Royal Air Force cadet training to be a pilot. He graduated and later flew Spitfires in operations against the enemy in occupied Europe in 1944-5. He died in 2005 but left behind many mementoes of his time in the USA, including his autograph book with the 'Doña Drake' signature.
You do some great video's @KarineAlourde. It so sad the level of ignorance that existed and still exists. Unfortunately, I've seen this all too close up. My grandmother and mother where very light-skinned and were mistaken for being White. And sometimes, they would have to play the part. I can't imagine the mental stress doing so full-time. Well done, young, lady! Keep it up.
Thank You for shining a light on Dona. I've heard of her and I consider myself a Classic old Hollywood enthusiast. I had no idea about her past. This was my Black History moment of the day.
She kind of looks like Steph Curry’s wife to me. And it’s crazy because my mother was also passing. When my mother and father were dating people would ask him what he was doing with that white woman? At that time interracial relationships were frowned upon. He would always have to explain that she wasn’t white. Then when I was about six years old I asked my mother, “Are you really my mother?” I thought she was white too. She looked down at me and said, “Of course I’m your Mommy and you’re my baby”. I get it! Great post! Thank you for doing it.
That is so sad that you had to ask your mom if you her child. I could never imagine as a mother. Your mother is a very strong woman and thanks for sharing.
@@kashataylor6430 Thank you, she was strong and beautiful. I miss her everyday. My mother passed away when I was 8 years old. It was very devastating and it traumatized me. You never quite get over it. Thank you again! God bless!❤️🙏🏽
@@takayasweeney Yes, my Grandmother told me that one of my uncles was almost taken from her because they thought that he was a white baby. My Grandmother was my complexion, and most of her children came out looking white. It amazes me how God created us to produce all different colors.
It’s so interesting how some will try to pass while others will deny their white blood. My grandfather was half Cherokee and half Irish- Scottish he looked like a pure white man but being adopted and raised by a black woman he adapted to black culture and even told people be was black and would actually get annoyed when people called him white which was hilarious to me because he was white 😂 wonderful tribute ❤
@@justdont2378 that would be amazing and you never know, my family’s story is quite interesting. My great grandmother (Irish-Scottish) wanted to marry a German man whom did not want her mixed breed babies (my grandfather & my great Aunt) the mixed breed being the half Cherokee so they were given up for adoption. My grandfather and his sister actually stayed in contact with the children of their mother and the German man. They moved from Washington and lost contact (60’s) I always laugh about how I have an entire white side of family out there I do not know. 😊
Your channel isn't just about dissecting entertainers, but it's also a nice study in sociology and history. Really good stuff; thank you so much for your hard work!
This just goes to show, nobody is pure anything,slavery messed that up. Everyone is mixed with something,and I don't believe in choosing one way or the other!
I understand, my grandmother on my mother’s side was half black/half white. Back when they had colored and white restroom at filling stations(gas station) with my grandmother we went in to use the bathroom and my grandmother stopped and pause as if not knowing which bathroom to go to and the white man ask her what was wrong she said I am trying to figure out which one to go to. The white man behind the counter told my grandmother that she could go to either one of the bathrooms she wanted to go to. I will never forget that I am 77 years old now . A lot of things happen that was kept hinden back in those days. I did a DNA with African ancestry and found out that I am 100% match to a maternal woman of indigenous ancestry on my mother side who would not talk to me about it b4 she died. SECRETS I am going to find out my heritage.
I know how you feel about the 'SECRETS' I have been doing family history and the roadblocks and just general lies, and, of course, the "MIND YOUR BUSINESS" statement throw-in hasn't helped or stopped me.
I hope you find all the answers that you’re looking for. I haven’t gone or been through any of that but if you saw me clearly, lol I’m straight black but I have people in my family this high yellow, freckles, red hair, albinos questions and it is what it is butit is what it is like I said, but I hope you find all your answers
@@lisajones8074 You might be fooled by going by color. I have a friend who is a Sam Jackson lookalike, and when his kids got his DNA done he was 40% Irish and 60% Sub-Saharan (Wolof I think). He is from the Caribbean and the island he is from had Irish settlers as the only white people and the rest Africans.
I'm a Latina, born in Argentina and moved to the US at age 9. I didn't speak English until i moved there. I hung out with mostly white and African American friends that i met in school. My English was pretty much void of an accent, and with my pale freckled skin and blue eyes, I've always been seen as a white American. I'm proud of my Latin roots but also recognize that looking "non hispanic" has afforded me opportunities that i might not have gotten if i looked more ethnic. But instead of just taking advantage of all that for personal gain, I've used that as a platform to raise awareness of discrimination and biases in the work force and a platform to call out against racism in general. Dona Drake reminds me of a mixture between Andra Day and Chrissy Teigen. She was so beautiful. So tragic, having to deny her full self to the world. 😢
Latin and Hispanic are ethnic labels not a race, most Mexicans for example or mixed with Native American/Native Mexican which is why most don't look European. They can range between from full Native to mixed, to full European.
@@deed2157that's fauls😂😂half of Argentina population has native ancestry they just like to count both mestizos and white as the same to give the impression that they are a white country which is not true 😂😂😂 Uruguay is the whitest country in Latin America and it's 88%
Marilyn's mother is white american. Her mother's parents (both of European descent) lived in an american state/neighborhood that is near to the Mexican border. They moved to a mexican border town for working reasons. They later moved back to the states.
This is exactly right. The fact that she lived in Mexico or near Mexico does not make Marilyn Mexican. She was who she was and she was an excellent actress. No need to add more mystery to her sad life.
Love and respect for Dona Drake. It was rough during the Jim Crow/Segregation Era for people of color whether you were a famous celebrity or a regular citizen.
If we think about it, we do the same thing today as we stay in character for our jobs, professions and careers. We do want we have to do to be successful but I think in Dona's era, it was even more important and more serious consequences. This would definitely take a toll mentally over time. She was beautiful and so graceful and talented. I love her name. Millions of 🌹 🌺 🌹 to you Dona.
In the work place double consciousness is used. I think that's different from passing. A person can leave the professional etiquette at work, and be more casual outside of work. Passing is something that's done 24/7.
Being professional doesn't equal being white. You need to actually sit down with yourself and question why you believe that acting otherwise is default black behaviour.
Thank you for your analysis. It perhaps helps me understand my mother. When she found out I am part Native American she said, “ You are not pure.” Later she said interracial children just shouldn’t be born. When I reminded her that I am interracial, she said “But you can pass.” I responded, “I am what I am.” We hadn’t spoken in decades when she passed. I do not agree with my mother. I have nothing to hide and I support loving whomever one loves across racial boundaries. I can see my mother represented the thoughts of her era, even though I disagree.
We as blacks need to start embracing our Native American culture…i know that I have..so you did what was best for you and stood you ground. My Mom was very selective with me and my brothers. She favored my little brother who is very light skinned. She had issues with color
My grandfather could have passed. He told me soooo many stories ... but he stayed true!!! I will always love and respect my papa for that... RIP Granpa! 🫶🏾
If she hadn’t passed, we wouldn’t even have these movie images to look at her and talk about her. She did what she had to do at that time to become the star she was born to be. ✨✨✨
It’s easy to sit here today and say what you would, or would not, do if you had been in the same position. Some would have taken Ms Drake’s path and others the path of Ms Freddie Washington. Ms Washington, who played in the original Imitation of Life movie, could have passed but chose not to. Both had their reasons and both should not have to be side eyed for their choices.
@@Purpledawg-d9s Exactly. And that one drop rule was created so the most people as possible would qualify to be slaves - for economic reasons - and it was not based on science. If you’re 80% white DNA and look like a white person then 💡you ARE majority white and have the genetic instructions encoded in the DNA of a white person. Duh. A Blk person thinking they can tell that white looking person that they’re still black is actually laughable. They’re just repeating the one-drop rule like a mind-programmed bot, without thinking for themselves. The biology of a person - the DNA - doesn’t lie. 💯
I have watched many bios Karine, you outdid yourself with this one. Excellent background research, you hit this one out the park! I had no hint that Dona Drake was Black of Mexican. I thought she was white. Your incredible insight following Katt William's revelations about truth and lies is brilliant. Thank you.
Hold on...she was mixed race is who she was. She had some black ancestry. However, West Africans that came here on slave ships were extremely dark, dark eyes, and 4c hair. How was she a black woman???? Black African women never looked like her. Do you know your history? Also, Mexicans are known to be Meztizo which is half indigenous and half Spanish(which are WHITE people from Spain). Dorothy Dandridge was a MULTIGENERATIONAL mixed race woman. She was black AND white...both parents were MIXED.
My Mother's Mother was passing. She was a horrible person to me and my other browner cousins. It's crazy that when she was passing away, I visited her to forgive her and passed 10 minutes after I left. She knew she was a horrible grandparent.
She was so beautiful, and people had to survive back in that day. My heart goes out to many of our ancestors that had so many secrets, but without them many of us may not have existed.😢
I noticed a few factual inaccuracies in the video. The content creator says that IR marriages were illegal in the USA. Each state had it's own anti-miscegenation laws or not. For example, California's anti-miscegenation laws were overturned in 48'.
@TIFFISFABULOUSITY Marilyn's mother was wyte, there's a difference between race and nationality. Just like not all people from the United States are wyte. See what I mean?
@@White_winged_dove I understand that and I am not arguing because that’s a fact. All I’m saying is when she said maybe I took it as she wasn’t sure and it’s left up to us look into it if we want to know.
Shirley Temple had African blood from the African slave diaspora in the West Indies. the African children of slave masters were able to buy passage on the tall ships to the British Isles during the slave trade. they escaped to Ireland where they were raped and mis-treated and had lots of Irish mixed babies ---- that is where the Irish Afros and dances and big noses-round butts came from.. too distilled culturally to be called black....the Irish usually lie about their black heritage from escaped slaves from the West Indies saying they have a very ancient black heritage from pre-history. not true, just escaped slaves -----
The more I find out about the entertainment industry the less impressed I am of it. Actually, very sad at the abuse many went through in the entertainment industry. Had no idea they originated the blackmail techniques still used today in various areas of our culture particularly in the political realm. Appreciate your work. Produced extremely well.
Yep. I mean people talk this and that about that era and there are good points with it but lets be real. If any of us were light and it was good enough to make it then we'd use it too. Even if a relative or friend was "presentable" or even passible then yes a lot of us would encourage them to go ahead and do better. Make it. Do it carefully but go and get some success, despite how it is out here. Put on that blonde wig and get it for the family. Lol.
To say it was slavery for her is disrespectful for all the people who actually were slaves; not paid for their work, unable to live and leave on their own accord, etc. Dona was not in slavery.
@KimberlyLetsGo Fool, we're in slavery now! Many forms or rather methods of enslaving people has always existed, it's not limited to whips, chains & tight restrictions on what the enslaved can do. To be in debt is to be enslaved. To be poorly educated &/or have valued knowledge hidden from you is enslavement. To be heavily burden with taxes & high cost of living that basically force you to work like a slave to stay ahead, that is slavery!
@@marlak4203no not everybody would do this !! Please speak for your self and not others!! There were many lightskinpassing people that did not do this to them self !! 🙄
Right she choose her path. Maybe not necessarily knowing everything that comes with it. Nevertheless, she’s not that much different from humanity today. People choose paths, good or evil , right or wrong and that is the power of freewill but that does not necessarily amount to freedom.
First time i see her and my jaw literally dropped, she's so beautiful and would have deserved way better in the industry. She gives me Gene Tierney vibes, am i the only one?
I'm interracial and it's a fact that I've never been ashamed of nor tried to hide. If you can't accept me the way God made me, then I don't need you in my life. But I can't imagine how hard it would be to hide in plain site like this. My family is everything to me and I couldn't ignore them and pretend they don't exist.
Those were different times many felt they had to do it to be given the basic civil rights ee all have today, starting with using clean toilets, eating quality food, living in decent homes and neighborhoods, not being R’d with no right to justice, etc. etc. Let’s not say how we would’ve behaved or compare to present day behavior because one just doesn’t know.
@@cheesecakelasagna Absolutely! There is no way someone alive today can comprehend what it would take to have separate bathrooms and water fountains and seating in food restaurants and all the rest of it enough to say "I would've done [this or that]."
With respect and in my very humble opinion, what our elders dealt with isn't to be taken lightly or compared to our current plight. It was a very different time and people survived how they could. The only issue I have is with the systems created that forced them to have to make such a choice in the first place.
I'm glad you mentioned the dark parts of Hollywood and the blackmail and control. I've had a few friends working in hollywood (not to this level of fame) but they all have terrible PTSD. Some of the stories are so terrifying.
Not shocking. And its too bad we're letting them get away with being on Epstiens list, just by merely laughing it off, and acting like it's a joke from conspiracy theorists, and not an actual document that existed.
Hollywood creates an image for you, new name, & a new face. 80% have some kinda plastic surgery. They skin bleach, & will even create an accent and fake back ground for you. I think a lotta stars lose themselves in the packaging. You’re a product. The more money you make the studio’s the more you’re indulged. They can release fake stories about you to the media, good or bad depending on how the studio’s relationship is going with you. They use to tell people they couldn’t get married, because a sex symbol is sexier as a single person. I’m sure they controlled if you’re children/husband could be around, while you’re working 14 hours a day. Exhaustion, was a common excuse, for burn out, drugged out or just used up. After they do all that to you, they also steal your money in various different ways. They even plant lovers/managers in your life.
My parents were Black Kansans. My mom had friends that’s looked like Dona. My mother said some made the decision to pass. When my mom passed, this woman who we thought was white came to her funeral and said she and my mom were best buddies when they were young. My dad kinda laughed and said “she’s not white, she’s Black. Both of her parents were Black. Genetics and American society have messed up a lot of folks in this country.
@jadesmith7983 but also, some that were half and passing could look white as well. My grandmother's family weren't majority white, they were half and still looked more white. Some even had green eyes and blondish colored hair. Genetics is a funny thing.
@sheenaperez1882 That's cool. But do you know for sure (genetically) if they weren't majority European? Most African Americans aren't 100% black (African) and tend to have 20% or less European. So even if they were biracial they could still have more European DNA.
So beautiful 😢 sadly seems like the more beautiful the more abuse these poor women were exposed to. She truly was a once in a lifetime beauty ❤ RIP 🌹🌸💐🌺
No, she really wasn't passing and see. That's the thing about being a mixed brace. African American in America. The lighter your skin is with a tinge of color they won't put white makeup on you. They will carry out all destinies to stay out of the sun to stay out of the sun to stay out of any acronym that will cause them coloring or pigmentation issues it is not new. Or undoubtedly that 2 black people can. Give relentless offspring that look just like this without the Notion of their genes being mixed. And it's common for a lot of black people to look white when they are african american
Ava Gardner, yes, was probably 3/4 white 1/4 black. There's a lot of mysterious actors back then that we're passing. And because they were surviving they made no qualm about it
Watch my Dorothy Dandridge video next : “Dorothy Dandrige- Dorothy Dandrige - The Black S3X Goddess & Marilyn's Secret Muse!” th-cam.com/video/bT3JZ_ycE3E/w-d-xo.html
Can you do Billie holiday
@@Ladybug27Ladies Yes !!That would be amazing ❤
I grew up in Hollywood, was even born on Sunset Blvd and you're right about the sinister nature of the film industry. My mother would have been in the middle of all that stuff she looked like Dorothy Lamour when she was young and won many beauty pageants how even my grandmother wouldn't let her do films because the studios wanted to do degrading stereotyped parts so no film career for my mom she had four of us kids instead and raised us.
I am shocked you keep saying that Dorothy was Marilyn’s muse and honestly feel you should stop saying that cause one it’s not true, two Marilyn based that persona on dumb woman so you saying that is like saying that Dorothy was dumb which she wasn’t nor did Dorothy ever play dumb! Frankly I find it sad to say that cause Dorothy was anything but that! Think this narrative you are pushing is desecrating, Dorothy Dandridge image. This is all love girl trust me I have been subscribed to you for years but I have to keep it real with you.
Can you do the lady in the imitation of life.please amazing film.❤
Honestly...u can see her black features even though she was able to pass. Just freaking beautiful.
@extrashotofespresso_ baby...her cheek bones and eyes are every bit of black. That facial structure is everything. "They" don't have definition like that.
I can see that she is not completely white.
A trained eye will sèe.
She looks like Beyonce.@@extrashotofespresso_
@@extrashotofespresso_don’t tell me your one those that believe all blacks looks like lupita very darkskin nappy hair I hate the fact you guys think when blacks are light we don’t look black
This woman definitely looks biracial and is gorgeous!
Right. I'm like she gives lightskin black woman. You can for sure tell
Tbf a lot of mexicans are biracial and even multiracial, so it wasn't so far from the truth. I can understand why she chose Mexico.
she's hideous on the inside
@@odethtoledo4568Rumor has it that Salma Hayek is a biracial from Louisiana who pretends to be Mexican and Lebanese
@fanatik9590 not in my opinion her face looks like a black woman's face, black people can tell this. Just like I could immediately tell Mariah Carey was part black. I don't know how non blacks couldn't tell.
My grandmother had an opportunity to passed for white but she loved being a black woman and wanted to live in her truth! I salute her for telling me never be ashamed of who you’re.
EVERYONE LIVES THEIR TRUTH - I PASS to support MY PARENTS AND FAMILY -I do not care if someone does not approve-CEST LA VIE
Life is complicated. I can't condemn people who chose to pass rather than be limited or accept discrimination because of bigotry.
@@pierrerochon7271 it's your life but in this day and age?I could understand it yrs ago when black people could not get good jobs but it's your life and I hope that if you're exposed that you can handle the consequences I know of a situation back in the seventies where a woman's white husband divorced her when he found out she was black and then you could have a child that looks undeniably black genes are unpredictable good luck with your masquerade I will include you in my prayers
That's because your grandmother loved and respected herself to each his own but I don't think anyone with a drop of self respect would pass for white when you deny who and what you are whatever it is black Jewish latino gay etc you are committing a form of suicide the mask that you have to wear as you masquerade gets HEAVY!!!!
Sorry, but if you pass for white then you are white. So weird how we call mixed race people black with only one black relative. I have a white relative 7 generations ago… and Im I a white person that can pass black?! Very silly concept. Race is based on phenotype
I ain't mad at her. She had to do what she had to do. Much respect.
Why would you be mad.
@@vp3970 Some in the comments sound outraged
Nahhh ... You never deny your people/heritage. I respect Freda Washington. They wanted her to pass, but she REFUSED. I RESPECT that.
@@CodyCole80you didn’t live in that time. she could’ve gotten killed going for her passion in life..
@@CodyCole80 yeah and she struggled too. I don't blame anyone for passing.
Passing is not always a matter of being ashamed of your heritage, but a means to make a better life for you, your relatives, and your children/descendents.
My grandmother was mixed and passed to get a job. She was a seamstress and the factories in Philly wouldn't hire black women. And it was piece work, you worked every day and was paid by the number of pieces you completed. My grandmother told me she would rougue her cheeks and lips and wouldn't talk. She had absolutely no shame in it. She was divorced and had two children to feed, my mother and uncle. '❤❤
Sad facts
@yeshuasbeloved549. Keep believing that… but it’s not only a lie, but a cowardice. Every time a person authenticates a document or verbally asserts that they are white, and they are not, it is a Lie. Read the final destination of all liars in Revelation 21:8. Surely with a tag like yours , you are somewhat familiar with the Word of God. Case closed.
@yeshuasbeloved549. Perhaps not always a matter of being ashamed, but certainly in my opinion a cowardice way to provide.. Nevertheless, “pretending “ to be white when one is not .. IS a Lie. The practice of pretense solidifies one as a Liar. And judging from your tag, surely you are familiar with biblical text that declares All liars will have their part in a very hot Lake with others that practice sin. Revelation 21:8. No disrespect to anyone, but I have spoken the Gospel Truth whether people like it or not.
@@SDC1949let god judge her, not you….and any ways she had to provide for her kids to get a JOB, You are acting like she was selling her body?? God gave her a blessing to provide for her kids and you are acting like you knew god personally and he told you to say such negative things! All humans sin, stop acting like you’ve been perfect your whole life you fraud🤨🙄
Marilyn put herself on the line for Ella Fitzgerald refusing to enter a club unless Ella was able to walk through the front door and not through the kitchen.
Marilyn Monroe was such a good person. 😢
Humphrey Bogart, I believe went to bat for Lena Horne ,so she could live in Beverly Hills!
@@franettesparks9949 that's really sweet of him. He also went out to bat for artists banned during the McCarthy Era.
Hollywood and the world has been a better place because Marilyn Monroe was here❤
Marilyn did the same for Black people when weren’t even famous. There is a picture of her laughing with two Black men who were working on one of her films and when the studio saw it they were going to fire them and threatened her career. She told them that if they fired those guys she wouldn’t return to the set and they backed down and left the men and her career alone.
"Hollywood is a movie of it's own". Well said! So true.
Right
There’s a show called Hollywood on Netflix about this
We only ever hear about Dorothy Dandridge. I was given Dorothy's biography by my black mom as a teenager, to reinforce confidence in my mixed heritage as one of only three black girls at an all white high school. To be truthful I was lucky. My classmates considered me one of their own, were uniquely inclusive and never made me feel otherized.
It's wonderful to know their were many other afro-descended actresses trying to stake their claim in Hollyweird and so, so very sad she had to wear a white mask to do it. Look how beautiful and talented she was.
I remember it was very, very important to both my black mother and white father (Civil Rights advocates) that my sister and I, NOT try to pass as anything other than exactly who we were. We were made to watch the film "Imitation of Life" many times, I guess to warn us that denial of our racial identity would only lead to regret.
"By your black mom, dear, you are black" sounds like Tamera Mowry, she always says "my mom is black" lol
@@4dyamondx745 you make absolutely no sense and you sound ignorant
Dorothy couldn't pass
I think bi-ratial kids that look black, should not forget that they are still half whits. You dna has memory and carries many things which the facial look is just small part of it.
🙄
Hollywood was dark back then and it's still dark.
Arguably its got much darker...
And yet Oprah and beyonce are on their side.....as long as they are making 🤑 and yet black folks go....yas qween!🤣🤣
@@LaurenC444ITS THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENCE IS EVERYTHING IS OUT IN THE OPEN NOW
@@myownlilbubbledon’t put all of us together I know y’all love to put us all in one basket and wonder why ppl say y’all are the racist stereotypical white ppl
Hollywood is as dark as its host country. If you think there are nations darker than the U.S., or any single country in the world has more blood in its hands, you are lying to yourself.
What a stunning woman. It is such a shame that she had to hide her true identity to be successful.
I for one do not buy into this "racist propaganda" of "passing". She was not hiding herself but reinventing herself.
Everyone has a God given right to the "pursuit of happiness". Personally as a mixed woman I find someone who would identify me as "passing", equivalent to calling blacks the "N" word. Yes that's just how vulgar it is.
It's like a slithering snake throughout history to persecute, constrict and cast shame upon people who were simply exercising their dual heritage to pursue their happiness.
And I truly believe those who continue to perpetrate this persecution will suffer. A day of reckoning is coming.
Freddy Mercury same story. Queen was and still is the bomb
True!
U would too if it meant an easy life.
Would u tell people u was black back then. Many of them would have abused u
Today its considered "Selling-out"
So much beauty back then and the CLOTHES! OMG THE CLOTHES were BEAUTIFUL!
"Beautiful Gowns. Beautiful Gowns."
@@BengtBagels😭😭
Just classy
Yaaaaaaasss!!!!!! Quality!
@@BengtBagelscame here to comment that 💀💀
You get it. You actually get it. I'm glad the internet is here now so we can start to uncover the truth about all of this - but you're also honoring the inherent talent, strength and pioneerism in the arts of Black women who never got their proper flowers while alive.
She wasn't black tho. She was mixed... 😁
This 💯 black women have been so slighted and discredited for the amazingness. So much influence on so many cultures, and always denounced. The Internet is great
@@cdknowledge Jesus is coming back Please repent to be saved. He is all we need.
@@Myao-rd7rr Jesus is coming back Please repent to be saved. He is all we need.
My grandmother told me this was a norm. I remember we went to a family reunion and I was like “mom who these white folks” it tickled her so much!!! She was “Gal these black folks”. Lol fooled the hell out of me 😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am cracking up. I'm Bi-racial; I was walking down the street with an old boyfriend and one of his friends called him and said, " who was that white girl you was walking with"? Me: WHITE?? let me go stand in the Sun cause 🤨🤣
Yall are losers calling white ppl with mixed heritage "black"
This happens in my Haitian family as well. I was shocked to see my aunts and uncles. It was disturbing
I had a similar experience. We had a family reunion on my mother’s side of the family and I was seeing all these fair skinned people with green and gray eyes and blonde and sandy brown hair and I asked my mother why these white people were at our family reunion and she said they’re not white they’re your cousins and I was amazed. I learned that day that black people run the gamut from the lightest light to the darkest dark and all are beautiful.
@@christinajennings3826actually they are part white. So why are you trying to disrespect that part of their lineage?
She looks like the creole ladies in my New Orleanian family🤷🏾♀️. I can detect a black person no matter how light they are.
I too can when I saw Halsey I thought she was mixed.
Me too
Interesting… because it always come through and you can always tell. Very very beautiful woman.
@@badgirlhollywood9741how ??
Me too. Chile, all through our families. We are a very mixed race. Here in Texas, and Louisiana I see folks that look like her. It is, what it is.
I have never heard of Dona Drake. She is Beautiful. Thank you for putting this together. Specially by it being black history. 365 BLACK ❤
As a Black woman, I see a Black woman in her. She reminds me of women on my mother's side of the family, some of whom did "pass" back in the day. Thank you for another informative piece, Karine. I appreciate the work that you put into this channel.
Everyone is saying their ppl "could pass" yea okay 🤦🏾♀️🤣
@@ItgirlHer😂😂😂
Yea. She looks like my aunt and grandmother
Several years ago I auditioned for X-Factor. I made it to the 3rd round of auditions and a few of the staff came into the room where about 300 of us were waiting, and told us that we needed to come up with our back story to impress the judges. They also told us the more emotional we were, the better. People literally started "testing" out fake sad stories with each other and sharing techniques on how to cry. I felt like I was in the Matrix on Mars. When I got in the room with the judges, sang, and then shared by normal life and I was immediately rejected. I sang well but my story didn't grab them. Oh well. 🤷🏽♀️😭😭
Right their lost haha 🤎
Yup! Same thing happened when I made it to the next round for America’s Top Model.
That's how American Idol did me in 2009! Your story is like play-by-play of what happened to me! 😂😅
Damn shame.
Same thing happened to me with X Factor. My back story wasn't sad enough. This mess was CRAZY. I'M SO SORRY that happened to you, I was hoping nobody else went through that, cause it almost broke my heart
I know that this is about a woman, but this reminds me of the late artist, Romare Bearden. He was a light skinned black man (pretty sure he was mixed) and he played baseball. He was offered the opportunity to play in the major leagues, but only if he passed for white to play on a specific team. He refused, quit baseball and he eventually became a well-known artist! And his art reflected the everyday lives of African Americans and black musicians, as opposed to the negative narratives we see about black people in media.
I Met him 40 years ago!
@@pzmoore007 Wow! That’s so cool 😭 What was he like?
Is he mixed or black? I thought the one drop rule was dismantled.
I didn't know Bearden as anything but an artist. Interesting story.
@@hecutsdown91 He was blue-eyed..... & blonde (as a kid)...but he considered himself 'black', ( that's an American thing..)🤜🏾💥🔥💥🤛🏾.
You can be Mexican and white, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can be Mex and Black, etc. Salma Hayak is Mexican and Arab. Just like an American can be any race, ethnicity, race or combination/mix of ethnicity or races, so can Mexicans. To be Mexican is a nationality, and not a racial designation. Lupita Nyong'o is Mexican because she was born there to parents from Kenya. She has Mexican and Kenyan nationality, she's Mao Mao ethnically, being from Sub Saharan Africa, she's also Black.
This. ❤
Exactly
I see underlying DARK heritage in Marilyn Monroe..
SO TRUE!!! I'm glad that you posted this. Agree, as you wrote, one can be white and Hispanic, etc.
Perfectly said. I’m sick of people thinking that being Mexican, Hispanic and even Spanish means having darker skin. The ignorance is apalling!
She is beautiful. She reminds me of Vanessa Williams.
They should've had her do her biopic.
Passing was scary back then. If you were found out, it could mean your life. 😢
If I could pass, I think I would’ve tried. Glad I was a wasn’t back then, but my time came later-now.
It was so scary that J Edgar hoover became for decades one of the most powerful men in USA despite bein bi racial and gay and people being aware of it.
@awillis244 my great grandpa could have passed, but he didn't want to. He hated them "other" folks!
Not Could.. Would
@@awillis244so you tried to pass later?
She’s gorgeous. Some pics she looks white, some black, sometimes Latino exotic, but always beautiful. I never heard of her before.
@@extrashotofespresso_ 😕
@@extrashotofespresso_ No, it is not silly - in some of the pictures she did look white and in other pictures she looked other nationalities - Maybe it was because of the lighting in some - so that commenter is not wrong!
Latino exotic 😂😂😂
Y’all say anything on this app. She doesn’t look black on not a single picture. That’s a white woman
@@virtualwhispersshe looks mixed. You can’t look black, white, Hispanic etc all at once smh
It’s a damn shame that she had to “pass” in the first place.
No one “has” to pass .. it is a choice; Albeit, a shameful one.
Some Black men and women still choose to pass in this day and time.
@pj3770 plenty of people who are >/=50% white "passing" as black nowadays. What's the difference?
True it is sad.But people want the benefits of it .Unfortunately, I get why.Especially back then.
EXACTLY! And we must not forget about ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. HE was assumed to be everything except a black man but he stood on his BLACKNESS,AND WAS VERY PROUD OF WHO HE WAS TOO! I simply loved the man for his boldness and charisma!
You said it in the end, she disassociated, she never stopped being in character, so her true identity was buried so deeply she never got to be herself. Great video, I'm subscribing to hear more stories ❤️🌹🌸💐
Wtf are all you yanks saying? You are bonkers.
My grandmother’s cousin passed for white, abandoned her family, and married a politician who went on to become Vice President of the US. I don’t think it ever came out that she was actually black.
What was her and her husband’s names?
Interesting
Happy Rockefeller? She certainly looked like a light skinned black woman.
👀 what year he became VP?
Can you give the VP's initials?
her leading a white band and tricking everyone was lowkey a power move😭
Good for her 👏
It really was god bless my ancestors soul😂
It's is very common in that time. .. look at Johnny Cash wife.... You telling me no one questioned her.
❤❤❤❤❤
For sure
Man, Donna did some deep passing even before the studios fabricated her biography. She was not only acting on screen, she had to act in her real life.
Why are yall hating on a tri-racial woman????? She did what she had to do to survive
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fm No, I'm not hating on her. I understand that these people did what they had to do. I was just pointing out that she along with the studios made an entirely different background for her.
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fm There was absolutely no hate in that comment! - What the heck did YOU read??
The mask that one has to wear when you're hiding who and what you are gets heavy REAL HEAVY!!!
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fmAll these terms like bi racial ,tri was not used back then,you were either black or not especially someone who had 3 generations of grandparents black . Yes obviously they had admixtures which of course most AAs do due to slavery,messa doing what ever he wanted to and with those black women in slavery and after. During Dona’s time slavery was over but we were treated the same mother racism very much intact,actresses black only did maid roles or what they called black movies back then,race movies. Of course they we’re not like what big Hollywood studio’s produced,do major roles,get equal pay. Even black artist who did clubs white ones had to enter the back doors despite their names being on the marquee’s,could not mingle with wte people. Even back then so called race movies were restricted in wte movie ,some had race night,day but you had to sit in the balcony when viewing their movies away from them,a rope reminding you. Many places like the Cotton Club innHarlem had all black entertainers singers,big band greats dancer who performed for all white audiences. They were not allowed on the floor with them,mingle ,had to enter in the back door as with all other places. So what Dona did could have caused her life to be taken,or she beaten until almost unalived. Again I since you are younger,do not get this history,segregation black Americans faced that included where you can go,live,what type you could get and more ,,slavery ending way before this times did not change the mindset of those who did it,ancestors did ,it was just replaced by Jim Crow ,everywhere. Most noticing it more in the south and like now studios wanting to make money would not insult those wte audiences who if they found out could ruin their business.
I never knew of Dona Drake but she was simply beautiful!!!!! There is a rumor that Dinah Shore was passing as well.
A person can be Hispanic of any race. There are white Hispanics, Black Hispanics, mestizo Hispanics, etc. However, in this case, being born in Mexico only makes Marilyn’s mom’s nationality Mexican, not her ethnicity.
Yes, however most Mexicans are mestizos.😂
You see Marilyn's body? She's mexican😂 that woman had curves
@@rebeccaskylar8430she was a white American woman who’s White American mom just so happened to be born in Mexico. My friend is mestizo Mexican and doesn’t have curves at all. Curves don’t belong to only one certain group of women.
@@lauren1937 she was Mexican.
@@rebeccaskylar8430 if that’s what you want to think then think that. You should research the difference between ethnicity, race, and nationality.
Hollywood is a monster .
To this day!
Agreed!
❤❤ You are correct.
And those in the industry are just as guilty.
Many black and white artist work together and collaborate on many projects.
But when the project is over and the light are “down”, the separation is still there .
And it’s 2024.
Best statement so far 👌👏
Definitely
The fact that she had to “fool” the world to be successful is horrifying
Is that not what is happening today and is the norm, so nothing horrifying about what she did.
thats how you can get success tho it's natural
@@othellox1064 lying about your race to protect your life and career is not ok. Stop it
@@esjae2693 people lie about a lot of things and they get success, we are seeing it almost everywhere across the world and many close their eyes to the truth. The difference is they don't have any reason to unlike this woman who was in a seriously unjust system.
She didn't have to. She's obviously part caucasian. There were and still are tons of black entertainers and athletes and doctors etc who never lied.
Thank you!! Your videos are so very enjoyable, educational and exquisitely executed.
Wow thank you so much Sofia! I really appreciate it 💖💖😭
Stunning! 🤩 Dona reminds me of Vanessa Williams, Eartha Kitt & Rihanna wrapped into one.
Certain pictures she looks exactly like Williams.
You are totally correct.
Funny that you say that cuz I think she looks like Andra Day who people say also looks like a mix of Eartha Kitt and Rihanna!
@@Rob774 absolutely
@@HoneySwtDrms yesss…I see the resemblance too. Stunning ladies!
She was absolutely gorgeous!!!
So many of these classic starlets were SO UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL. Even our celebrities TODAY don't look like them. They all look kissed by the divine.
“Kissed by the divine”….love how you put it that way ✨
Most of the people back then were on a whole different diet and beauty regiment in the America’s. If we went back to that allot of us would look the same
A lot also had cosmetic surgeries
I think it's the hairstyles and the way they would dress. The look is extremely elegant and classy.
Donna Drake and Dorothy Dandridge. My God all shades of black diversity is beautiful. Two of the most beautiful women that ever graced the silver screen regardless of their race and heritage.❤
❤❤❤❤ and vanity princes artist
No matter what she was made of IDK. What she was IS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.
I mean she's blk 🤷🏽
Not the point. RACE is a made up concept anyway to promote racism. The fact she had to do it in this country is pathetic and wrong. Our history is a cruel.
Thank you that's why I don't understand why people are hating on her. All because she was multiracial she didn't ask to be born white or black
Facts
@@JohnBoyed-fo6fmnobody’s hating on her? Y’all throw this word around way too loosely
I think the blonde hair makes her even more striking because of how unusual it looks with her features. She’s gorge
Maryland Monroe had a Mexixan dad but nobody ever talks about it most people still don't know about it
@@sarahcarr4294she didn’t. it was her mom who was a white lady but happened to be born in mexico. her dad was also white.
@@celina6438 And you know this to be the absolute truth because?
@@celina6438 no her dad was Mexican and nobody knows who he was as to keep that a secret but to me it’s obvious her curves and facial features look it too plus her natural hair color was dark and she dyed it blonde
It doesn’t look ‘unusual’ because all the photos & videos are in black & white-so they could all get away with it.
Not all chose to pass. Fredi Washington for example had the opportunity but chose not. She played Peola in Imitation of Life - a film about passing. She told reporters in 1949 that she identified as Black "...because I'm honest, firstly, and secondly, you don't have to be white to be good. I've spent most of my life trying to prove to those who think otherwise ... I am a Negro and I am proud of it." - so people did chose to pass but those with pride and strength of character chose not to.
Fredi Washington is commendable n courageous but in those times I can't say others who pretended 2 b white were any less brave! Life was hard n if u had a chance 2 do something u took it, not just acting, anything! These people did what they had 2 do 2 survive in a world that hated them n the price of being found out could easily have cost them their life! Terrible way 2 have 2 live n deny what u r! 2 day we can stand proud only because black people have fought 4 every single right n broken down so many barriers but even after all we have achieved... things ain't changed cept u don't have 2 pretend 2 b white!
My family could pass too but they chose not to.
My favorite movie: Imitation of Life in black and white.
She certainly played the part in that movie … so well that those images of the character’s treatment of her own mother stayed with me for decades .. and my utter disdain for people like that as well.
I myself can pass also. I get treated so much differently when folks think I'm "white". I have to correct people and let them know my father is what we call Afro Latino man and half Nigerian. Personally, I will never try to pass for white because I'm very proud of my Black and African side of my family. My folks had 10 children. We all look different because of our blood lines but we definitely know where we come from and we love it. I have 6 children, their father is Black American and Nigerian. When people who don't know my family see me with my children they automatically think I'm just a friend of theirs. They don't believe I'm their mother(my children are adults now with their own children) and many think that my children have different fathers once they find out they are my actual children. It's really sad how people treat and view Black folks compared to white foks
You can definitely see that she is passing. She did what she felt she needed to do to get the work she wanted.
What if that is what she felt?
@@madamedellaporte4214 Two of my great aunts passed for white for years. They had black husbands, but did not "come out" in the white community until they retired. They embraced their blackness in the black community, but made passing work to their advantage as far as employment and other opportunities. One of them had a black grandson who became a concert pianist.
My best friend is white passing and I tell her don’t let know any better. She confirms the different treatment she gets if they think she white as opposed to mixed, and this is 2024 people!
It is SO different. I live in the UK right now, but when I’m in the US mixed me vs white me are treated completely different.
Conservative and liberal people are condescending and patronising to me when I’m mixed. If they think I’m white, they treat me with much more respect and have a much less limiting narrative in their heads, for me when they think I am White. When I’m mixed they tend to assume I don’t know who my father was, I grew up with poverty, I am uneducated etc etc. People are so ignorant 😂
I really enjoy telling them “ I am half black“. Let’s me know a lot about them. Some have literally never spoken to me again after that. Others just look 🫨.
Your poor friend has succumbed to yt supremacy programming...so sorry to hear that... but let's be honest her mom is most likely not black
Yeah. I have a friend who passes. I mean she acknowledges who she is, but to me it's only when it's a convenience to her. I didn't even know that she was black until she mentioned it. She has a lot of Amish clients. They are very particular who they deal with, and trust me, she hides that she's part black because she knows that if they knew, she would not be able to work with them. She said the things that they say about us is horrible, yet she'll sit there and listen without saying anything, because she looks so white smh
So sad
She is white, not passing. That means white is dominant in her genetics.
I'm so glad that you are covering this forgotten actress and entertainer. Dona Drake was more of a contract player during the Golden Age of Hollywood and never really became a household name like popular actresses of her heyday, including Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Like Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge, Dona was very fair-skinned but concealed her true ethnic identity until her later years away from the limelight. Concealing one's ethnic origin was a common practice during the Jim Crow era if an entertainer possessed "negro" ancestry. Carol Channing, Merle Oberon, Shirley Bassey, and Korla Pandit, all concealed their ethnic origin for professional purposes. It was a tragic practice that fair-skinned Blacks, Middle Easterners, Asians, Indians, and Hispanics often adopted at that period when they wanted to achieve professional success!
I would say it is tragic that the laws made it so they would have to, just to legally be allowed to work certain jobs in the industry. And, that they didn't fight it as well as Bill Robinson. But, I applaud their efforts to get and remain gainfully employed against incredible odds.
Actress and singer Carol Channing was half black (from her father's side).
I believe Carol's father wasn't a part of her life but her mother did tell Carol she was part black for reasons I don't know
Unfortunately, Carol had to hide her African race in order to work in Hollywood as an actress/singer.
I can't remember what TV special that (late 1960's) Carol and Pearl Bailey starred on but they sang a duet
called "Soul Sister's".
The two women sang Soul Sisters but I would like to know if Pearl ever found out that Carol was actually half black.
Why are people hating on her????
Wait shirley bassey, who didnt know?
Wow that is a very true statement it has happened in many African American households as the result of reconstruction aftermath that echoes through society to this day every family can recall these instances in their family tree members tragic results that lasts for generations.
She reminds me of Vanessa Williams.
💯 as well as that lady Giselle Bryant from Potomac
I thought the same thing.
Most of the angles she looked like Shirley Temple in her early 20s.
Yeh she does too ✨
I see Michael Michelle more than anyone else.
I'm half black, half white. always ❤being who I am. growing up, my black sistas in my school would ask 'which side do you choose?' and I would say 'don't have to. im both. that's a fact. cant change it'. never had any problems with my race. never found it awkward to fit in anywhere. always been comfortable in my own skin. never had issues getting a job/apartment. my race has never been a hamper.
I guess that’s a blessing that You never had those negative experiences.
WOW! Never heard of her. Thank you for shedding light on the lesser known starlets! ❤
You are so welcome! Her story is definitely worth knowing ❤
First time I'm hearing about her too. Beautiful lady.
@@GoddessOfLove-pr7ek She was a beauty yet her life was way too TUMULTUOUS! May Dona Drake and her only child Nia rest in peace. 😔🙏🏾❤️🕊️
@@danavixen6274 Yes definitely 💯 In loving memory of Dona and her daughter Nia remain together in afterlife and rest peacefully. 🙏👑🕊️🌷🌹💐🌺
Right!
Dandrige was STUNNING!
She was a knockout 🤩 I always say Hollywood is smoke and mirrors nothing is what it seems but I see how people get involved in drugs and alcohol. A lot of people passed it’s heart breaking 💔
I love old Hollywood stories & biographies since I was 10!( I’m in my forties now) and this lady I was so fascinated about ! There are so many others … great covering for this story!
Marilyn Monroe had no Mexican heritage whatsoever. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Monroe, was born in Mexico because her parents happened to be there. Her father was a railway worker from Minneapolis and her mother was from Arkansas, and they relocated to Los Angeles when Gladys was a child.
lol its funny cuz the people think she really is mexican but there is no found mexican in her 😭
@@새-e6jWell, how you suppose to find Mexican in her if she’s dead
Look up "Define Mexican." Since her mother was born in Mexico and she was born in the United States, she would be considered a white U.S. American of half Mexican descent.
not decent, nationality.
@@_BOUYEMexican is a person from Mexico or a citizen of the USA who has both Mexican parents.
Marilyn was NOT Mexican.
It looked like she lived everyday in pain, under that talent and smile. Hollywood is a Beast.
I doubt it. She enjoyed every minute under her white lovers.
Ur right
Hollywood is just a product of society.
💯💯💯
Yes. I. Knew. But. Folks. Don't. Want. Mercy. On. Goidlooing. Blacks. They. Want. Folks. Too. Have. No. Mercy. Because. She. Has. Those. Looks. So. When. U. Look. This. Good. Everybody. Wants. U. Too. Sufuur. Suffur. Suffur. So. That's. Nothing. We. Can. Do. About. Theses. Powerful people. But. This. Young. Lady. Is. Definitely. Redeeming. The. People. That. Cause. Goidlooing. Blacks. So. Much. Pain. N. Suffering. Shout. Out. Too. The. New. Generation. N. Shout. Out. Too. You. Tube.
One of my great grandfather's passed as white but still married my beautiful dark skinned great grandma and gave her a nice life. One of my cousins looks a lot like this lady. We have lots of light eyed kids in my family even though both parents are African American on both sides of my family.
That’s the beauty of genes, you never know what you’re gonna get. My white boyfriend is mostly italian, Irish and French genetically but some of his family members look vastly different from him, as in different races. and both his parents are white.
Edit: Obviously some people here are brain dead. I quite literally stated that he’s WHITE of French, Italian and Irish ancestry. What’s so confusing?
Italian. Irish and French is not a race it’s a nationality. If he’s white then that’s his race. Race is what you are. Nationality is where you’re from. People really need to understand that.
@@lettiegrant9447 he is white. If I didn’t say anything abt his nationality why are you bringing it up? His ancestry DNA results said “Irish, French, Italian” and more. Go argue w somebody who cares
@@lettiegrant9447 “if he’s white then what’s his race” girl wtf drugs are you on? Caucasian, European, white who gives af? My point is that he’s a white man😂
@lettiegrant9447 And then there's ethnicity to further muddy the water as you can tell from the comments in this thread. So sorry someone got so defensive about your comment. Understood you were only adding clarification so the people in the back could understand. 😍
Girl, you were rambling. 😂You didn’t even get into the story of about Dona until 9:57. Thanks for the info!
Definitely rambling thanks for the time
I’d never heard of Dona…she was beyond beautiful!!!!
Yeah that's what I'm saying she was beautiful. But not in the sense of an Afrocentric way that people present. Like we know like Afrocentric beauty. But she doesn't really make that cut
Me too, I’ve never heard of her either, but yes-Beautiful!!!
Thank you for your comprehensive biography. My father-in-law met her at the Paramount Studios in March 1943 and obtained her autograph along with others. She signed herself Doña Drake so it is very possible that her assumed name was meant to be pronounced with a Latin inflection (Don-ya!). She was filming 'Let's Face It' along with Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, Marjorie Weaver, Zasu Pitts and others and they all signed his autograph book which we still have.
She also appeared in a promotional 'short' - 'Hollywood Victory Caravan' which was a showcase made to promote the sale of War Bonds. She appeared in that along with Betty Hutton, Marjorie Weaver and a chorus line in an energetic singing and tap-dancing number 'Plain Jane Doe'. This was realeased in 1945 but I suspect it was also filmed in 1943 when they were all together with Bob Hope on the set of 'Let's Face It''.
It is also worth noting that in her various films around that time she was was seen to be kissing many of her leading male actors (including Bob Hope). Had her true ethnicity been admitted this would never have been allowed. In fact, these amatory episodes predate the first 'official' Hollywood interacial kiss by around ten years. For what it is worth, I believe the studios did know her ethnicity and made up the Latino/European heritage story to suit their own ends.
So what was my wife's father doing there in 1943? Frank Oakley was a British air cadet who visited Hollywood in March of that year, on leave from Falcon Field Airfield in Mesa, Arizona, where he was a Royal Air Force cadet training to be a pilot. He graduated and later flew Spitfires in operations against the enemy in occupied Europe in 1944-5. He died in 2005 but left behind many mementoes of his time in the USA, including his autograph book with the 'Doña Drake' signature.
Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading this. ❤
A great story. Ty.
I am sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing!!!❤
Very cool👍
I've never heard of Dona Drake. She was beautiful. I often wonder how many modern day actors/actresses and entertainers are passing.
Ellen Degeneres.
@user-yv9fq5ym9w Huh? What could she possibly be passing as? The only thing she passed as was straight in her early career.
I had seen her pictures before but had no idea who she was. No one does a deep dive on Hollywood like Miss Alourde
Clark Gable allegedly
Someone said Vin Diesel
You do some great video's @KarineAlourde. It so sad the level of ignorance that existed and still exists. Unfortunately, I've seen this all too close up. My grandmother and mother where very light-skinned and were mistaken for being White. And sometimes, they would have to play the part. I can't imagine the mental stress doing so full-time. Well done, young, lady! Keep it up.
Her life made me think of the movie The Imitation of Life. 💐
Yes it does
Never heard of it I’ll have to watch it ☺️
@@ashleyshayia8087watch the one with Juanita Moore and Lana Turner. Much better than the first one.
The movie crossed my mind too!💕
@@ashleyshayia8087Get some tissues. There are two versions. I like the one from I think 1959.
Thank You for shining a light on Dona. I've heard of her and I consider myself a Classic old Hollywood enthusiast. I had no idea about her past. This was my Black History moment of the day.
She kind of looks like Steph Curry’s wife to me. And it’s crazy because my mother was also passing. When my mother and father were dating people would ask him what he was doing with that white woman? At that time interracial relationships were frowned upon. He would always have to explain that she wasn’t white. Then when I was about six years old I asked my mother, “Are you really my mother?” I thought she was white too. She looked down at me and said, “Of course I’m your Mommy and you’re my baby”. I get it! Great post! Thank you for doing it.
That is so sad that you had to ask your mom if you her child. I could never imagine as a mother. Your mother is a very strong woman and thanks for sharing.
Genetics be like that sometimes 😂
I get it…I used to tell everyone my dad and cousins were white. 😂
I didn’t know any better I was so young.😂
@@kashataylor6430 Thank you, she was strong and beautiful. I miss her everyday. My mother passed away when I was 8 years old. It was very devastating and it traumatized me. You never quite get over it. Thank you again! God bless!❤️🙏🏽
@@takayasweeney Yes, my Grandmother told me that one of my uncles was almost taken from her because they thought that he was a white baby. My Grandmother was my complexion, and most of her children came out looking white. It amazes me how God created us to produce all different colors.
It had to be YT people to believe it lol she reminds me of Renni Rucci 0:58 a bit. I for sure see black in her but also for sure gorgeous!!!
It’s so interesting how some will try to pass while others will deny their white blood. My grandfather was half Cherokee and half Irish- Scottish he looked like a pure white man but being adopted and raised by a black woman he adapted to black culture and even told people be was black and would actually get annoyed when people called him white which was hilarious to me because he was white 😂 wonderful tribute ❤
Wait .. this is the same story of my great grandmother
@@lavathesaint Oh wow his sister was given up for adoption with him as well her name was Alice.
@@empresslove2211 Imagine this is you meeting your long lost cousin
@@justdont2378 that would be amazing and you never know, my family’s story is quite interesting. My great grandmother (Irish-Scottish) wanted to marry a German man whom did not want her mixed breed babies (my grandfather & my great Aunt) the mixed breed being the half Cherokee so they were given up for adoption. My grandfather and his sister actually stayed in contact with the children of their mother and the German man. They moved from Washington and lost contact (60’s) I always laugh about how I have an entire white side of family out there I do not know. 😊
Bad parenting she should of taught him
Your channel isn't just about dissecting entertainers, but it's also a nice study in sociology and history. Really good stuff; thank you so much for your hard work!
Yes. I realised this too.
Seeing Vanessa Williams..
Yeah Very Intriguing Story..
Utafiti mkubwa na Uwasilishagi..
Pumzika Kwa Amani..
This just goes to show, nobody is pure anything,slavery messed that up. Everyone is mixed with something,and I don't believe in choosing one way or the other!
💯 yes!
I understand, my grandmother on my mother’s side was half black/half white.
Back when they had colored and white restroom at filling stations(gas station) with my grandmother we went in to use the bathroom and my grandmother stopped and pause as if not knowing which bathroom to go to and the white man ask her what was wrong she said I am trying to figure out which one to go to. The white man behind the counter told my grandmother that she could go to either one of the bathrooms she wanted to go to. I will never forget that I am 77 years old now . A lot of things happen that was kept hinden back in those days. I did a DNA with African ancestry and found out that I am 100% match to a maternal woman of indigenous ancestry on my mother side who would not talk to me about it b4 she died. SECRETS I am going to find out my heritage.
I know how you feel about the 'SECRETS' I have been doing family history and the roadblocks and just general lies, and, of course, the "MIND YOUR BUSINESS" statement throw-in hasn't helped or stopped me.
I hope you find all the answers that you’re looking for. I haven’t gone or been through any of that but if you saw me clearly, lol I’m straight black but I have people in my family this high yellow, freckles, red hair, albinos questions and it is what it is butit is what it is like I said, but I hope you find all your answers
@@lisajones8074 You might be fooled by going by color. I have a friend who is a Sam Jackson lookalike, and when his kids got his DNA done he was 40% Irish and 60% Sub-Saharan (Wolof I think). He is from the Caribbean and the island he is from had Irish settlers as the only white people and the rest Africans.
Further back around the 1700s, the Wolof people are from West Africa.
@shells500tutubo
Once I saw a black said that in his life, only the white help him.
I'm a Latina, born in Argentina and moved to the US at age 9. I didn't speak English until i moved there. I hung out with mostly white and African American friends that i met in school. My English was pretty much void of an accent, and with my pale freckled skin and blue eyes, I've always been seen as a white American. I'm proud of my Latin roots but also recognize that looking "non hispanic" has afforded me opportunities that i might not have gotten if i looked more ethnic. But instead of just taking advantage of all that for personal gain, I've used that as a platform to raise awareness of discrimination and biases in the work force and a platform to call out against racism in general.
Dona Drake reminds me of a mixture between Andra Day and Chrissy Teigen. She was so beautiful. So tragic, having to deny her full self to the world. 😢
Latin and Hispanic are ethnic labels not a race, most Mexicans for example or mixed with Native American/Native Mexican which is why most don't look European. They can range between from full Native to mixed, to full European.
@@omegasprinter
And Sub-Saharan African particularly in the Vera Cruz region.
I'm not surprised since Argentina has the most highest population of people of European descent.
@@deed2157that's fauls😂😂half of Argentina population has native ancestry they just like to count both mestizos and white as the same to give the impression that they are a white country which is not true 😂😂😂 Uruguay is the whitest country in Latin America and it's 88%
@@BlackDoveNYCHello! I just wanted to let you know that Veracruz is one word!
Marilyn's mother is white american. Her mother's parents (both of European descent) lived in an american state/neighborhood that is near to the Mexican border. They moved to a mexican border town for working reasons. They later moved back to the states.
This is exactly right. The fact that she lived in Mexico or near Mexico does not make Marilyn Mexican. She was who she was and she was an excellent actress. No need to add more mystery to her sad life.
Yes Marilyn was white
@@ignaciagarcia3917 dont make her black either
Latin Satin Doll
Spanish are white Europeans
Thank you so much, Sister Queen Karine, your videos are so well done. Keep shining! I love you!
Her dancing was exceptional. Wow!
Her Black American heritage was apparent alone through her dancing!
Wow I never heard of this lady before but she’s definitely beautiful 😍 💯
Wow she's absolutely "Beautifully Stunning", and her dancing is off the hook 😎
Love and respect for Dona Drake. It was rough during the Jim Crow/Segregation Era for people of color whether you were a famous celebrity or a regular citizen.
If we think about it, we do the same thing today as we stay in character for our jobs, professions and careers. We do want we have to do to be successful but I think in Dona's era, it was even more important and more serious consequences. This would definitely take a toll mentally over time. She was beautiful and so graceful and talented. I love her name. Millions of 🌹 🌺 🌹 to you Dona.
In the work place double consciousness is used. I think that's different from passing. A person can leave the professional etiquette at work, and be more casual outside of work. Passing is something that's done 24/7.
We don’t do sh*t! Thats y’all 🦝
I don't. I'm not ratchet, but I'm nothing other than myself at work.
Being professional doesn't equal being white. You need to actually sit down with yourself and question why you believe that acting otherwise is default black behaviour.
@@aprillee2593okay Sharquisha
Thank you for your analysis. It perhaps helps me understand my mother. When she found out I am part Native American she said, “ You are not pure.” Later she said interracial children just shouldn’t be born. When I reminded her that I am interracial, she said “But you can pass.” I responded, “I am what I am.” We hadn’t spoken in decades when she passed. I do not agree with my mother. I have nothing to hide and I support loving whomever one loves across racial boundaries. I can see my mother represented the thoughts of her era, even though I disagree.
We as blacks need to start embracing our Native American culture…i know that I have..so you did what was best for you and stood you ground. My Mom was very selective with me and my brothers. She favored my little brother who is very light skinned. She had issues with color
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
@@VCD512yes..Colorism forsure...
My grandfather could have passed. He told me soooo many stories ... but he stayed true!!! I will always love and respect my papa for that... RIP Granpa! 🫶🏾
Was your grandpa mixed?
How did he stay true of je was both black and white? Why is black always the truth? So confusing!
@@kristinaroberts8604I mean… Legally… 1/16 is what they considered. Not a matter of truth. It was a standard they created.
this is not about you or papa though!
@@kristinaroberts8604 Because they’re racist!
Well done! Thanks for the very interesting video.
If she hadn’t passed, we wouldn’t even have these movie images to look at her and talk about her. She did what she had to do at that time to become the star she was born to be. ✨✨✨
Get s grip
@@MAI-lo6uj Dumb comment. Get a brain.
It’s easy to sit here today and say what you would, or would not, do if you had been in the same position. Some would have taken Ms Drake’s path and others the path of Ms Freddie Washington. Ms Washington, who played in the original Imitation of Life movie, could have passed but chose not to. Both had their reasons and both should not have to be side eyed for their choices.
@@Purpledawg-d9s Exactly. And that one drop rule was created so the most people as possible would qualify to be slaves - for economic reasons - and it was not based on science. If you’re 80% white DNA and look like a white person then 💡you ARE majority white and have the genetic instructions encoded in the DNA of a white person. Duh. A Blk person thinking they can tell that white looking person that they’re still black is actually laughable. They’re just repeating the one-drop rule like a mind-programmed bot, without thinking for themselves. The biology of a person - the DNA - doesn’t lie. 💯
I have watched many bios Karine, you outdid yourself with this one. Excellent background research, you hit this one out the park! I had no hint that Dona Drake was Black of Mexican. I thought she was white. Your incredible insight following Katt William's revelations about truth and lies is brilliant. Thank you.
Hold on...she was mixed race is who she was. She had some black ancestry. However, West Africans that came here on slave ships were extremely dark, dark eyes, and 4c hair. How was she a black woman???? Black African women never looked like her. Do you know your history? Also, Mexicans are known to be Meztizo which is half indigenous and half Spanish(which are WHITE people from Spain). Dorothy Dandridge was a MULTIGENERATIONAL mixed race woman. She was black AND white...both parents were MIXED.
I'm so happy that you have these videos...I'm 61 and NEVER heard about these ladies. Such sad stories.!
My Mother's Mother was passing. She was a horrible person to me and my other browner cousins. It's crazy that when she was passing away, I visited her to forgive her and passed 10 minutes after I left. She knew she was a horrible grandparent.
The stress she had to live with had to be overwhelming.
She is absolutely stunning 🤩
She was so beautiful, and people had to survive back in that day. My heart goes out to many of our ancestors that had so many secrets, but without them many of us may not have existed.😢
Thanks for this documentary! I wish there were pictures of her later on in life. She was so beautiful and glamorous.
I feel so sad for her, I can't imagine how she felt & what mental issues it cost, RIP TO THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ❤🕊️🌹
marilyn isn’t latina!!! her moms parents are white and her parents are white. her mom was just born in mexico
I noticed a few factual inaccuracies in the video. The content creator says that IR marriages were illegal in the USA. Each state had it's own anti-miscegenation laws or not. For example, California's anti-miscegenation laws were overturned in 48'.
@@azul93gt38More than a few inaccuracies, it was more a lot of wishful thinking. Most of those actresses were not black.
I thought she said most likely Mexican. Most likely means maybe, maybe not. A maybe can’t be a fabrication
@TIFFISFABULOUSITY Marilyn's mother was wyte, there's a difference between race and nationality. Just like not all people from the United States are wyte. See what I mean?
@@White_winged_dove I understand that and I am not arguing because that’s a fact. All I’m saying is when she said maybe I took it as she wasn’t sure and it’s left up to us look into it if we want to know.
She looks like Shirley Tempe in some of the pictures. She was very talented.
maybe shirley temple was passing too?😁😆😅😃😍
I saw that, too
And she looks about the same size. She’s so tiny!
She sure does look like an older Shirley Temple in some of het pictures.
Shirley Temple had African blood from the African slave diaspora in the West Indies. the African children of slave masters were able to buy passage on the tall ships to the British Isles during the slave trade. they escaped to Ireland where they were raped and mis-treated and had lots of Irish mixed babies ---- that is where the Irish Afros and dances and big noses-round butts came from.. too distilled culturally to be called black....the Irish usually lie about their black heritage from escaped slaves from the West Indies saying they have a very ancient black heritage from pre-history. not true, just escaped slaves -----
The more I find out about the entertainment industry the less impressed I am of it. Actually, very sad at the abuse many went through in the entertainment industry. Had no idea they originated the blackmail techniques still used today in various areas of our culture particularly in the political realm. Appreciate your work. Produced extremely well.
Dona Drake did her hustle and that should be respected and even honored, regardless of her race.
Yep. I mean people talk this and that about that era and there are good points with it but lets be real. If any of us were light and it was good enough to make it then we'd use it too. Even if a relative or friend was "presentable" or even passible then yes a lot of us would encourage them to go ahead and do better. Make it. Do it carefully but go and get some success, despite how it is out here. Put on that blonde wig and get it for the family. Lol.
To say it was slavery for her is disrespectful for all the people who actually were slaves; not paid for their work, unable to live and leave on their own accord, etc. Dona was not in slavery.
@KimberlyLetsGo Fool, we're in slavery now!
Many forms or rather methods of enslaving people has always existed, it's not limited to whips, chains & tight restrictions on what the enslaved can do. To be in debt is to be enslaved. To be poorly educated &/or have valued knowledge hidden from you is enslavement. To be heavily burden with taxes & high cost of living that basically force you to work like a slave to stay ahead, that is slavery!
@@marlak4203no not everybody would do this !! Please speak for your self and not others!! There were many lightskinpassing people that did not do this to them self !! 🙄
Right she choose her path. Maybe not necessarily knowing everything that comes with it. Nevertheless, she’s not that much different from humanity today. People choose paths, good or evil , right or wrong and that is the power of freewill but that does not necessarily amount to freedom.
First time i see her and my jaw literally dropped, she's so beautiful and would have deserved way better in the industry. She gives me Gene Tierney vibes, am i the only one?
Monroe's mom was born in Mexico to Anglo parents. Her grandparents went to Mexico for work and had their babies there
SO TRUE (even today) ❤ Thanks for sharing this information with us
I honor her for persevering & Chasing her dreams as such a beautiful & talented young lady who worked hard & earned every penny,God.Bless her Soul
I'm interracial and it's a fact that I've never been ashamed of nor tried to hide. If you can't accept me the way God made me, then I don't need you in my life. But I can't imagine how hard it would be to hide in plain site like this. My family is everything to me and I couldn't ignore them and pretend they don't exist.
It was a different time 😢
Those were different times many felt they had to do it to be given the basic civil rights ee all have today, starting with using clean toilets, eating quality food, living in decent homes and neighborhoods, not being R’d with no right to justice, etc. etc. Let’s not say how we would’ve behaved or compare to present day behavior because one just doesn’t know.
You have the capability to exercise that free mentality because of the people that came before that fought for it.
@@cheesecakelasagna Absolutely! There is no way someone alive today can comprehend what it would take to have separate bathrooms and water fountains and seating in food restaurants and all the rest of it enough to say "I would've done [this or that]."
With respect and in my very humble opinion, what our elders dealt with isn't to be taken lightly or compared to our current plight. It was a very different time and people survived how they could. The only issue I have is with the systems created that forced them to have to make such a choice in the first place.
I'm glad you mentioned the dark parts of Hollywood and the blackmail and control. I've had a few friends working in hollywood (not to this level of fame) but they all have terrible PTSD. Some of the stories are so terrifying.
Can you tell us a story
I'd also love for you to share some of their stories
oh like what?
Can you tell us a story
Not shocking. And its too bad we're letting them get away with being on Epstiens list, just by merely laughing it off, and acting like it's a joke from conspiracy theorists, and not an actual document that existed.
Hollywood creates an image for you, new name, & a new face. 80% have some kinda plastic surgery. They skin bleach, & will even create an accent and fake back ground for you.
I think a lotta stars lose themselves in the packaging. You’re a product. The more money you make the studio’s the more you’re indulged.
They can release fake stories about you to the media, good or bad depending on how the studio’s relationship is going with you.
They use to tell people they couldn’t get married, because a sex symbol is sexier as a single person. I’m sure they controlled if you’re children/husband could be around, while you’re working 14 hours a day. Exhaustion, was a common excuse, for burn out, drugged out or just used up.
After they do all that to you, they also steal your money in various different ways. They even plant lovers/managers in your life.
My parents were Black Kansans. My mom had friends that’s looked like Dona. My mother said some made the decision to pass. When my mom passed, this woman who we thought was white came to her funeral and said she and my mom were best buddies when they were young. My dad kinda laughed and said “she’s not white, she’s Black. Both of her parents were Black. Genetics and American society have messed up a lot of folks in this country.
I think we often forget that a lot of people have mixed ancestry.
The one drop rule has also messed us up. Most people would say they were black because of it even if they were mixed race or predominantly European.
u can't be fully black and pass as no white... STOP THE LIES...
@jadesmith7983 but also, some that were half and passing could look white as well. My grandmother's family weren't majority white, they were half and still looked more white. Some even had green eyes and blondish colored hair. Genetics is a funny thing.
@sheenaperez1882 That's cool. But do you know for sure (genetically) if they weren't majority European? Most African Americans aren't 100% black (African) and tend to have 20% or less European. So even if they were biracial they could still have more European DNA.
So beautiful 😢 sadly seems like the more beautiful the more abuse these poor women were exposed to. She truly was a once in a lifetime beauty ❤ RIP 🌹🌸💐🌺
Wow! She really was passing. 😮 I never heard of her before.
No, she really wasn't passing and see. That's the thing about being a mixed brace. African American in America. The lighter your skin is with a tinge of color they won't put white makeup on you. They will carry out all destinies to stay out of the sun to stay out of the sun to stay out of any acronym that will cause them coloring or pigmentation issues it is not new. Or undoubtedly that 2 black people can. Give relentless offspring that look just like this without the Notion of their genes being mixed. And it's common for a lot of black people to look white when they are african american
Ava Gardner, yes, was probably 3/4 white 1/4 black. There's a lot of mysterious actors back then that we're passing. And because they were surviving they made no qualm about it
@user-mf2lm6ln3l I heard that Ava Gardner was passing too. I definitely believe a lot of actors back then probably were.