Actor+4

Drama of the Harlem Renaissance sought to overcome the decades-long hold on the popular imagination exerted by blackface minstrelsy, which had created a powerful range of damaging stereotypes that constrained theatrical presentation of black life. Critics, playwrights, and actors debated the function of drama, as well as its subject matter and the style of presentation of “Negro experience.”

A number of white-authored plays about black life gained great critical and box-office success from the late 1910s through the mid-1930s, giving valuable experience to black performers and inspiring black dramatists.

** Ethel Waters was one of the most popular African-American singers and actresses of the 1920s. She moved to New York in 1919 after touring in vaudeville shows as a singer and a dancer. She made her recording debut in 1921 on Cardinal records with "[|The New York Glide]" and "[|At the New Jump Steady Ball]", but switched over to African-American owned [|Black Swan] label, and recorded "[|Down Home Blues]" and "[|Oh Daddy]" the first Blues numbers for that company. She frequently sang with [|Fletcher Henderson] during the early 1920s, but by the mid-1920s Waters had became more of a pop singer. She performed in a number of musical revues throughout the rest of the decade and appeared a couple of films, including "Check and Double Check" with Amos 'n' Andy and [|Duke Ellington]. By the end of the 1930s she was a big star on Broadway. In 1949, she was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress in the film "Pinky", and the next year she won the New York Drama Critics Award for best actress. Waters got religion in the late Fifties and performed and toured with evangelist Billy Graham until her death in 197 ** **Paul Robeson, a great American singer and actor, spent much of his life actively agitating for equality and fair treatment for all of America's citizens as well as citizens of the world. Robeson brought to his audiences not only a melodious baritone voice and a grand presence, but magnificent performances on stage and screen. Although his outspokenness often caused him difficulties in his career and personal life, he unswervingly pursued and supported issues that only someone in his position could effect on a grand scale. His career flourished in the 1940s as he performed in America and numerous countries around the world. He was one of the most celebrated persons of his time.** sites listed

@http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Robeson-Paul.htm ** [] ** **http://www.redhotjazz.com/waters.html** @http://jazzagemusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-6th.html