Scan barcode
nicholaspoe_'s review
4.0
This was less a biography of Bert Williams and more an examination of racism in the American arts scene at the start of the 20th century. This book discussed African Americans' attempts to be taken seriously as artists in the midst of a culture that did not accept or want them. Framed around Bert William's, one of the first black stars in America, more subtle attempts to bridge the prejudice, it also examined more outspoken attempts from artists like George and Aida Walker, Jesse Shipp, Ernest Hogan, and others.
It was a very thorough and honest understanding of the African American art scene trying to fight against and, oftentimes, undo the immeasurable damage done by minstrelsy and blackface. This generation of phenomenal talent was overlooked in their time, but paved the way for the great talent that followed them into the theater.
This was a super fascinating and important read. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because at times it read like the author was trying to meet a word count requirement. She would state a point in the first sentence of the paragraph and then spend the next three sentences rewording that first sentence. But I would still highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of American arts and entertainment.
It was a very thorough and honest understanding of the African American art scene trying to fight against and, oftentimes, undo the immeasurable damage done by minstrelsy and blackface. This generation of phenomenal talent was overlooked in their time, but paved the way for the great talent that followed them into the theater.
This was a super fascinating and important read. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because at times it read like the author was trying to meet a word count requirement. She would state a point in the first sentence of the paragraph and then spend the next three sentences rewording that first sentence. But I would still highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of American arts and entertainment.
gjmaupin's review
3.0
Fascinating info in a pretty good form, though the author has a wearying tendency to follow every large quote with an almost exact paraphrasing of what it said, which as a reader seemed to me a waste of time and tree.
But this is a lot more thorough than the other things I've read on Williams, and is therefore more than worthwhile - he's incredibly compliacated and fascinating and it's good to have a context in which to listen to some of his recordings and watch that rare little poker game.
But this is a lot more thorough than the other things I've read on Williams, and is therefore more than worthwhile - he's incredibly compliacated and fascinating and it's good to have a context in which to listen to some of his recordings and watch that rare little poker game.
moj8668's review
5.0
If you want to understand, very clearly, how the struggle for racial equality played out in the early years of Broadway, read this book. If you want to better understand the life and career of "America's First Black Star", read this book. If you want to better understand the balancing act required of Bert Williams and other black performers, read this book.
In 1910, 37 years before Jackie Robinson would become the first black baseball player in the Major Leagues, Bert Williams signed on as a Headliner with the Ziegfeld Follies. He performed in Vaudeville shows, the Follies reviews and even wrote some original shows that gave him the opportunity to showcase not only his talent but also the talent of other black actors.
But during all of it, he had to find a way to keep two very different audiences happy. White audience members wanted to see the racist stereotype made famous in minstrel shows by white actors wearing blackface. Black audience members wanted performers like Williams to buck those expectations and portray an image of a black man who was poised, dignified, intelligent and an equal to his white counterpart in every way.
Williams dealt with the loss of his longtime partner George Walker, theaters that sometimes wouldn't even allow black people to buy tickets, and fellow Ziegfeld performers who refused to have anything to do with him. In writing about Williams' career, author Camille F. Forbes beautifully traces the struggle for racial equality specifically in the world of Broadway performers.
One of the most heart-wrenching encounters in the entire book is told from the perspective of fellow Follies performer, and well-known comic actor, Eddie Cantor -
“Eddie Cantor later told of a New Year’s Eve that Bert and he had planned to spend together. While out of town, they arranged to have dinner together at the hotel where Bert was ‘permitted to live provided he used the back elevator.’ As they headed out the stage door, Cantor reiterated their plan to meet up at the hotel for their meal after he picked up the food. Bert agreed. Then, as they parted, Bert said that he was on his way to the back elevator.
As Cantor listened, he noticed that Bert’s voice betrayed the merest trace of bitterness. Speechless, he stopped, and the two stood together ‘in understanding silence’. Then, Bert opened up, just for a moment: ‘It wouldn’t be so bad, Eddie, if I didn’t still hear the applause ringing in my ears.'"
And in Bert's own words -
“In truth, I have never been able to discover that there was anything disgraceful in being a colored man. But I have often found it inconvenient in America.”
If it were in my power to do so, I would make this book required reading for every student interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts. Understanding our past can help us to build a better future.
In 1910, 37 years before Jackie Robinson would become the first black baseball player in the Major Leagues, Bert Williams signed on as a Headliner with the Ziegfeld Follies. He performed in Vaudeville shows, the Follies reviews and even wrote some original shows that gave him the opportunity to showcase not only his talent but also the talent of other black actors.
But during all of it, he had to find a way to keep two very different audiences happy. White audience members wanted to see the racist stereotype made famous in minstrel shows by white actors wearing blackface. Black audience members wanted performers like Williams to buck those expectations and portray an image of a black man who was poised, dignified, intelligent and an equal to his white counterpart in every way.
Williams dealt with the loss of his longtime partner George Walker, theaters that sometimes wouldn't even allow black people to buy tickets, and fellow Ziegfeld performers who refused to have anything to do with him. In writing about Williams' career, author Camille F. Forbes beautifully traces the struggle for racial equality specifically in the world of Broadway performers.
One of the most heart-wrenching encounters in the entire book is told from the perspective of fellow Follies performer, and well-known comic actor, Eddie Cantor -
“Eddie Cantor later told of a New Year’s Eve that Bert and he had planned to spend together. While out of town, they arranged to have dinner together at the hotel where Bert was ‘permitted to live provided he used the back elevator.’ As they headed out the stage door, Cantor reiterated their plan to meet up at the hotel for their meal after he picked up the food. Bert agreed. Then, as they parted, Bert said that he was on his way to the back elevator.
As Cantor listened, he noticed that Bert’s voice betrayed the merest trace of bitterness. Speechless, he stopped, and the two stood together ‘in understanding silence’. Then, Bert opened up, just for a moment: ‘It wouldn’t be so bad, Eddie, if I didn’t still hear the applause ringing in my ears.'"
And in Bert's own words -
“In truth, I have never been able to discover that there was anything disgraceful in being a colored man. But I have often found it inconvenient in America.”
If it were in my power to do so, I would make this book required reading for every student interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts. Understanding our past can help us to build a better future.
nick_poe's review
4.0
This was less a biography of Bert Williams and more an examination of racism in the American arts scene at the start of the 20th century. This book discussed African Americans' attempts to be taken seriously as artists in the midst of a culture that did not accept or want them. Framed around Bert William's, one of the first black stars in America, more subtle attempts to bridge the prejudice, it also examined more outspoken attempts from artists like George and Aida Walker, Jesse Shipp, Ernest Hogan, and others.
It was a very thorough and honest understanding of the African American art scene trying to fight against and, oftentimes, undo the immeasurable damage done by minstrelsy and blackface. This generation of phenomenal talent was overlooked in their time, but paved the way for the great talent that followed them into the theater.
This was a super fascinating and important read. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because at times it read like the author was trying to meet a word count requirement. She would state a point in the first sentence of the paragraph and then spend the next three sentences rewording that first sentence. But I would still highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of American arts and entertainment.
It was a very thorough and honest understanding of the African American art scene trying to fight against and, oftentimes, undo the immeasurable damage done by minstrelsy and blackface. This generation of phenomenal talent was overlooked in their time, but paved the way for the great talent that followed them into the theater.
This was a super fascinating and important read. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because at times it read like the author was trying to meet a word count requirement. She would state a point in the first sentence of the paragraph and then spend the next three sentences rewording that first sentence. But I would still highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of American arts and entertainment.
More...