Brown Sugar

With a wink or a nod a shake of their shoulders or hips America's Dark Divas Sepia</i> Sirens Black Beauties</i> have acted out fantastic stories full of whispers and secrets. They have played with the myths created legends turned the social order topsy-turvy. One thing is certain: in 20th- and 21st-century America an impressive lineup of African American women have dazzled and delighted the world with their energy and style.<br/><br/><br/> Who are these great women of the stage and screen? the singers dancers comediennes actresses? In this groundbreaking book Donald Bogle narrates a sweeping history and describes a remarkable tradition that was largely unknown or not understood - or simply unacknowledged.<br/><br/><br/> Each of the women in Brown Sugar</i> has a perfected public personality uniquely her own - Ma Rainey Bessie Smith Ethel Waters Josephine Baker Billie Holiday Lena Horne Fredi Washington Ella Fitzgerald Katherine Dunham Marian Anderson Moms Mabley Eartha Kitt Dorothy Dandridge Leontyne Price Diana Ross Aretha Franklin Cicely Tyson Tina Turner Donna Summer Whitney Houston Whoopi Goldberg Angela Bassett Oprah Winfrey Mariah Carey Halle Berry Queen Latifah Lauryn Hill Mary J. Blige Faith Evans Lil' Kim Alicia Keyes Beyoncé Knowles and many others.<br/><br/><br/> Diva style</i> has sometimes been part put-on part come-on part camp and part reflection of an authentic African American cultural tradition. Haughtiness control shrewdness energy extravagance optimism and humor are all a part of it. Dazzle your audience they seemed to say but never lose your cool. <br/><br/><br/> Yet there are often the tears behind the mask the hideous realities of racism and exploitation the pain hiding behind the smile the concealed anxieties private lives in ruins: all the obstacles and pressures involved in making it to the top. <br/><br/><br/> Always however there is the redemption through these women's art.<br/><br/><br/> In these pages are the incandescent women who have lit up Broadway and movie screens; turned clubs cafés concert halls and televisions aglow with their particular brand of black magic; sold millions of cds and dvds; and are the subjects of endless fascination in the tabloids and on the Internet. <br/><br/><br/> Onstage and off the lives of these captivating women their follies and fortunes trials tragedies transformations and triumphs their inimitable <i>style </i> have become a cherished part of our own.