Ep. 36: Vintage Black Glamour Ft. Nichelle Gainer

I’m joined by Vintage Black Glamour author, the fabulous Nichelle Gainer — a self-described “black history encyclopedia”.

We discuss how what started out as a research project for a novel inspired by her great aunt, Mildred Taylor, a model in the 1950s evolved into the Vintage Black Glamour Tumblr site in 2011. I learn about the history of black beauty pageants, the ‘Four Goddesses’: Josephine Baker, Lena Horne, Dorthy Dandridge and Ertha Kitt and why they’ve been able to maintain icon status decades later. We talk about the “It Girls” of the Harlem Renaissance like A’Lelia Walker and Blanche Dunne, roles black actresses have had to take in Hollywood, and the importance of keeping these stories alive for future generations. Nichelle tells me about growing up in South Jersey in the 70s and 80s and why when it comes to her hair — you get what you pay for. Links below for deeper dives on all the people we discusses together.

Nichelle’s Wonderful Books that I Can’t Recommend Enough: http://amzn.to/2CltqEs (Vintage Black Glamour) http://amzn.to/2oxy8Wh (Gentleman’s Quarters) Get Familiar with the Four Goddesses (Rare Photos) Josephine Baker http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/search/josephine+baker Lena Horne http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/tagged/Lena-Horne Dorothy Dandridge http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/tagged/Dorothy-Dandridge Eartha Kitt http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/tagged/Eartha-Kitt

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Key Figures of the Harlem Renaissance (1920s-30s)

James Van Der Zee — photographer of the Harlem Renaissance http://bit.ly/2GLLKEY http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/tagged/James-Van-Der-Zee

Carl Van Vechten — another key photographer and author of the Harlem Renaissance, he was German and slightly controversial http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/tagged/Carl-Van-Vechten https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Van_Vechten

Blanche Dunne — socialite and actress known as one of the most beautiful and fashionable women of the Renaissancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanche_Dunn

Madame CJ Walker — entrepreneur, first Black Woman to become a millionaire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madam_C._J._Walker

A’Lelia Walker—Madame CJ Walker’s daughter, patron of the arts & hostess of infamous bathtub gin parties https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%27Lelia_Walker

Other People Mentioned Diahann Carol — actress http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/search/Diahann+Carroll

Katherine Dunham — dancer, activist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Dunham

Carmen de Lavallade— dancer, choreographer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_de_Lavallade

Cicely Tyson — one of the few actresses of her time who sported natural hair looks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicely_Tyson

Donyale Luna — First black model to be on a Vogue cover, she had a wild life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donyale_Luna

Edward Enninful — First and current EIC of British Vogue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Enninful

Fredi Washington https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredi_Washington

Resources/Books/Videos Mentioned

Schomburg Research Center (in Harlem with online archives) https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker (written by her great-granddaughter) http://amzn.to/2GLz4hg

Black and Beautiful (Book on Black Models) http://amzn.to/2F4tBF4

Lena Horne on Dick Cavett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLErsgF_P4

Hair Khamit Kinks — Where Nichelle gets her ‘baby curl twists’ http://khamitkinks.com

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This episode was mixed by Laila Oweda

Music "In the Garden" by Jason Minnis aka Classicbeatz