
a book
Vintage Black Glamour
Nichelle Gainer · 2014 · 208 pages
Using rarely accessed photographic archives and private collections, inspired by her family history, Nichelle Gainer has unearthed a revealing treasure trove of historic photographs of famous actors, dancers, writers and entertainers who worked in the 20th-century entertainment business, but who rarely appeared in the same publications as their white counterparts. Alongside the familiar images and stories of renowned performers such as Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne and Aretha Franklin are those of less well-remembered figures such as Bricktop, Pearl Primus, Diana Sands and many, many more. Vintage Black Glamour is a unique, sumptuous and revealing celebration of the lives and indomitable spirit of Black women of a previous era. Although talented, successful and ground-breaking, many of the women in these pages were ignored by mainstream media, but their life's work and attitude stand as inspiration for us still, today.With its stunning photographs and insightful biographies, this book is a hugely important addition to Black history archives.
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Rashad Robinson
“We all need a bit of elegance in our life and Nichelle serves it up the best way possible. I keep this book literally on my coffee table and open it up whenever I need a pop of inspiration. Black joy and beauty must be central to racial justice work, and this book brings both.”↗