Stephanie Blackmon

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Black History Month Day 10: Eartha Kitt

February 10, 2017

Born in 1927, Eartha Mae Kitt was a singer, actress, activist, dancer, and comedian. Eartha was known for her highly distinguishable voice. She fluently spoke 4 languages; she sang in 7. 

In 1968, she made anti-war statements about the Vietnam war. When asked by Lady Johnson what she thought of the war, she said, “You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot." While her remarks did receive some positivity, she was highly ostracized in the states and ended up have to perform in Europe and Asia for the next 10 years, approximately. 

But that’s enough about that part. Let’s get to her acting career, shall we? Just to name a few things, this fabulous woman voiced Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove (which is honestly one of my favorite movies, and I watched it the other night); she was Madame Zeroni in Holes (“If you forget to come back for Madame Zeroni, you and your family will be cursed for always and eternity!”); she guest starred on Living Single and sang with Kyle; voiced Mrs. Franklin on The Magic School Bus; voiced lioness #1 on The Wild Thornberrys; was Albertine Whethers in the Famous Jett Jackson; and she played Catwoman in 1967 on the Batman TV show. 

If you watched TV or listened to music, Eartha Kitt was in your life. She was definitely in mine. 

ALSO, look at this picture! Eartha was a BADDIE!