Unfortunately that wasn't all that mattered back then. Fredi Washington dealt with alot of the same in hollywood but she turned down alot more money and fame cause she refused to lie and say she was white. She choose to be honest and tell everyone she was Black even though,like Drake, she was beautiful and didn't look African American.
It's horrible to think that Dona Drake was stopped from getting the career that she deserved because she was black. Of course, she didn't look black, which makes the laws from back then doubly reprehensible. It was apartheid politics.
It's Ridiculous To Say She Was "Black" Based On Someone's Interpretation Of What Is Black. After All, Isn't Race A Social Construct? If That's The Case...How Was She "Black"?
I've watched many an old movie (I'm almost 70) and never heard of her, she doesn't even look familiar. Interesting and fresh Hollywood & entertainment information. 👍🏻
@@loopylyn6548 It almost doesn't seem possible. Even with the name changes (Rita Rio) nothing about her career and life has ever been told to me before. Lots of nights while I was a kid-watching those old late, late, late movies on tv. You'ld think I would have remembered some of those gowns or dance scenes at least. I wonder if her movies were purposely shelved, as they don't seem familiar either. I also wonder how she learned to play all those musical instruments, natural talent? 🤷🏼
I appreciate all your videos but I especially love these videos where you focus on a lesser known person with all their struggles. You really flesh out what these people were like. THANK YOU.
Excellent! Very engaging story, but I would like to know more. When and how did the truth finally come out? I thought about her parents as well, and wondered if she was able to have any relationship with them. Like most parents, they put their child first, and made a great sacrifice so she could have the successful life she would have been denied as a Black woman. This makes me wonder how many other successful celebrities had the same secret. She was a very beautiful woman, with such a sad story.
And Michael Korda's "roman a clef" novel "Queenie" dealt with that element; to a degree, Korda, son of the movie mogul Alexander Korda, modeled that novel's main character, who called herself "Dawn Avalon," on Oberon.
Shes positively gorgeous. She reminds me of Vanessa Williams. People are assholes being closed minded bigots. I would date her without thinking twice about it. Theres definitely no shame to her game!!! Quite beautiful .
Yes! Quite beautiful. I see the Vanessa Williams similarity, and I'd add that she also reminds me very much of Gene Tierney! Even one of her costumes is reminiscent of one worn by Gene Tierney, who I always thought was one of the top most beautiful actresses....
I am a big fan of Old Hollywood but was unaware of Dona Drake's sad story. I remember seeing her in Beyond the Forest where she played Bette Davis' Indigenous American maid. It looked like they darkened her skin with makeup for the role. So there's another race she portrayed.
Indigenous Anericans are the people who were here before the Native American arrived here by crossing the Bering Straits. These Tribes because the.looked simular to the Africans (except the hair and even that depends on the African Tribe) were forced from their land and made to change their race to "Colored " thereby (for centuries) erasing their history, their original names, and putting them amongst the Slaves, creating the lie they were Slaves from Africa (when in reality the slaves were brought from Europe, African, the Bahamas, etc and of course here Turtle Island aka USA.)
It is indeed horrendous to have to hide your origins; and yet still such struggles continue. I found that she had a very interesting and at times challenging life. Stardom comes at a high price it seems. Thank you for this excellent presentation of her life. I will now seek out her films.
Now I know why a lot of the coloured actors and singers liked coming to England, as there was no colour bar, and no laws against marrying someone from a different race, because if that was the case, my whole family wouldn't exist. I loved what Billie Holiday said about London, she loved London, as she could leave her hotel by the front door. America didn't allow mixed raced marriages until 1967, I was born in that year, I am the youngest to 5 brothers, my oldest brother is in his 70's now. Felt so sorry for this actress, I bet if there was no colour bar, and she had a good acting coach, she would of been a star.
The US is a FEDERAL republic where STATES make the marriage, divorce laws, etc. So there were thousands of interracial marriages by 1967 and not always enforced where it was illegal. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii always permitted it. The US Constitution was set up so no one state or metropolis (like London or New York) would make laws for everyone.
@@jrt818 Yes, interracial marriage was illegal in California, with some quirky exceptions in Imperial County, but legal in Illinois where one of my school mates' parents went to marry. The Lovings (of Loving v Virginia) did the same and Virginia tried to nullify their out of state marriage as illegal and they appealed citing the equal faith and credit provisions of the Constitution. Not only did the Supreme Court uphold the doctrine that eah state must respect the laws of the others (so sophistiated Bostonians must recognize a Texan's marriage to his 14 year-old first cousin as valid) but they also ruled that the state had no compelling interest preventing interracial marriages.
RACE Is A Social Construct That We, As A Society, Can Do Without. Whose Fit To Determine Whose "Black" Or Whose "White"? Isn't It Just A GUESS Based On One's Opinion? It's So Insane.
The deeper in the comments I went, the more ignorant it gets. 'What does it matter?' well in Jim Crow America it could have cost her life. It's high school level not to understand this ffs
What a sad story! I think you did a good job, sensibly and sensitively presenting material that is still controversial and difficult today, after all these years. Well done!
It's not clear whether her parents approved or disapproved. They went to Philadelphia to get away from all the southern prejudice. Philadelphia wasn't segregated, and people intermingled with no regard to race. Given the racist climate of the time, it made sense for her to pass as white. She wasn't the only person out there doing that. White Privilege was a VERY real thing. I remember how uneasy my father was about his dark-skinned, half-African mother when he wanted to move to a "restricted" neighborhood.
Many, many people did. It was called "passing" by other Black people and it still happens, and no one is the wiser about the truth (except another Black person maysuspect. but they won't tell anyone)
Indeed a beautiful woman. It's as if all the beautiful features of all beautiful actrices are present when you look at her beautiful face. I certainly see a young Monroe and a young Bardot. I see the beauty of Olivia de Havilland and of Jennifer Jones,...
*I look at Dona Drake and l see a bi-racial person.* The way l see it, if she said she was black she was being truthful. If she said she was white, she was also being trurhful. Genetically she was both. If l have learned anything from these stories it is that fame is a fickle mistress. Her musical/terpsichorean prowess could not be learned, but acting can. I hope l can get some of her movies, and find out a bit more about her daughter.
I love your videos. I Googled Dona Drake after watching this video as I often do watching your videos to learn more about those you post here. Thank you.
I’m assuming she wasn’t black…she was mixed (biracial). I can see it (I’m mixed myself). I can’t even imagine the turmoil and confusion she felt inside when by herself due to lieing about her ethnicity and background. All she could do was lean in so as not to go crazy. Very sad.
Those who are of mixed heritage with a parent who is "black" are generally considered black. Whether technically correct or not. As such, I've always considered myself black, irregardless of the fact that one of my parents was white. It's a crazy world, and these labels shouldn't matter at all - I hope someday they really won't.....
@@SEJ3333labels has a bad connotation because it’s a shame based world, they are no longer labels when you embrace the human being that you are and also finding pride and dignity in every heritage. Labels are nothing more than hijacking the human spirit and esteem. Labels control.
@@SEJ3333Both my parents were the same race, but I'm tempted when filling out forms that ask my race to write Human. That should be the only one that matters.
Louis Amberg may have been born in Russia, but he was definitely an American gangster. His family came to the USA when he was 7. "Russian Mobster" is inaccurate to say the least.
Unfortunately it did matter at the time, we havent fully ended racism and bigotry but we have made some progress. This lady was amazing I had never heard of her, what a total badass
So u have focused everything on race. May I ask what are ur sources? Did she write a biography? Letters? It's a very stark statement to say she died from stress at hiding her race.
Dona Drake was great.I see her still in a Superman Episode(with George Reeves)-she played the very likable wife of a goofy mob boss.Her dog-who she loves-but her husband hates)falls down a well-and is rescued by Superman.She is a very flashy/brassy blonde in this episode. She could act-and was a real eye-catcher-:she must have been about 40 years old but she looked maybe 30-talent-looks-she had it all.
Quite frankly i have had my suspicions about Ms. Dorothy as well. The daughter Nia Travilla has passed on. Wonder what became of her siblings? This would make a fantastic movie. She sort of resembles Zendaya but it would be a great movie role for someone new
This is why I don't deny my heritage, however being honest can be stressful and painful as well. Even in these modern times, I have found myself in a long term clandestine relationship with a famous performer. My having blue eyes and fair hair doesn't fix the bigotry that still persists with many, especially in the states but in some cases worldwide.
Merle Oberon was Indian and Caucasian born in England. Because of that, at the time it would not have been accepted. Hence, the fact that they told the world that she was from Tasmania. Because it was such an obscure country they thought no one would question it until the day came when the people in Tasmania wanted to celebrate her. She was terribly embarrassed.
The Hollywood producers wallets that's who. The wyte Americans patronizing the theater's were "mostly" racist. That was back in the 40's, America has only moved a couple of notches about racism since then. It's STILL here.
@@almanook3005 I am a fair-skinned indigenous individual & I adore Buffy St. Marie. I believe talent & aspirations should mean MORE to the public than "racial history"! We are all spiritual beings having a "human experience"! Our souls have no color, race, gender or even nationality... I wish people would view each other as souls instead of looking at the "clothes" we are given in this plane of human existence. (just my own personal opinion...)
😁She was Simply Beautiful"!!!, 🤨 In those times it was Drastically Bad for Colored People"!!!, There were quite a few who passed themselves as White", 🤨 just to get By"!!!,She, she did what She Had too"!!, And done it Well"!!!, ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹May She Rest in Peace ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹.
Don't say "play mother". When you're a SAHM or a working mom like me, it shouldn't be trivialized. It's a lot of hard work and dedication and sleepless nights. Saying "playing mom" is gross.
Looking at her at :42 I suspected she was "Black". My family looked like her on my Mothers side and Ive been told by a friend she at first thought i was Hispanic or Bi-Racial.
If having "mixed" blood from parents, then Dorothy Lamour would also be considered biracial, she was of Spanish descent. Same as child star Margaret O'Brien, Raquel Welch, Lynda Carter, Rita Hayworth, Vanna White, Joanna Kerns and Helena Bonham Carter.
@TheNester. I wasn't too clear on what you meant by mixed blood (sorry). Mixed blood usually means two or more races. Didn't know that mixed nationalities could also be called mixed blood (i.e. English & Belgian).
I’d not heard of Dona till now, but she was clearly talented and stunning. The fact is, I don’t think she ever needed to come out as black, as she just *wasn’t* black. It’s pretty clear one or both parents had white heritage. She was mixed race, not black.
Today was the eclipse. My neighbors from all over the world were outside whooping it up together. We neighbors know race is one..the human race! And it is good here but there is a city in Alabamastan that hasn't had an election in 60 years. I can't imagine living like that!
She apparently was an extremely talented actress- she played her part in real life and was believable. Sad she had to do that, but it does attest to the talent she had but did not give herself credit for.
She was listed on the census as "negro", so yes, Black; the one-drop rule applied. Mixed race wasn't a thing then. Race is a social construct; therefore, Dona Drake was Black.
@@KateSannicksLerner So what she was listed as “negro” and the “one drop rule”, is racist and outdated. It was wrong then, and is still wrong to label people that way. Mixed race is the reality. We’re all connected.
@@MaiRaven3The point is to blithely say now that she was not black is to be oblivious to the very history she had to struggle with. You’re not impressing anyone by stating the stultifyingly obvious truth that the racial notions imposed then were racist. But saying we can now pretend they did not exist is to be utterly naive to the history of racism. By the racist standards of the time, she was black - that is important to state.
Hollywood cared. In many parts of the US there were laws against “race mixing”, aka Miscegenation. Hollywood was no different during the first 40 or 50 years. There is still a big deal made about mixed “race” actors and entertainers
Whether Black or White, her light skin and blue eyes made her physical appearance more convincing as White. That is something she couldn't change, even if she had wanted to. It's like a dwarf born into a family of tall persons. He/she is going to appear short despite the family background.
It is as obvious as the nose on a face that drake was mixed race therefore not black or white, it is ridiculous to keep calling her black, she dosent look lateeno either! And what colour would that be! Its all extreem prejudice on so call white people part😮
Wow: She was absolutely more beautiful than, only perhaps primitive ignorance degradation and bondage times would not have ever allowed Reality to accept her immense beauty and bondage truths, regardless..‼️😮💨💥😳 🌏🫴💥Unfortunately..🌌🌌 🫴🌪🌌🎉
She was exceptionally beautiful and talented, a truly gifted dancer. That should be what mattered.
Unfortunately that wasn't all that mattered back then. Fredi Washington dealt with alot of the same in hollywood but she turned down alot more money and fame cause she refused to lie and say she was white. She choose to be honest and tell everyone she was Black even though,like Drake, she was beautiful and didn't look African American.
She was so gorgeous
She was a brilliant dancer. What a tough, beautiful, talented woman.
I remember her as Bette Davis' maid in Beyond The Forest. Thank you for posting this intriguing post,about one of Hollywoods forgotten actress.
It's horrible to think that Dona Drake was stopped from getting the career that she deserved because she was black. Of course, she didn't look black, which makes the laws from back then doubly reprehensible. It was apartheid politics.
It's Ridiculous To Say She Was "Black" Based On Someone's Interpretation Of What Is Black. After All, Isn't Race A Social Construct? If That's The Case...How Was She "Black"?
She looked "Black" to me, around :42 I became suspicious of her "race". She looks like many of my relatives on my Mother's side of the family.
she wasn't black.. she was white and colored eyes.. to me black is Fantasia, Oprah, Jennifer hudson
I've watched many an old movie (I'm almost 70) and never heard of her, she doesn't even look familiar. Interesting and fresh Hollywood & entertainment information. 👍🏻
Same here, I'm 71 and I have never heard of her!
@@loopylyn6548 It almost doesn't seem possible. Even with the name changes (Rita Rio) nothing about her career and life has ever been told to me before. Lots of nights while I was a kid-watching those old late, late, late movies on tv. You'ld think I would have remembered some of those gowns or dance scenes at least. I wonder if her movies were purposely shelved, as they don't seem familiar either. I also wonder how she learned to play all those musical instruments, natural talent? 🤷🏼
Not sure
@@loopylyn6548not surprised whatever the studios told you
68 and watched many old movies, love them. Never heard of her
Same here. I'm 78 and never heard of her.
I appreciate all your videos but I especially love these videos where you focus on a lesser known person with all their struggles. You really flesh out what these people were like. THANK YOU.
Thanks for the feedback! So glad you're a fan.
I agree! That is the main reason why I love watching your videos
Excellent! Very engaging story, but I would like to know more. When and how did the truth finally come out? I thought about her parents as well, and wondered if she was able to have any relationship with them. Like most parents, they put their child first, and made a great sacrifice so she could have the successful life she would have been denied as a Black woman. This makes me wonder how many other successful celebrities had the same secret. She was a very beautiful woman, with such a sad story.
Merle Oberon went through this as well. She was Eurasian Anglo-Indian.
And Michael Korda's "roman a clef" novel "Queenie" dealt with that element; to a degree, Korda, son of the movie mogul Alexander Korda, modeled that novel's main character, who called herself "Dawn Avalon," on Oberon.
Shes positively gorgeous.
She reminds me of Vanessa Williams.
People are assholes being closed minded bigots.
I would date her without thinking twice about it.
Theres definitely no shame to her game!!!
Quite beautiful .
Yes! Quite beautiful. I see the Vanessa Williams similarity, and I'd add that she also reminds me very much of Gene Tierney! Even one of her costumes is reminiscent of one worn by Gene Tierney, who I always thought was one of the top most beautiful actresses....
lol....might not want to tell your wife that.🤣
@@nwicconsultants6640 no worries
Unless they invent a time machine...
Very thorough. I would add that Drake was clearly as much white as she was black.
Americans are obsessed with race.
Compared To Those Colors...How About Neither?
@@rebeccalee1065Ok, what would you call her?
She was as little black as her ancestry. Being described as black is just a Jim Crow designation that was horribly racist.
Black is a stretch. She had blue eyes.
Very interesting video. I had never heard of Dona Drake. Even though she is dead now, I feel bad for her.😢
I'm 75 - I also can't recall seeing her - I'll keep searching - thought I knew all the old stars- sure don't know any stars of this generation.🤣
@@deniseedodson1938same here and I'm 74
I am a big fan of Old Hollywood but was unaware of Dona Drake's sad story. I remember seeing her in Beyond the Forest where she played Bette Davis' Indigenous American maid. It looked like they darkened her skin with makeup for the role. So there's another race she portrayed.
Indigenous Anericans are the people who were here before the Native American arrived here by crossing the Bering Straits. These Tribes because the.looked simular to the Africans (except the hair and even that depends on the African Tribe) were forced from their land and made to change their race to "Colored " thereby (for centuries) erasing their history, their original names, and putting them amongst the Slaves, creating the lie they were Slaves from Africa (when in reality the slaves were brought from Europe, African, the Bahamas, etc and of course here Turtle Island aka USA.)
She kinda looks like the rapper Latto when she smiles big
It is indeed horrendous to have to hide your origins; and yet still such struggles continue. I found that she had a very interesting and at times challenging life. Stardom comes at a high price it seems. Thank you for this excellent presentation of her life. I will now seek out her films.
Now I know why a lot of the coloured actors and singers liked coming to England, as there was no colour bar, and no laws against marrying someone from a different race, because if that was the case, my whole family wouldn't exist. I loved what Billie Holiday said about London, she loved London, as she could leave her hotel by the front door. America didn't allow mixed raced marriages until 1967, I was born in that year, I am the youngest to 5 brothers, my oldest brother is in his 70's now. Felt so sorry for this actress, I bet if there was no colour bar, and she had a good acting coach, she would of been a star.
The US is a FEDERAL republic where STATES make the marriage, divorce laws, etc. So there were thousands of interracial marriages by 1967 and not always enforced where it was illegal. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii always permitted it. The US Constitution was set up so no one state or metropolis (like London or New York) would make laws for everyone.
More people, more exposure, more $$$$.. Plus people can trap you...
@@jrt818 Yes, interracial marriage was illegal in California, with some quirky exceptions in Imperial County, but legal in Illinois where one of my school mates' parents went to marry. The Lovings (of Loving v Virginia) did the same and Virginia tried to nullify their out of state marriage as illegal and they appealed citing the equal faith and credit provisions of the Constitution. Not only did the Supreme Court uphold the doctrine that eah state must respect the laws of the others (so sophistiated Bostonians must recognize a Texan's marriage to his 14 year-old first cousin as valid) but they also ruled that the state had no compelling interest preventing interracial marriages.
RACE Is A Social Construct That We, As A Society, Can Do Without. Whose Fit To Determine Whose "Black" Or Whose "White"? Isn't It Just A GUESS Based On One's Opinion? It's So Insane.
I certainly can't blame her for hiding her true heritage. Life back in her day for black people was grim
Systemic Racism cost so many people so much! How much untapped potential has been lost, it's heartbreaking.
The deeper in the comments I went, the more ignorant it gets. 'What does it matter?' well in Jim Crow America it could have cost her life.
It's high school level not to understand this ffs
my goodness breathtakingly beautiful
What a sad story! I think you did a good job, sensibly and sensitively presenting material that is still controversial and difficult today, after all these years. Well done!
My local college had a blacks only graduation last year. The sad thing is that the kids think it's progress.
😢
She looks like a grownup Shirley Temple.
true.
I was trying to think what famous star she resembled! She does resemble Shirley Temple.
It's not clear whether her parents approved or disapproved. They went to Philadelphia to get away from all the southern prejudice. Philadelphia wasn't segregated, and people intermingled with no regard to race.
Given the racist climate of the time, it made sense for her to pass as white. She wasn't the only person out there doing that. White Privilege was a VERY real thing. I remember how uneasy my father was about his dark-skinned, half-African mother when he wanted to move to a "restricted" neighborhood.
she reminds me of Gene Tierney
I thought the same thing.
💐 So sad. Were I in her place, I'd probably do the same thing. A girl' gotta work... RIP
Many, many people did. It was called "passing" by other Black people and it still happens, and no one is the wiser about the truth (except another Black person maysuspect. but they won't tell anyone)
I love your shows. Its like reading a biography
Thanks so much. We're glad you like them!
Indeed a beautiful woman. It's as if all the beautiful features of all beautiful actrices are present when you look at her beautiful face. I certainly see a young Monroe and a young Bardot. I see the beauty of Olivia de Havilland and of Jennifer Jones,...
Jennifer Jones.. there's another story I'm interested in!
And Gene Tierney. ❤
well, she made it to 75 - I wonder what happened to her daughter ?
Her daughter became a veterinarian and died in 2002 at the age of only 51. I was curious as well and looked it up.
@@user-eh1gv5ld5othank you. I appreciate your existence! ❤
@@user-eh1gv5ld5o That's really sad
@@user-eh1gv5ld5oThanks!
I have a 'thing' about voices and you have a fantastic voice. Tone, pitch, lilt. The kind of voice I could listen to all day 😁.
Wow, thank you!
I think many actors had to hide somethings.
*I look at Dona Drake and l see a bi-racial person.* The way l see it, if she said she was black she was being truthful. If she said she was white, she was also being trurhful. Genetically she was both. If l have learned anything from these stories it is that fame is a fickle mistress. Her musical/terpsichorean prowess could not be learned, but acting can. I hope l can get some of her movies, and find out a bit more about her daughter.
I remember her bless her
I love your videos. I Googled Dona Drake after watching this video as I often do watching your videos to learn more about those you post here. Thank you.
I’m assuming she wasn’t black…she was mixed (biracial). I can see it (I’m mixed myself).
I can’t even imagine the turmoil and confusion she felt inside when by herself due to lieing about her ethnicity and background. All she could do was lean in so as not to go crazy. Very sad.
It looks that way. She has a lot of white in the woodpile.
Those who are of mixed heritage with a parent who is "black" are generally considered black. Whether technically correct or not. As such, I've always considered myself black, irregardless of the fact that one of my parents was white. It's a crazy world, and these labels shouldn't matter at all - I hope someday they really won't.....
@@SEJ3333labels has a bad connotation because it’s a shame based world, they are no longer labels when you embrace the human being that you are and also finding pride and dignity in every heritage. Labels are nothing more than hijacking the human spirit and esteem. Labels control.
@@SEJ3333Both my parents were the same race, but I'm tempted when filling out forms that ask my race to write Human. That should be the only one that matters.
Drake was to copation
I have never heard of this gal. Thanks for being more informative than TCM.
The prime reason for the movie Imitation of Life
I go to nightclubs to find savory characters.
Wow!!! Such an interesting story…. Love your channel!👏
Thank you so much!
She died at 74. How is that young?
That's just crazy what they had to go through back then.
Louis Amberg may have been born in Russia, but he was definitely an American gangster. His family came to the USA when he was 7. "Russian Mobster" is inaccurate to say the least.
She is so beautiful
Why didn't anyone make a bio-pic of her? (I could see a younger Vanessa Williams playing her!!!)
It doesn't mater her parents. Shes was beautiful and talented. Who cares about the past.she truly unchained herself to live!
Unfortunately it did matter at the time, we havent fully ended racism and bigotry but we have made some progress. This lady was amazing I had never heard of her, what a total badass
The past does matter… or we wouldn’t know or learn anything!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU… GEEZ!
We Can End Racism - By ENDING Race Categories (For People To Check)...As If It's Important.
@@billyghostal We Keep It Alive EVERY Time We Check A Box.
She really was beautiful
So u have focused everything on race. May I ask what are ur sources? Did she write a biography? Letters? It's a very stark statement to say she died from stress at hiding her race.
She looks like Shirley Temple.
I remember Dona. Stunning and talented girl!
So how did we ever find out about her if she kept her secret from everyone?
She looks like a young Vanessa Williams.
Dona Drake was great.I see her still in a Superman Episode(with George Reeves)-she played the very likable wife of a goofy mob boss.Her dog-who she loves-but her husband hates)falls down a well-and is rescued by Superman.She is a very flashy/brassy blonde in this episode.
She could act-and was a real eye-catcher-:she must have been about 40 years old but she looked maybe 30-talent-looks-she had it all.
Quite frankly i have had my suspicions about Ms. Dorothy as well. The daughter Nia Travilla has passed on. Wonder what became of her siblings? This would make a fantastic movie. She sort of resembles Zendaya but it would be a great movie role for someone new
This is why I don't deny my heritage, however being honest can be stressful and painful as well. Even in these modern times, I have found myself in a long term clandestine relationship with a famous performer. My having blue eyes and fair hair doesn't fix the bigotry that still persists with many, especially in the states but in some cases worldwide.
The stress of hiding her true identity had to be overwhelming for her. Its shameful that being black was against the law in America.
Society was wrong, we all know that. No one is qualified to pass judgement on her.
....And NO ONE Has A Right To Label Her As "Black".
Merle Oberon was Indian and Caucasian born in England. Because of that, at the time it would not have been accepted. Hence, the fact that they told the world that she was from Tasmania. Because it was such an obscure country they thought no one would question it until the day came when the people in Tasmania wanted to celebrate her. She was terribly embarrassed.
Buffy Ste Marie was Latin pretending to be Indian, who was harmed?
The Hollywood producers wallets that's who.
The wyte Americans patronizing the theater's were "mostly" racist.
That was back in the 40's, America has only moved a couple of notches about racism since then.
It's STILL here.
Buffy was Italian.
Her parents are of Italian and English descent. She fooled everybody. But there's a dark side to her story so somebody was definitely harmed.
@@almanook3005 I am a fair-skinned indigenous individual & I adore Buffy St. Marie. I believe talent & aspirations should mean MORE to the public than "racial history"! We are all spiritual beings having a "human experience"! Our souls have no color, race, gender or even nationality... I wish people would view each other as souls instead of looking at the "clothes" we are given in this plane of human existence. (just my own personal opinion...)
All of the indigenous people trying to find a seat at the table who found it taken by a pushy Euro-American, that's who.
I’m 65 and never heard of her
Looks like something intentionally made her this beautiful.
Great story
She's gorgeous ⭐
I have never heard of her. She was a beautiful girl. I can’t imagine what her parents went through.
She’s got betty davis eyes ❤
she was unbelievably beautiful,stunning
😁She was Simply Beautiful"!!!, 🤨 In those times it was Drastically Bad for Colored People"!!!, There were quite a few who passed themselves as White", 🤨 just to get By"!!!,She, she did what She Had too"!!, And done it Well"!!!, ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹May She Rest in Peace ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹.
Reading a book now about King Vidor and a murder in old Hollywood, re:Mary Minter and her mother and sister.
Don't say "play mother". When you're a SAHM or a working mom like me, it shouldn't be trivialized. It's a lot of hard work and dedication and sleepless nights. Saying "playing mom" is gross.
Dona Drake was a beautiful, talented woman who had a successful career as an entertainer. Americans need to stop hyping all the racial BS.
Thanks👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Being a black person, shes a pioneer
Looking at her at :42 I suspected she was "Black". My family looked like her on my Mothers side and Ive been told by a friend she at first thought i was Hispanic or Bi-Racial.
Heartbreaking 💔
If having "mixed" blood from parents, then Dorothy Lamour would also be considered biracial, she was of Spanish descent.
Same as child star Margaret O'Brien, Raquel Welch, Lynda Carter, Rita Hayworth, Vanna White, Joanna Kerns and Helena Bonham Carter.
Spaniards are white, not non-white.
but Spanish isn't a race. It's a nationality, just like Italian or German.
@@300books
Please read my post again.
No one said Spanish was a race.
@TheNester. I wasn't too clear on what you meant by mixed blood (sorry). Mixed blood usually means two or more races. Didn't know that mixed nationalities could also be called mixed blood (i.e. English & Belgian).
@@300books
No problem. 😉
I’d not heard of Dona till now, but she was clearly talented and stunning. The fact is, I don’t think she ever needed to come out as black, as she just *wasn’t* black. It’s pretty clear one or both parents had white heritage. She was mixed race, not black.
She's Black, for sure.
But at the time, what was the law, what was the rule far as race was concerned? She was Black
She's the brunette Marilyn Monroe
Very pretty and a sad life also!
Never happened anything like
that. Unable person expecting
in a fantasy world!
Today was the eclipse. My neighbors from all over the world were outside whooping it up together. We neighbors know race is one..the human race! And it is good here but there is a city in Alabamastan that hasn't had an election in 60 years. I can't imagine living like that!
Where is Alabamastan?
@@calliopec544 It's in the Amerikkkan deep south.
@@grantkruse1812 I live in the Deep South and am unaware of any place that hasn’t held an election in 60 years. But please, do go on.
Well she wasn't all black that's for sure. A true beauty.
👀🤔😔SMH
She apparently was an extremely talented actress- she played her part in real life and was believable. Sad she had to do that, but it does attest to the talent she had but did not give herself credit for.
Praaaeeegnant
Scottish.
Are these videos narrated by a bot? I’ve seen a few of them now, and there are frequent mispronunciations
She was obviously not “black”, but of mixed race. She was beautiful and talented. Who cares what races she was. Stardom is so overrated.
She was listed on the census as "negro", so yes, Black; the one-drop rule applied. Mixed race wasn't a thing then. Race is a social construct; therefore, Dona Drake was Black.
@@KateSannicksLerner So what she was listed as “negro” and the “one drop rule”, is racist and outdated. It was wrong then, and is still wrong to label people that way. Mixed race is the reality. We’re all connected.
@@MaiRaven3The point is to blithely say now that she was not black is to be oblivious to the very history she had to struggle with. You’re not impressing anyone by stating the stultifyingly obvious truth that the racial notions imposed then were racist. But saying we can now pretend they did not exist is to be utterly naive to the history of racism. By the racist standards of the time, she was black - that is important to state.
Hollywood cared. In many parts of the US there were laws against “race mixing”, aka Miscegenation. Hollywood was no different during the first 40 or 50 years. There is still a big deal made about mixed “race” actors and entertainers
Whether Black or White, her light skin and blue eyes made her physical appearance more convincing as White. That is something she couldn't change, even if she had wanted to. It's like a dwarf born into a family of tall persons. He/she is going to appear short despite the family background.
Looking at her pictures you showed she definitly is mixed race not all black as you say in your title.
Gotta make money
It is as obvious as the nose on a face that drake was mixed race therefore not black or white, it is ridiculous to keep calling her black, she dosent look lateeno either! And what colour would that be! Its all extreem prejudice on so call white people part😮
....And On "Black" People's Part, As Well, Today.
@@rebeccalee1065 is that surprising after all the Horror they have had to endure for many centuries 😠
I thought people that were Americans were just Americans no matter what color your skin was or where your family came from
When it comes down to it we are all imegrents
Latinos don’t have one set look
Because
geesh you didn't have to repeat the same thing a million times.
I knew she was of African descent before I started watching her the video.
03:15
07:02
09:00
15:00
I knew it even before they said it she was black which doesn’t matter but I like when I’m right ‼️ Lol 😂
If she tried black hollywood they would have blackfaced her just like Fredie Washington.
I'm 63 never seen her. Maybe my mom's time?
1940's - 50's
How sad...
Wow: She was absolutely more beautiful than, only perhaps primitive ignorance degradation and bondage times would not have ever allowed Reality to accept her immense beauty and bondage truths, regardless..‼️😮💨💥😳
🌏🫴💥Unfortunately..🌌🌌
🫴🌪🌌🎉
Where is Mia today...
Her daughter, Nia, died in 2002.
She had African blood ,but she was very white .
She looks white 😮
Black! Yes that's what she looked like.
"Ah lie us"? Did you mean "alias"?
Downa? Downa? Why in the world would you pronounce it that way?
It's pronounced that way because of the spelling. It's DONA and rhymes with Mona.
@@300books Nonsense.
It's Dona, not Donna. Pronounced "Doh-Nah". You can research the correct pronunciation.
Not to many people can pronounce my name. So what and who cares