S23E12: Lena Horne

Hollywood legend Lena Horne changed what was possible for African-Americans performers in America. After a difficult childhood, she found a key ally in her father, who made clear to studio head Louis B. Mayer that he could hire a maid for his daughter - she would not need to play one on screen. Alternating between Hollywood, which was depressing because of its limitations on Black actors, and a thriving nightclub career, she built a prolific and unique career trajectory that saw her become a prominent voice in the Civil Rights Movement, and a central figure in the Hollywood spiderwebs that Alicia loves so much. We're on break next week, but will be back with more Trashy Divorces on October 6! Want early, ad-free episodes, regular Dumpster Dives, bonus divorces, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces! Want a personalized message for someone in your life? Check us out on Cameo! To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to [email protected]. Sponsors Acorns. Head to acorns.com/trashy or download the Acrons app to start saving and investing for your future today! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/trashy today to get 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices