Is it true that many celebrities were passing for white in Hollywood? (actors, rumors)
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I was reading an article that stated that many Hollywood stars were passing for white and actually had black or mexican ancestry but hid it. Wow! Is that really true? I think that's sad that they had to deny a part of themselves.
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Yes, it's true. Carol Channing had a black father, Pete Wentz, Rashida Jones, Cash Warren, Merle Oberon, John Gavin, and many others have bi-racial backgrounds and are light enough to pass as white. It's not a big deal these days, but back in the heyday of Hollywood, many young actors and actresses had to hide the fact that they were bi-racial.
I did not know Carol Channing had a black father! Didn't Lena Horn(e) pass as white? Oh yeah, that was a big thing back in Hollywierd's heyday. You had to be white.
I dont know that they really "hid" it that much though I dont doubt it happened.
Remember, back in those days you were either "black", "white" or "other". No one wanted to be "other" and if you "looked" white that is just what you identified with.
I did not know Carol Channing had a black father! Didn't Lena Horn(e) pass as white? Oh yeah, that was a big thing back in Hollywierd's heyday. You had to be white.
No. Lena Horne never passed for white. However, her managers wanted her to, but she refused.
I dont know that they really "hid" it that much though I dont doubt it happened.
Remember, back in those days you were either "black", "white" or "other". No one wanted to be "other" and if you "looked" white that is just what you identified with.
Im sure there were some who hid it.
More than likely that's the way it was. Rita Hayworth was one of such. Back then, actors and actresses changed their names to sound more American than foreign.
There are also rumors about Ava Gardner, Tom Sizemore, Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Heather Locklear, Elvis Presley, Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Silvera, Angelina Jolie, Denise Richards, Ina Ray Hutton, Jayne Mansfield, Dorothy Lamour, Loni Anderson, Joan Bennett, Humprey Bogart, and Pernell Roberts being of African/black descent.
He was half German and half black. She actually didn't find out till she was 16 that she was 1/4 black because her father looked just like any other white person.
Yes, it's true. Carol Channing had a black father, Pete Wentz, Rashida Jones, Cash Warren, Merle Oberon, John Gavin, and many others have bi-racial backgrounds and are light enough to pass as white. It's not a big deal these days, but back in the heyday of Hollywood, many young actors and actresses had to hide the fact that they were bi-racial.
I hardly think that the daughter of Quincy Jones was "hiding" anything.
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