Viva logo

Meet the Extraordinary Ethel Waters

Queen of Coming First

By Kendra MaryaPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
2
Image Courtesy of images.nypl.org

Ethel Waters broke new ground, paving the way for African Americans and women in showbiz. She was the first African American to star in a Broadway show, the first to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy, and the first to star in their very own television show. Okay, so one time she came second. Waters was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award. She had many hit records and became an icon in film, television, and broadway, overcoming her traumatic start in life.

Find out the trailblazing ways of Ethel Waters.

Famous for Her Hip Shimmy Shake

Performing was a means to survival for Waters. Being born to a twelve-year-old rape survivor, Ethel was largely running wild and free from city to city and "raised herself". By the time she was a teenager, she was locally known for her 'Hip Shimmy Shake' long before twerking came on the scene. Dancing and singing landed her in a vaudeville troupe where she was pushed into a stereotype of "Sweet Mama Stringbean".

Waters was Discovered at a Costume Party

Before it was mandatory to be twenty-one years old, Ethel was hittin’ the clubs. For her seventeenth birthday, she showed up on Juniper Street with all her friends where they egged her on to sing a couple of tunes on stage. (How they did it before karaoke!) The audience was hooked on her bluesy sound. She was offered a job on the spot to sing professionally at the Baltimore Theatre that night.

Waters Became One of America's Highest Entertainment Earners

Image Courtesy of nyc-architecture.com

In a time when African Americans weren't allowed to integrate with white patrons at 'The Cotton Club', Ethel Waters was crossing lines and performing regularly on stage. She was the first to perform the song 'Stormy Weather', which later became inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

"I was singing the story of my misery and confusion, the story of the wrongs and outrages done to me by people I had loved and trusted."

Ethel, Meet Ethel

No, this wasn’t a split personality, this was “The Two Ethels”. Ethel Williams was a dancer that caught the eye of Ethel Waters. They became love birds, toured together, and even played house in Harlem. Rumour had it their performance had a “partner” bit that gave the queer community a laugh, but they would always vehemently deny their affair. Ultimately, Ethel Williams started batting for the other team. She went on to have three marriages

She Got There Before a Man

Image courtesy of aaregistry.org

Waters was the very first African American to have their own television show, beating out Nat King Cole by a whoppin’ seventeen years. It is speculated that she may have even been the very first African American on television. This was the first time an African American was able to represent themselves in the media, so as you can imagine any depiction of African Americans in any type of production prior was wildly problematic and racist.

The Ethel Waters Show debuted in 1939 and was transmitted by NBC Studios out of the Big Apple. The variety show even played a short adaption of 'Mamba’s Daughters', staring Ethel along with Georgette Harvey and Fredi Washington. Based on the novel by DuBose Heyward, the story boldly confronted racial tensions head-on.

But Even Waters Couldn’t Avoid This Stormy Weather

The IRS caught up with Ethel, who owed a significant amount in back taxes. They started garnishing royalties from her hit records, putting her in a tight squeeze. To add salt to the wound, Waters lost priceless jewelry valued at tens of thousands of dollars, along with a stockpile of cash, in a robbery. What can we say? When it rains, it pours. But Ethel didn’t let that stop her.

Ethel was a Machette to a Jungle, Clearing the Way

Ethel Waters re-defined gender roles and defied racial boundaries never before crossed in the entertainment industry. She overcame tremendous hardships in her personal life and forged a path for herself and for others to come, despite all that worked against her.

"It has been an ache and a joy both to look over this big shoulder of mine at all my yesterdays."

Sources:

  • Ethel Waters Bio
  • Mamba's Daughters
  • The Ethel Water Show IMBD
  • 16 Lesbian Power Couples From History Who Got Shit Done, Together
  • Ethel Waters
  • history
    2

    About the Creator

    Kendra Marya

    Campervan living Canadian with a penchant for psychological thrills and cats.

    B.A. Communication & Philosophy

    Reader insights

    Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

    How does it work?

    Add your insights

    Comments

    There are no comments for this story

    Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

    Sign in to comment

      Find us on social media

      Miscellaneous links

      • Explore
      • Contact
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
      • Support

      © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.