Black Music Sunday: Honoring Lena Horne on her birthday

Many fans and entertainment industry personnel will be watching or participating in the Black Entertainment Television Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday evening. The awards have been in existence since 2001, when they were established “to recognize the immense talent pool that exists within the African American community by honoring outstanding contributions within entertainment and bringing together the brightest stars from various backgrounds to celebrate their accomplishments.”

Far too many of our “greats” have passed on before they could be honored there. Over the years it has been a struggle to get our great talents to receive acknowledgement and awards in many predominantly white industries. Think of #OscarsSoWhite or the fact that Big Mama Thornton was finally entered into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 40 years after her death.

One of those greats, whose birthday is Sunday, was Lena Horne, born on June 30, 1917. Not only was Horne a groundbreaker in Hollywood—she was a major recording artist, stage actress, and most importantly from my point of view, a fighter for Black civil rights.

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 200 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.