Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography

Dorothy Dandridge: A Life of Triumph and Tragedy in Hollywood is a comprehensive biography that sheds light on the extraordinary life and career of the pioneering Black performer who broke new ground in Hollywood and helped transform American society in the years before the Civil Rights movement.

This book provides an ambitious, rigorously researched account of Dorothy Dandridge's remarkable journey from her early years as a child performer in Cleveland to her rise as a nightclub headliner and movie star, and ultimately, her heartbreaking death at 42. With a foreword by film historian Donald Bogle, this book offers a panoramic portrait of Dorothy Dandridge's life, revealing how she broke down racial barriers by integrating some of America's hottest nightclubs and broke through Tinseltown's glass ceiling.

The book also explores her groundbreaking roles in films such as Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress -- the first Oscar nod for a woman of color. Despite her wealth, fame, and success, Dorothy's life was fraught with contradiction and illusion.

This book provides a detailed and compelling account of her struggles and triumphs, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the history of Hollywood and the African American experience.