Billy Eckstine, 1950, this image caused a bit of a stir.
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That is a great photo. I have never see it before, but it is wonderful.
How do I change the title
I’m sure it did, plenty of Black men were lynched for less. That’s a scary photo considering the time
The photo was published in the April 24, 1950 issue of LIFE magazine. An article on the photo at behindthescenes.nyhistory.org says this:
>LIFE’s internal report on letters to the editor noted that 59 complaints were received about the Eckstine story, expressing vicious, hysterically racist sentiments like, “That picture of Billy Eckstine with a white girl clinging to him after a performance just turns my stomach.” Other readers described the photo as “the most nauseating picture of the year” and “the most indecent picture ever published by LIFE.” The report also notes that eight people cancelled their subscriptions (although, to be fair, readers consistently cancelled their LIFE subscriptions in a huff for various reasons.)
Eckstine was possessed of a smooth baritone, ideal for the ballads he was known for… (to me, he seems to have a ‘Will Smith’ thing going on here)… & yes, as per another ‘poster’, in certain areas of the country, this sweet gesture from his admirer would have gotten him shot or hung- a fate that I’m sure crossed his mind as she showed her adoration…!
It’s funny yet unerving to think there was a time where Blacks and Hispanics where hated for getting more women (not the only reason). “It’s not my fault I’m racist and have a bad personality, It’s those negros fault. That’s It”
It’s adorable.
I’ll never understand how white ppl justified racism for so long