Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom
Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom
by Dabian T. Witherspoon
236 pages
6x9 size
“Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom”
by Dabian T. Witherspoon, Ph.D.
Nina Mae McKinney (1912–1967) became Hollywood’s first Black star when she made her remarkable debut in MGM’s “Hallelujah” in 1929. The multitalented actor, singer, and dancer was also one of the first Black actors whom white and Black movie audiences considered beautiful. Sadly, Nina Mae was denied an opportunity to tell her story, and her legacy has been underappreciated. “Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom” by Dabian T. Witherspoon attempts to reveal Nina Mae McKinney’s story as thoroughly as possible, shedding light on the daunting obstacles of her career and personal life while seeking to establish her rightful place in history. The book’s important purpose is summarized in its “Introduction” and on the backside of its beautiful cover.
“Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom” is more than a biography. It began as Dabian’s Ph.D. dissertation and is the most thoroughly researched work on Nina Mae McKinney. This is demonstrated by its “Table of Contents” and its extensive “Works Cited” section (more than 400 sources), including genealogical research and primary sources not previously used by other writers. This book covers Nina Mae’s life more fully than any other work, and it provides documentation to correct the misinformation and disparaging information about Nina Mae that has been repeated orally or found in online sources and earlier publications. It also tries to fill in the gaps by raising questions and analyzing related topics and similar historical figures to make sense of the world Nina Mae lived in (and to explain why things were the way they were).
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chapter One: Southern Background
Chapter Two: Mechanisms at the Major American Film Studios
Chapter Three: Overseas Performances
Chapter Four: Choosing Race Films and Returning to the American Stage
Chapter Five: Personal Struggles and the Press
Chapter Six: The Groundbreaking Role as Chick in Hallelujah
Chapter Seven: The First Black Star in Hollywood
Conclusion: McKinney’s Rightful Place in History
Works Cited
Appendix A: Firsts
Appendix B: Credited Film Roles
Appendix C: Uncredited Film Roles
Appendix D: Stage, Theatre, and Club Appearances
Appendix E: British Radio and Television Performances
Notes
Index
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dabian T. Witherspoon holds an M.A. in African American World Studies from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in English from Morgan State University, where his concentrations included film studies and screenwriting. Dabian has conducted Black history presentations for schools, churches, and community organizations. He has taught history, film studies, composition, and literature at the high school and college levels. He has also taught drawing classes for children, tutored people of all ages, and worked as a screenplay analyst, copy editor, and project manager (book publishing). For booking and other information, please visit www.dabianwitherspoon.com.