Gary Simmons’ “Ghost Reels” drawing installation will be on view in The Drawing Center stairwell through February 4, 2018. According to Simmons, the work reflects “the memories of actors that have been blurred in the history of Hollywood film . . . a kind of silence in both voice and visibility.” Here we explore the contributions of African American actors and musicians of the early 20th century. 〰 Born in the Bahamas in 1874, Bert Williams is remembered as the first African American to perform in a lead role on Broadway. He began his career as one of the only black performers to have a solo career in vaudeville, during which time he performed for King Edward VII, and, controversially, as one of the only African American comedian on the minstrel show circuit to wear blackface, adding a layer of commentary, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to the stereotyped identities performed by white actors in minstrel shows. Williams often teamed up with fellow comedian George Walker, with...