Black History Month: Dorothy Dandridge Actress and singer Dorothy Dandridge, born in 1922, was the first Black actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in Carmen Jones (1954), the first black actress to present an award at the Oscars, and the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Life Magazine. She is known as a trailblazer, reshaping Hollywood and paving the way for other Black actresses. She began performing as a child and, in the 40’s, became a highly successful nightclub singer before gaining international success as an actress starring in films such as “Carmen”, “Island in the Sun”, and “Porgy and Bess”. Throughout her life, she faced segregation, limited opportunities, and discrimination in the film industry, but continued to seek roles that pushed her beyond typecasting and expectations. Her legacy endures not only in her performances but in her resistance against racial exclusion. l #GettyImages 📷: John Springer Collection l Michael Ochs ...