A light-skinned black woman falls in love with a white doctor, though he is unaware of her true race.
The Film Forum here in New York City celebrates Black History Month with a 4-week run, celebrating over 80 years of the most iconic African American actresses ever seen on the big screen. I was lucky enough to catch a few classics and I’m so excited to share them with you. Released in 1949, this film still holds a painful resonance for many in the African American community concerning those having skin fair enough to pass for white, allowing them to dodge the burden of racism and discrimination and elevate in society never revealing their truth.
Pinky (Jeanne Crain), who was raised by her undeniably black grandmother Dicey Johnson (Ethel Waters) finally returns after years away. As she has been living a privileged life as a white woman, upon returning home to her black family on the poor side of town, she becomes torn between living her truth or escaping back into a life and lie she has become accustomed to. Leavingabruptly and too ashamed to tell of her whereabouts, Pinky’s boyfriend, Dr. Thomas Adams (William Lundigan), tracks her down at her grandmother’s home and she is forced to tell him the truth about her race. He tries to coerce her to leave this life behind and come back with him, but even after the town finds out and begins treating her like the other blacks, she ultimately decides to accept her truth and everything that comes along with it.
This is such a powerful film starring the incredibly talented Ethel Waters who began her career singing the blues in the 1920s. She was a singer and actress who also performed jazz, swing, and pop on broadway.
“Pinky” recently screened as part of BLACK WOMEN, an epic series spotlighting over 80 years of trailblazing African American actresses and images in American movies that ran at Film Forum from Friday, January 17th to Thursday, February 13th.
