Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom

ABOUT THE BOOK

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. Her story is about dream-chasing, tragedy, the will to survive, the will to live and work on her own terms, and redemption.

As summarized in its "Introduction" and on the backside of its beautiful cover, "Nina Mae McKinney: At the Dawn of Black Hollywood Stardom" by Dabian T. Witherspoon attempts to reveal Nina Mae's story as thoroughly as possible, shedding light on the daunting obstacles of Nina Mae's career and personal life while seeking to establish her rightful place in history.

"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 in other works. 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 earlier print and online 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). Intended for academic and general audiences, this important book is somewhat chronological but also thematic; it briefly repeats ideas that overlap multiple themes, and its chapters can be read in any order.

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). Please see the book's "About the Author" section or back cover for booking information.