Trailblazers in Black History: Nina Mae McKinney, The First Black Movie Star

Nina Mae became the first black movie star and popular entertainer in her time. Nina Mae became the first black woman to have a leading role in the first black cast movie "Hallelujah" and to be signed to a major studio, MGM. Though the movie had stereotypes, Nina Mae took her role as "chick" and introduced a new image of a black woman...beautiful, sexy, vivacious, lively, passionate, emotional, innocent but fierce. In the role she displayed her versatility as an actress, though she never acted before, her naturalness and knowledge of her culture came through and she brought her role alive and made the film a success but not without controversy, as with most of the black films of the time.

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