Lena Horne remains one of the most famous African American stars to feature in (stage and) screen musicals. However, her contribution and the reception to her career have always been viewed in conversation with ethnic ambiguity and distance from other Black artists. In this paper, I question how our understanding of Horne's career and identity have been constructed through racist biases and consider how she navigated her experiences of racism by maintaining her own voice and community.

Note: this talk will include discussions of structural racism, racist language, and racial discrimination. Where at all possible, outdated language has been removed. 

Bio

Hannah Marie Robbins is Assistant Professor of Popular Music and Director of Black Studies at the University of Nottingham. They specialise in representations of race, gender, and queerness in the British and American musical.