Wow we can learn alot about our history and know that we are talented as black people, I Luv it.

I do not know how she lived being an atheist I mean as a person you must at some point begin to believe in something especially when there is proof that Jesus did exsist, Maybe growing up with parents that were slaves had something to do with her feeling that way,

I mean as an atheist from what I understand they think when they die they are going to comeback as a bug, or a tree,

Well what if you come back as a tree get chopped down and get the bible printed on you

lol @2

I was surprised to learn she was an atheist as well. I guess because when I think of how hard it was for black people back then, I feel they had to believe in some higher power to get them through.

I CO-SIGN WITH #2 (THAT WAS FUNNY)

AND #3… I TOO WAS GONNA COMMENT ON THE ATHEIST THING, BUT U GUYS SAID IT ALL =)

Wow.. didn’t know she was from Tampa. That’s where I’m from. Thats interesting…

I know that’s right #2
Wouldn’t that be something…
“Come back as a tree, get chopped down…AND get the BIBLE printed on you”.

I don’t know for sure, but I bet she wished she had lived believing in Jesus,
instead of having died to find out He is REAL!!!

So she didnt burn up in the fire? What was the point of mentioning it. This read like a Wikepedia entry. Anywhoo. Atheist dont believe in reincarnation they dont believe any thing when you die you just dead. She didnt like playing smiling maids then she shoulda passed on the roles. She must’ve believed in something—The Almighty Dollar—. Damn shame when black folks are “atheist”. They even try to make Atheism a damn religion. They get so offended because they have no hope. EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS. You better believe that.

OMG what an awesome spotlight! I have seen almost everything she ever did.

Makes it sad to see the way black hollywood plays to the lowest level of black intellect nowadays.

Some of these stars need to go back and watch these old films and see how limited the actors were.

No excuse for the crap that is put out now.

OMG what an awesome spotlight! I have seen almost everything she ever did.

Makes it sad to see the way black hollywood plays to the lowest level of black intellect nowadays.

Some of these stars need to go back and watch these old films and see how limited the actors were.

No excuse for the crap that is put out now.

she is hilarious in Gone With The Wind!! I know she was supposed to be a stereotypical young dumb enslaved woman but I think she was just aloof & didn’t feel like messin’ with Scarlett and nem, lol…i can read between the lines!

I gotta agree with #7 ;o)

I think some of you are being harsh to a subject matter that is rarely talked about in our communtiy. I can understand why she made some of the choices she made, even if I myself do not believe in the same things.
At that time, if you were a black woman, a dark skinned black woman at that, and had any desire to display your talent in Hollywood, the roles available to you were strictly limited. One of the only successful women to break the mold was Lena Horne, and if it wasn’t for her determination to be recognized for what she was, the studio would have opted to pass her off as Hispanic. And even she was opressed. Most of her scenes were not pivotal to the movies and often removed when shown in southern states so as not to upset the audience. This left her bitter and unwilling to do film in her later life. Butterfly made a choice to suffer for the art she so dearly loved, and if she hadnt have taken those roles, I’m sure we would critcize whoever else did just the same. And remember, this was during a time where many establishments, such as the Cotton Club in Harlem, refused to place dark skinned women in their choruses and ensembles.
As to the atheist aspect, when a person sees the oppression that certain religions have wrought on human kind, whether it be through race, mental health, sexuality, what have you, it’s easy to see how the absence of a powerful being makes life more bearable. When people constantly label you as an outsider, because in their beliefs, you don’t fit what the higher power accepts, would you willingly suffer that self hate? Think of all of the suicide bombers, racists, and bigots who found power through their various scriptures.
Again, I am not saying this is how I feel, just trying to broaden the understanding of the choices she might have faced. Let’s not be so quick to ridicule this woman, because in her own way, she found happiness, even if it was vastly different from ours.

Its always good to see some history…

the fact that she is an athiest has just discredited all of her accomplishments to me. Sorry, thats just how i feel

@ESG, well put, and don’t forget Dorthy Dandridge, she too could never reach her full stardom in her hey day. Very sad.

excuse me. Dorothy Dandridge not darksinned- she was her own downfall. Lena Horne- not dark skinned AND who told you that she would have been made to be hispanic? How many movies you see on AMC that have spanish people in them? NONE. How many spanish people where on TV in that time? Rickey Ricardo-maybe? Stop trying to sound smart. people use religion to justify any and everything. The difference is having a relationship with God and get to know him for yourself. Then other peoples justifications, through scripture, for hate would not turn you from what you KNOW that you KNOW. the problem is a lot of ya’ll just don’t know. Atheist = Lost and dont care.

AND even in that movie from 1979 she was mammying it up, so what’s her excuse then.?You know what it was - she didnt know God and therefore was stuck and didnt know how to get unstuck. Mrs. Butterworth.

The information about Lena being possibly passed off by MGM, her studio at the time came from a very reliable music biographer. And as to your comment about “spanish” stars, there were more of them, or people deemed to be that ethnic group making a splash at the time. Ever heard of Sophia Loren? And as for trying to sounds smart, I’m sorry that my knowledge on the subject, as a black theatre artist, seems to have offended you. Excuse me for trying to bring clarity to a clearly taboo subject.

great post.

I hated her portrayal in Gone With The Wind. Then again, I hated GWTW.

Did she have kids? Mrs Butterworth? Now that just ain’t right for anybody to have on their resume.

Im impressed by her. When I was first reading it I was thinking…. so she is always playing a maid. Im glad I continued reading and learned some of what she did with her life. Black actors today do have a hard time finding non stereotypical roles, but they can try. Look at Sidney Potier. He did a lot of good work. As for the people wondering how she could be an atheist- you should wonder if you would be a christian if it weren’t for slavery and colonialism.

Oh how Black people love to cling to a religion that was IMPOSED on them through SLAVERY and COLONIALISM. Let us not forget that our beloved Christianity was used to justify American Slavery. Let us also not forget how we as a community use it to justify homophobia. Malcom X was a Muslim…does that discredit him and his work? Tina Turner is a practicing Buddhist…does that discredit her? Or is it okay as long as they subscribe to some religion. Are we too narrow minded to understand that not eveyone see’s the world as we do? Doesn’t freedom of religion also imply freedom FROM religion. So please stop imposing your religious views on this woman.

MY STUDENTS SAY I SOUND LIKE HER…LOL

Since when do we (as americans) start discrediting peoples lifelong accomplishments because of their personal beliefs. If she’s an Athiest, then she has every right to be. I swear ignorrance comes in all shapes and forms…

here is a great women being talked in the most disrespectful mannor by people who will never know her struggle…If you serve a forgiving God why can’t you see pass her beliefs..any ways her life is not for so called christians to judge….It is in God hands and you never know what her last moments consist of between him and her…

So what she was an atheist. All black folks have to think alike now? We all have to believe in Jesus? Get over it. If you “believe it’ and ain’t living it you don’t really believe it. You’re just fooling yourself. And so her life and accomplishments should be dismissed because she doesn’t believe what YOU think she should. OOOh save me from religious people ’cause they don’t nothing about spirituality or just plain being human. Jesus wept!

wow i cant belive she was so pretty back in the days well i got to go but her name is soo cool now every body in school calls me ladii b utterfly cuz of her wow