HЕR EARLY YЕАRЅ
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an African American of Mexican, Jamaican and Native American descent. She was born in Ohio in the year 1922. Since childhood, Dorothy’s life was not easy. First, she never knew her father because her parents parted ways shortly before she was born. Dorothy had a sister named Vivian. Their mother created “The Wonder Children” act for her two children, which kept them occupied over time. They missed school but this did not stop them from being successful. To add salt to the wound, America was facing its greatest economic disaster yet, The Great Depression. This made it very difficult for the Dandridge family to source employment. Therefore, they relocated to Hollywood, California to start a new life.
HER LIFE
The 1940’s were nothing compared to what Dorothy was to achieve in the coming years. She did not stop performing in the nightclubs as this was her area of expertise. For quite some time, she worked at Macambo Club together with Desi Arnaz’s band and also at La Vie en Rose. This jumped her talent to a whole new level. She finally became what she wanted to be, an international star. With this attribute, Dorothy was among the first African American stars to perform at London, Rio de Janeiro, New York and San Francisco. She had finally made it to her prime time, proving that this prestigious success was not limited to movies.
Her Husband Left Her and Their Disabled Daughter
In addition to cheating on her with numerous women during their marriage, Harold Nicholas left Dandridge and their permanently disabled daughter high and dry when she was less than five years old. A single mother with growing financial hardship due to financial mismanagement on the part of her financial advisors, Dandridge was quickly finding herself in a dire situation.
