disrespectfuljezebel:

mysoulhasgrowndeep-liketherivers:

blackgirlsinked:

Esther Jones, known by her stage name, “Baby Esther,” was a singer and entertainer of the late 1920s. She performed regularly at The Cotton Club in Harlem. Helen Kane saw her act in 1928 and appropriated Jones’ ‘baby’ singing style for a recording of “I Wanna Be Loved By You.” Jones’ style went on to become the inspiration for the voice of Betty Boop.(What I Looked up)

Today in Black people invented everything you hold near and dear…

There are a few old Betty Boop cartoons on YouTube where she’s actually animated as Black. I’m both incredibly proud & disgusted to finally have names of all of the Black women who shaped so much of American culture after all of these years of being ignored.