Sister's Corner
We are Smart, Creative, Beautiful
Before she got whitewashed, she was a Black woman. I remember seeing this person as a cartoon character and thinking, "what a unique concept. How did she come up with this?" Of course, she was a white cartoon character. (If it was not for us [Black people], what would happen to the world.) It never dawned on me for a moment that Betty Boop was originally a Black woman who created this character for her signature act.
another 'as usual' story
"PBS has confirmed that Betty Boop, the popular cartoon character introduced to the world by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930, was actually inspired by a real-life African American jazz singer and entertainer from Harlem named Esther Jones.
Her stage name was "Baby Esther," but unfortunately, when her character became the first and most famous sex symbol in animation, she was whitewashed with most people having no idea where the original inspiration came from."
As a cabaret act at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, she sang with that unmistakable unique voice that featured "boop-boop-a-doops" and other scat sounds. That particular sound was imitated by the Betty Boop animated character.
The Betty Boop character has gone through many trials - and I do mean true legal trials - and is as popular today as ever. During Little Esther's career, she was mostly recognized in the New York City area.
Born in Chicago, Illinois as Esther Lee Jones, at the age of 4 her parents started her training in dance, acrobatics, and voice. In 1928, her family moved to Harlem, New York where Esther started her short but impressive career. Little Esther was no joke.
A very talented child performer which allowed her to travel and perform in such places as Spain, Moulin Rouge, Casino de Paris, France, and for Sweden's Queen Sophia Marie Viktoria and King Gustaf V, in Stockholm. All the while Esther performed in Europe; she was paid about $750.00 per week. At age 11, she was the highest paid child on the stage, globally.
Helen Kane, a white popular singer at that time, sang "I Wanna be Loved by You," and swiped "Boop-Oop-a-Doop" from Baby Esther.
once again we miss out on generational wealth
Fleisher Studios was the one that introduced Betty Boop to the public in 1930 as an animated cartoon. Helen Kane, the "I Want to Be Loved by You," sued Fleisher Studios in Hollywood, Fleisher Studios v. Kane" for appropriating her "Betty Boop" character without her permission and without her receiving any payment or royalties.
However, during the trial and after some investigation, it was discovered that Little Esther, the Cotton Club entertainer, was the original owner of the Betty Boop character. Needless to say, Kane lost the lawsuit.
"Betty Boop" was promoted nonetheless, but Little Esther was never recognized publicly or monetarily as the original Betty Boop and passed away in 1984 in New York City from Kidney complications at the age of 66.
We have so many of these stories, it hurts. This is a most exciting period of time we are in. The truth seems to be pouring out of all of the cavities in the United States. All of the lies, secrets, untruths, are coming to the surface effortlessly.
History is one of the most important elements a people can have. It lets you know who you are, what you are, and how you got to be who you are.
History should be talked about at the dinner table every night so our children can grow up understanding how great they are. The uniqueness and originality of Betty Boop's estate is still making money to this very day. Esther Jones, along with her family, never benefitted from this unique character she created.
References: Black History
The Fascinating Story of the Real Betty Boop | Dusty Old Thing
Wikipedia