News

Remembering Fredi Washington: Actress, Activist, and Journalist

Fredericka Carolyn “Fredi” Washington was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in Savannah, Georgia, in 1903 and died in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1994.

Fredi began her career as a dancer at the Cotton Club in Harlem during the 1920s.  She appeared in Black and Tan, a short film featuring Duke Ellington and his orchestra, in 1929 and went on to a career in motion pictures.  She is most famous for her portrayal of Peola in Imitation of Life (1934).  Peola, a light-skinned young African American woman, chooses to pass as white in order to escape racial discrimination.

Fredi Washington and her husband, Dr. Hugh Anthony Bell, 1950s – The Connecticut Historical Society

Like Peola, Fredi experienced limited opportunities because of her race, but unlike Peola, she never denied her African American heritage.  She helped found the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1937 and served as Entertainment Editor of the People’s Voice, established in 1942 by Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who married Fredi’s sister.  Fredi was also active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She played opposite the great African American actor Paul Robeson on several occasions, most notably in the film version of The Emperor Jones in 1933, but also in a 1926 production of Black Boy at the Stamford Theater.

Fredi’s first husband was Lawrence Brown, a trombonist in Duke Ellington’s orchestra. After they divorced in 1951, she married a Stamford dentist, Hugh Anthony Bell, and moved to suburban Greenwich.  Bell died in 1970.  In 1975, Fredi was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame; in 1979, she received a CIRCA Award for lifetime achievement in the performing arts. She was 90 years old when she died of pneumonia in 1994.

The Fredi Washington Collection at The Connecticut Historical Society includes photographs of Fredi, her family, and friends.  Additional selections from the collection may be viewed in the CHS online catalog eMuseum.

Related Posts

Elon Musk says “NO BIOLOGICAL MEN ALLOWED” in women’s sport: the tweet that sparks controversy on Twitter…

La polémica comenzó con un tuit de Musk que decía: “Es hora de proteger los deportes femeninos. Los hombres biológicos tienen derecho a competir contra las mujeres. Boicoteen…

Karoline Leavitt DIDN’T HOLD BACK on Robert De Niro, exposing the whole truth about this vile director. “Everyone deserves to know.”

Karoline Leavitt once again made the public stir when bluntly exposed Robert de Niro in a statement fully recorded by the media. No longer holding the usual restraint…

Judge Fined Leavitt $100K for Insulting Biden, 7 Minutes Later, Bondi Cuffed Him

In a dramatic turn of events that has left the political and legal communities buzzing, a judge has fined former Congressional candidate Karoline Leavitt $100,000 for allegedly insulting…

BREAKING: The Rock Declines $200 Million Role at Disney, States He Won’t Participate in “Woke Culture”

In an unexpected twist that has sent shockwaves across Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one of the industry’s most bankable stars, has reportedly declined a staggering $200 million…

The Vatican announces that Pope Francis has passed away

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died, Reuters reported. The information was announced by the Vatican in the video notice on April…

Tesla Is No Longer Elon Musk’s Most Valuable Asset

**Breaking News: Tesla Falls Behind as Musk’s SpaceX Surges Ahead** In a stunning turn of events, Tesla is no longer the crown jewel of Elon Musk’s empire, as SpaceX has officially surpassed the electric vehicle giant in value for the first time in five years. Musk’s fortune, once heavily anchored by Tesla, has shifted dramatically following a series of alarming developments. Musk’s financial landscape took a hit after he funneled over $200 million into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, but he rebounded quickly, briefly becoming the world’s first $400 billion individual. However, Tesla’s stock has since plummeted by 50%, exacerbated by disappointing delivery numbers and concerns over Musk’s divided attention as he juggles his new role in the Trump administration. Recent reports indicate that Tesla’s revenue growth has stagnated to a mere 1% in 2024, while net income has declined for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, shocking drops in vehicle sales have been documented across key markets, including Germany, China, and Australia. As public sentiment turns against Musk, protests have erupted at Tesla dealerships nationwide, amplifying the urgency of the situation. The turmoil doesn’t end there. Musk’s appeal of a Delaware court ruling that invalidated a lucrative pay package has further complicated his financial stability. Forbes has slashed the value of Musk’s stock options by 50%, revealing that his stake in Tesla is now worth $97.8 billion, significantly less than the soaring valuation of SpaceX. With SpaceX’s value now estimated at $147 billion—almost $20 billion more than Musk’s Tesla holdings—this shift marks a seismic change in Musk’s financial narrative. SpaceX’s revenue surged by 51% to $13.1 billion in 2024, buoyed by the booming Starlink satellite internet service. As the dust settles, it’s clear that Musk’s fortunes are in flux, and the landscape of his empire is shifting dramatically. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor these developments closely.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *