Carol Channing's father was black.

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 3:08am

I never knew Carol Channing was mixed her father was actually a light-complected African American born in Augusta, Georgia who passed for white. She kept her heritage secret so she wouldn't be type cast on Broadway and in Hollywood. She revealed this in her book "Just Lucky I Guess" which was published in 2002.

I was amazed to find this out and thought I would share it.
I have even more respect for this woman.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 3:54am

I have even more respect for this woman.


You have “more respect” because she chose to hide her heritage in the hopes of obtaining acceptance in the White world? How about people such as Ethel Waters and Paul Robeson? Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis? Harry Belefonte and Sidney Poitier. These people embraced their color.

I am not saying that in the times Miss Channing was trying to "make it" that people would have accepted her mixed race if it were widely known, but to say that you have more respect for her now knowing that she “passed” is just wrong.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 4:04am

I don't know how much passing she had to do. Her father was I believe 1/8 black and looked as white as anyone else, but under the old "one drop" rules in the south, if you were more than 1/16, you were considered black on your birth certificate. That makes Carol 1/16 black, about as white as most people in this country (a majority of white people in the US have black ancestors within 4 or 5 generations).

Carol didn't have to pass. She was white.

Updated On: 2/26/05 at 04:04 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 4:18am

You are right, Margo. But Unmasked implied that she had more respect for Carol because no one knew this about her and she was able to keep this a secret.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 4:39am

But this is still why I say she needs to play Adaperle in the revival of The Wiz!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 4:57am

black or white...she can't sing.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 4:58am

is she still alive?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 5:01am

Yes, and last I heard she's living a rather sad life- she doesn't have much money and I've even heard she's in a trailer park.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 6:37am

Another star who was of part African-American heritage was Dorothy Lamour.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 7:47am

And Merle Oberon famously passed herself off as Australian when she was of Indian heritage. Gosh, to think Carol could have headed the black Dolly company as WELL!

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:00am

Okay............
What I meant by a have "more respect for her" is this.......
I'm a African American and not to say that I never had respect for her as a actress but when I found out she had African American heritage I gained far more respect for her because she would have been type cast because of who she is and I'm not mad at her cause she hid her heritage......you do what you have to do to make it and I bet if you were in her position you would have done the same.

And MargoChanning not to jump on you or anything but I live in the south(Alabama) and whether or not her father was 1/8 black or not................HE WAS BLACK... PERIOD...and to some people(white or black) she would be considered BLACK........never white.

All the actress/singers that are of mixed heritage(Black/white):
Alicia Keys
Hallie Berry
what color do you most consider them? (don't even try to come with no bullsh&8 either)

Carol Channing.....you do your thing and do it well.....I should have known when you got on stage with Ll cool J.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 11:04am

Who we now realise is her son.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist it...) Updated On: 2/26/05 at 11:04 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 1:27pm

Further proof that race is an incredible load of BS.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 2:26pm

That's really a shame if it's true that she's in a trailer park somewhere. She's such an amazing performer. Granted, not a singer, but a PERFORMER. What a comedienne. She needs to do something and soon.

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 2:38pm

Wow, that's really interesting... I never knew that. So now, technically there were 2 african american Dolly Levis (Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing)

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 2:55pm

Does this mean that she likes Chris Rock and is voting for Jaime Foxx?

And where is her trailer park? I'd like to give her a visit!

Wait a minute...blacks don't live in trailer parks! Only red nick white trash people do...somebody's makin this **** up...

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 3:05pm

That's really a shame if it's true that she's in a trailer park somewhere.

I think munk was joking. Carol Channing seems to be enjoying an active and well-off life right now.

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 5:53pm

I don't understand...if she doesn't even look African American, why would she have to try to keep that 1/16th a secret? I hardly think any directors would try to cast her in a role written for a black woman upon finding out she was 1/16th African American. Carol Channing, you confuse the crap outta me.


Was it to avoid discrimination? That would make more sense.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 6:07pm

Wizard, it's just that she hasn't done anything in YEARS, so I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't doing as well as one would think a Broadway legend would.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 6:07pm

She's alive and well... and performing at BB Kings within the next few months (just about sure)

[Skempp]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 6:11pm

I heard an interview on public radio and Carol Channing is touring with a one-woman show with her "new" husband (they actualy were childhood sweethearts and recently married). She seems to be doing fine.

And, as for whether her father was considered black with 1/8 "black blood", Margo is right. The South considered this man black, even though he probably didn't look nor consider himself black. It was an archaic law used and was an embarrassment to the South. And, what difference does it make?

Black or white, Carol Channing is to be admired for her body of work and her longevity, if for nothing else.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 6:29pm

Carol Channing is an amazing woman....She is still as sharp as can be and she's an amazing talent. Godbless her.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 8:08pm

I believe there's been a couple of BWW news articles about what Carol Channing's been up to (I remember seeing a cute picture of her husband giving her a huge [and expensive-looking] chrystal heart).

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 8:15pm

Carol Channing is NOT living in a trailer park. Her official residence is in Modesto, CA with her new husband.

She is periodically touring in aher new show. I saw one of its first incarnations, when it was called SINGULAR SENSATION. It later bacame RAZZLE DAZZLE, but the one that will probably show up at BB Kings is known as THE FIRST 80 YEARS ARE THE HARDEST. It's a delightful show in which Carol tells wonderful ancdotes about her careeer--and the people she worked with--as well as an opportunity for her to sing some of her greatest hits.

If BB KING'S becomes a reality, be assured I'll be there every night.

I LOVES MY CAROL! (see avatar)

[Justice]

Posted: 2/26/05 at 8:31pm

Roles Carol could have played:
Julie in Showboat
Pinky in Pinky.