The Black Press Saga: Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams

In the Black community, we have an interesting take on our entertainers.

Some of us are quick to call them sellouts for portraying our people in a negative way onscreen.

Some of us fall into the conspiracy theory trap and view them as lizard people.

Some of us want to hold them accountable for things that they’re not responsible for.

But as common as these things are, they’re not new. Black publications have been critical of stars since the beginning of Hollywood. Black actors and actresses had to always fight for their art to be portrayed in the best light.

And how do I know this? I read the most detailed book on Black Hollywood that you can find.

Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams

If you want a full rundown on life for Black entertainers in Hollywood, this is the book for you.

Written by film historian Donald Bogle, Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams is an entertaining and thorough depiction of Black Hollywood. It starts with the formation of Los Angeles and captures the brilliance of Black entertainers in a sixty-year time frame.

As someone who loves all things entertainment, this book was a joy to read. But you’ll love reading this book whether you’re into music or film or not.

Here are some of the reasons I really enjoyed this book.

Showcasing Black Hollywood In Different Decades

Photo taken from The Cinephiliac

For some reason, our society has an obsession with the 1950s.

It’s like life before the 1950s wasn’t as interesting or as important. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What I like about Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams is that it pays homage to each decade. From 1910, you learn about how Los Angeles was formed and what up and coming entertainers were introduced during that time.

It’s like as you continue to read, a new entertainer pops up. This was the most fun part about the book for me. I learned about new stars like Ernest Morrison, also known as Sunshine Sammy, one of the most famous Black child stars.

I also learned more about the behind-the-scenes dealings of Hollywood deals for Black entertainers during each period. You learned how much conditions changed (and sometimes didn’t change) for Black stars.

Giving The Voice To The Voiceless

Photos taken from Regeneration Black Cinema, Famous Fix, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Another reason I enjoyed this book is that it paid homage to artists that mainstream media would never mention.

I was amazed at how many entertainers I was introduced to as I read. Entertainers who I had never heard of before.

One of the entertainers who Donald Bogle dedicated the book to was Fredi Washington. Fredi Washington was a Black actress who had an interesting career in Hollywood.

Even though she was one of the most talked about Black actresses in the 1930s, her career did not reflect her influence. And that was, sadly, a common theme with many Black actors and actresses.

This book not only introduces you to entertainers that you may not have known. It details their struggles, obstacles, and breakthroughs throughout Hollywood.

And that’s another reason that this book was so enjoyable to read.

Revealing The Truth About Black Hollywood

Photo taken from Vintage Everyday

Reading this book is like reading an entertaining and scandalous timeline.

As you read about each decade, you learn so much about the behind-the-scenes incidents in Hollywood.

You learn about what the Black servants of White Hollywood stars heard and witnessed while working for White stars.

You learn about Hollywood scandals like the death of famous filmmaker William Desmond Taylor, and what happened to his servant Henry Peavey who discovered his body.

You learn about how Ethel Waters was blacklisted for a few years because of some critical remarks she made about the Jewish community.

And even though some of these things are negative, you also get a great balance.

You learn about the different Black nightclubs that some of our favorite entertainers enjoyed.

You learn about how great musicals like Carmen Jones came to be, and how Dorothy Dandridge became a part of the musical after initially being overlooked.

Just about every aspect of Hollywood today can be traced back to this book. From the start of fake gossip magazines to the criticism that Black publications shared with certain Black stars, you get to see the true glimpse of Black Hollywood.

Final Thoughts

There are very few books that capture the true glitz and glamour of Black entertainers. Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams definitely pays homage to Black Hollywood through honest storytelling.

But don’t just take my word for it. Click on my affiliate link https://bookshop.org/a/85810/9780345454195 and enjoy the book for yourself.

If you have read Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams, share your thoughts about the book in the comments section below.