Katherine Dunham

Katherine Dunham had enough talent in her -- as a singer, dancer, director, writer, and producer -- for any three people, and she also managed to work in a significant contribution as a rights activist in a career that started in music and dance and lasted for 60 years. Katherine Mary Dunham was born and raised in Joliet, IL, the daughter of a local small businessman and a school teacher. She sang in her local Methodist Church, and but for a financial crisis at her church, she might never have sung anything but gospel songs. But at age eight, in 1918, she amazed and scandalized the elders of her church by doing a performance of decidedly non-religious songs at a cabaret party, in order to raise money. She also discovered a passion for dance that she pursued growing up, and on entering college had decided upon the goal of becoming a choreographer; officially, however, her major at the University of Chicago was anthropology, and she didn't slight her studies in favor of her passion.

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