Etta M. Barnett was a talented singer, actress and public figure. During her life, this woman tried more than one role and coped brilliantly with each of them. She broke many stereotypes on stage, screen and radio. Discover more about her life and work on chicagoka.com.
Childhood and youth
Etta was born on November 5, 1901 in Weimar, Texas. She was the only child in the family of a priest and a teacher. From early childhood, Barnett began singing in the church choir and dreamed of a big stage. Her parents supported and encouraged their daughter in all her endeavors. When the girl turned 17, she met Curtis Brooks and married him. The couple had three children. However, the woman never knew happiness. After 6 years of living with a tyrant husband, she took a bold step that radically changed her life. Etta filed for divorce and entered the University of Kansas. There, she began to study vocals, drama and pedagogy, relying on her parents to help raise her children.
Broadway star
After graduating from university, Etta went to Chicago and met journalist Claude Barnett. Inspired by the talent of the young woman, he recommended her to his influential acquaintances in New York. Soon, Claude and Etta started dating. In 1934, they got married and moved to New York. There, Etta joined the Eva Jessye Choir. At this point, Barnett’s career began to develop actively. She managed to achieve fame in the theater, playing in the legendary Broadway productions Sugar Hill, Lysistrata, Porgy and Bess, etc.
Her beautiful voice brought Barnett to the White House. She impressed Franklin Roosevelt with her performance. He invited her to sing at his birthday party in 1934. Thus, Etta became the first African-American star to perform at the White House. After that, the woman first appeared in a movie as a Brazilian singer. The film Flying Down to Rio also marked the debut of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The song The Carioca, which Barnett performed, was nominated for an Academy Award.
At the peak of her fame, Etta met George Gershwin. He was working on the opera Porgy and Bess and decided that Barnett would be perfect for the main role. After that, the artist gave many concerts on the Broadway stage. In 1952, her last performance took place. Then, she lost her voice due to a cyst in her throat.
Travelling and community activities
After the end of her singing career, Etta began a new phase in her life. In 1947, she and her husband made the first trip to Africa. Over the years, the woman was present at independence ceremonies and accompanied Vice President Richard Nixon. Traveling to Africa, the Barnetts collected art objects to decorate their home, brought artifacts and knowledge to Chicago to share with their compatriots. They also gave lectures about Africa. In 1949, the Barnetts began keeping a travel journal, describing the coast of West Africa and its interior.
For a time, Etta was passionate about women’s rights and feminism. In the 1970s and 1980s, she used her travel experiences to participate in the UN program Decade for Women. She also became a member of The Links, Inc., a public organization uniting prominent African-American women in the United States.
In 1967, Claude died. Etta continued to live in Chicago, expanding her activities. She often served on the boards of directors of museums, the University of Chicago and other cultural institutions. She was also a trustee of the International Council of Christians and Jews. The woman led a busy social life. She communicated with famous people and attended social events. It is worth noting that until the age of 95 she wore high-heeled shoes. Everyone admired her kindness, beauty and talent. Etta Barnett passed away on January 2, 2004.