Learn more about the Harlem Renaissance icon today
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, RICHARD ARTHUR NORTON
With a top hat, tuxedo and swaggering demeanour, Gladys Bentley made her mark on history by living as her unapologetic self in the 1920s. The blues singer was known for her raunchy performances, cross-dressing and magnificent voice. She lived authentically as herself, giving a rare insight into the life of a Black, butch performer in the Harlem Renaissance.
You may know this iconic picture of the performer, but how much do you actually know about her life and career?
She had a difficult childhood
Growing up, Gladys had a strained relationship with her mother. In an article she wrote for Ebony magazine in 1952, Gladys said that her mother had actually refused to touch her as a baby for the first six months of her life because she had wanted a boy. As a result, Gladys claims that this shaped her behaviour in adulthood.
She headlined clubs in the 1930s with a chorus line of drag queens
It’s hard to put into words how famous Gladys was during the Harlem Renaissance. She was earning $125 a week – about $2,000 now – for her performances in some of the most iconic venues. It’s said that during this time, she even rented a $300/per month apartment on Park Avenue with servants!
She actually had a recording career
While she was primarily a performer on stage, Gladys did actually record several records during her career. In 1928, she signed with Okeh Records, where she recorded eight sides. With her signature deep voice booming, these records captured the heart of Gladys’ sound.
Towards the end of her life, she started to hide herself
Despite being openly lesbian throughout her career, towards the end of her life, she began to hide parts of herself. Many scholars have linked this to the McCarthy Era, a period of time during which left-wing individuals were repressed or persecuted. Gladys claimed that she was no longer a lesbian after “taking female hormones” and was allegedly married to a man. Many historians have stated that this revelation was almost certainly intended to allow Gladys to escape being blacklisted as a performer during this period, thereby protecting her reputation.
By the end of her life, she was training to be a minister
In another slightly rogue move, by the time Gladys passed, she had actually begun the process of training to be a minister. This move may seem a little random, given the fact that Gladys was known for her bawdy and raunchy performances at the start of her career. We don’t really know why Gladys was drawn to this profession, but it remains all part of the complex and nuanced legacy of this iconic performer.
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