Introducing Bert Williams: Burnt Cork, Broadway, and the Story of America's First Black Star

by Camille F. Forbes

It is not hard to argue that every black performer in show business owes something to Bert Williams. Discovered in California in 1890 by a minstrel troupe manager, Williams swiftly became a regular player in the troupe. Traveling on from the rough-and-ready “medicine shows” that then dotted the West, he rose through the ranks of big-time vaudeville in New York City, and finally ascended to the previously all-white pinnacle of live-stage success: the fabled Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. Inspite of his triumphs-he brought the first musical with an all-black cast to Broadway in 1903-he was often viewed by the black community with more critical suspicion than admiration because of his controversial decision to perform in blackface. Modest, private, and conservative in his personal life, Williams left political activism and soapbox thumping to others. More than the simple narration of a remarkable life, Introducing Bert Williams offers a fascinating window into the fraught issues surrounding race and artistic expression in American culture. The story of Williams’s long and varied career is a whirlwind of inner turmoil, racial tension, glamour, and striving-nothing less than the birth of American show business.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

404 pages, Hardcover

First published January 22, 2008

Reviews

[Creolecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Nancy Cook-senn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Begun as a dissertation at Harvard, this is a meticulously researched biography of the first black star who used black stereotypes both to create success on the stage and to subtly fight against such stereotypes. Beginning in 19th century medicine shows, Williams and his partner George Walker, became a hit vaudeville duo. After his partner’s death, Williams went on to achieve success in many entertainment fields, including Broadway – as a comedian, never offered the serious dramatic roles he wanted.
“In his quiet, methodical way, Bert had worked with and against stereotypical representation. Onstage, he had transcended the minstrel stereotype by offering new inflections of the darky voice. His Jonah Man became a nuanced character with depth, who dared to tell the world about the injustice of his misfortune. Performing alone or with others, he had made the classic character new through various performative approaches that spoke to audiences both black and white.” (p. 331)

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was less a biography of Bert Williams and more an examination of racism in the American arts scene at the start of the 20th century. This book discussed African Americans' attempts to be taken seriously as artists in the midst of a culture that did not accept or want them. Framed around Bert William's, one of the first black stars in America, more subtle attempts to bridge the prejudice, it also examined more outspoken attempts from artists like George and Aida Walker, Jesse Shipp, Ernest Hogan, and others.

It was a very thorough and honest understanding of the African American art scene trying to fight against and, oftentimes, undo the immeasurable damage done by minstrelsy and blackface. This generation of phenomenal talent was overlooked in their time, but paved the way for the great talent that followed them into the theater.

This was a super fascinating and important read. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because at times it read like the author was trying to meet a word count requirement. She would state a point in the first sentence of the paragraph and then spend the next three sentences rewording that first sentence. But I would still highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of American arts and entertainment.

[Ronald A. Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

The story of Bert Williams is one of contradictions. It was, at the same time both triumphant and tragic, its main character being the biggest star of his time, overcoming racial barriers and making history, while living a personal life as private as he could manage under that circumstance (this makes the author’s detective work very impressive). Most importantly, this is a vivid account of the sad history of racism at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s blinding, relentless cruelty nonetheless provides the key to understanding (from a 21st Century lens) the life and work of Bert Williams, brilliantly talented, yet temperamentally unsuited to be a leader when that quality was needed most.

[Kathryn Shevelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story about a late 19th- / early 20th-century black performer--"America's first black star"--which is both well-researched and very well told. Camille Forbes opens up the glamorous but also precarious and fraught world of early vaudeville, particularly for a black performer. A very good read, and also an edifying one!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating and comprehensive works about Bert Williams, one of American's earliest Black entertainers, it is a must-read.

[Steven Spector · Rating 4 out of 5]

A critical work in African-American history, although the devil in the details repeats themes and conclusions much too frequently. For me, Williams' passion for documenting history is the most fascinating aspect of his life. His decision to take the more conservative Booker T. Washington route rather than the one forged by W.E.B. Du Bois may have removed him in the opinions of some from Frederick Douglas or Harriet Tubman "hero" status, although not everyone who makes a positive contribution to humanity (regardless of size) needs to be a hero, do they?

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating info in a pretty good form, though the author has a wearying tendency to follow every large quote with an almost exact paraphrasing of what it said, which as a reader seemed to me a waste of time and tree.

But this is a lot more thorough than the other things I've read on Williams, and is therefore more than worthwhile - he's incredibly compliacated and fascinating and it's good to have a context in which to listen to some of his recordings and watch that rare little poker game.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has given me the broadest slice of information regarding the life and works of Bert Williams. I does a marvelous job of presenting his thought processes and intentions while providing ample context in which to view the results of his labors.

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Bert Williams is amazing. This telling of his story is meh. To think anyone would confuse blackface with the real thing is naive at best, insulting to Williams as a person at worst. I appreciate the story told. Wish it were told better.

[Gary Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear my conversation with Camille Forbes!
http://web.mac.com/garyshapiro