She was beautiful, she could dance, she could sing, and she could act. Most importantly, she had that indefinable magnetism that attracts an audience and holds their attention. In short, she had everything it took to be a major star in the 1950s. Everything, that is, except white skin. Today, actresses of color like Halle Berry win Oscar's, are hired to be "the face" of prestigious cosmetic companies, and are widely celebrated for their beauty, talent, and sex-appeal. But Dorothy Dandridge was an African-American in a less enlightened age where she could perform at the most exclusive nightclubs in the country - but she wasn't allowed to sit in the audience. She could sing at the top hotel hot spots in Las Vegas, but she couldn't get a room
