17. She Was Fully Aware of the Discrimination She Faced
As a Black woman in the United States in the 20th century, Dandridge was fully aware of the vast array of powers lined up against her success. She faced racist directors and co-stars, segregated entertainment venues, and a production code that banned interracial relationships. Dandridge once famously said that she knew if she were Betty Grable she’d have been able to capture the world.