Whoopi Goldberg Q&A: 'Nobody Wanted Me But The Gay Communy' - Pri Source

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985
HARLEM RENAISSANCE AT 100: MOMS MABLEY, OUT AND OUTSTANDG STAND-UPTHE TRAILBLAZG EDIAN WAS KNOWN AS "MR. MOMS" OFF-STAGE, WHERE SHE WOULD DRS SUS AND ENJOY THE PANY OF YOUNG {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEFEBARY 20, 2020/10:55 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3434PX;WIDTH:5328PX;}PHOTOQUT/GETTY IMAGPORTRA OF AMERIN EDIENNE 'MOMS' MABLEY (BORN LORETTA MARY AIKEN, 1894 - 1975) AS SHE RECL ON A PILE OF PILLOWS SI AN OVERSIZED PICTURE AME, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 1968. (PHOTO BY PHOTOQUT/GETTY IMAG)BY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEFEBARY 20, 2020 / 10:55 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HARLEM RENAISSANCE AT 100: MOMS MABLEY, OUT AND OUTSTANDG STAND-UP","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-02-20T15:55:13.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-02-20T15:55:13.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","KEYWORDS":"BLACK HISTORY MONTH","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, WHICH FLOURISHED DURG THE 1920S, WAS A CULTURAL, ARTISTIC, AND POLIL MOVEMENT—MANY OF WHOSE PARTICIPANTS WERE BRILLIANT QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. EVERYDAY THIS WEEK WE’RE HONORG THEIR NTRIBUTNS HONOR OF THIS VAL MOVEMENT’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. PREVLY: ANGELA WELD GRIMKé, LBIAN POET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF MOMS MABLEY'S MOST POPULAR AND LONGT NNG BS WAS HER AVERSN TO OLD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE A'T NOTH' AN OLD MAN N DO FOR ME BUT BRG ME A MSAGE OM A YOUNG ONE," WENT ONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ANYTIME YOU SEE ME WH MY ARMS AROUND AN OLD MAN, I'M HOLDG HIM FOR THE POLICE," WENT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DON'T WANT NOTH' OLD BUT SOME OLD MONEY," ETC., ETC., ETC. BUT WHILE THE CHARACTER OF MOMS MABLEY WAS A UGAR CHASG AFTER THE LIK OF LEGENDARY BAND LEAR CAB CALLOWAY, THE WOMAN BEHD THE PERSONA WAS OPENLY GAY WHO FED A PROLIFIC REER THAT SPANNED THE MAJORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY, OFTEN HERALD PRS AND PUBLICY MATERIALS AS "THE FUNNIT WOMAN THE WORLD."MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAGUNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: PHOTO OF MOMS MABLEY PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A RARE GLAMOUR SHOT OF MOMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LORETTA MARY AIKEN WAS BORN 1894 NORTH CAROLA, ONE OF 16 CHILDREN TO JAM AIKEN AND MARY SMH. BY THE TIME SHE WAS 14, BOTH OF HER PARENTS HAD BEEN KILLED, SHE HAD BEEN RAPED TWICE, AND SHE HAD GIVEN UP HER TWO RULTG CHILDREN FOR ADOPTN. FACG A LIFE THAT PROMISED MORE SUFFERG, AND SPURRED ON BY HER GRANDMOTHER, LORETTA MAY RAN AWAY TO CLEVELAND, OH, AND JOED THE FAMED VVILLE DUO, BUTTERBEANS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADOPTG THE NAME JACKIE MABLEY—A FORMER, ABIVE BOYIEND—MABLEY BEGAN CULTIVATG THE "MOMS" PERSONA BASED ON HER GRANDMOTHER, EARNG THE MATERNAL MONIKER FOR THE WAY SHE DOTED ON OTHER EDIANS ON THE CHL CIRCU OF THEATERS THAT WELED AND TERED TO BLACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY ARRIVED NEW YORK CY AROUND 1921, DURG THE NASCENT STAG OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY H {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN MOMS GOT TO HARLEM, WOW, SHE PERFORMED ALL OF THE GREAT PLAC THAT THERE WERE HARLEM—CONNIE'S INN, COTTON CLUB," WHOOPI GOLDBERG SAYS HER 2013 DOCUMENTARY, WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRENTS MOMS MABLEY. "SHE WAS ON THE BILL WH CAB CALLOWAY AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG, AND THEY WERE VERY TIGHT. SHE'D MEET ZORA NEALE HURSTON. THEY'D WRE A MIL TOGETHER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INED, MABLEY AND HURSTON LLABORATED ON THE 1931 BROADWAY SHOW FAST AND FUR: A COLORED REVUE 37 SCEN, WH MABLEY PLAYG THE LEAD ROLE S SHORT N. THIS, HOWEVER, JT GO TO SHOW HOW EE BLACK CREATIVY RAN THROUGH THE STREETS OF HARLEM THE '20S AND '30S. ALONG WH CREATIVY, SEXUALY WAS ALSO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACRDG TO SOME SOURC, MOMS MABLEY "ME OUT" AS A LBIAN WHEN SHE WAS 27, THOUGH HER DIENC WERE CERTALY KEPT THE DARK. WHILE SHE DRSED AS A SIMPLE, MOTHER-LIKE FIGURE FOR HER ACT, FOR HER EVERYDAY LIFE MABLEY FAVORED SMART SUG—SILK SHIRTS, TI, AND FEDORAS—AS SHE DONNED HER FILM BUT, 1933'S THE EMPEROR JON WH PL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN GOLDBERG'S DOCUMENTARY, NORMA MILLER, A DANCER KNOWN AS THE "QUEEN OF SWG," REUNTS SHARG A DRSG ROOM WH MOMS—AND HER GIRLIEND—FOR TWO WEEKS, AND HOW THE EDIAN'S SEXUALY WAS AN OPEN SECRET THAT NO ONE REALLY SEEMED TO QUTN OR RE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"SHE WAS MOMS ON STAGE BUT SHE WALKED OFF THAT STAGE, SHE WAS 'MR. MOMS.' AND THERE WAS NO QUTN ABOUT ," MILLER SAYS. "AND HAD THE GREATT INTY FOR TWO THGS. 'CSE ONSTAGE SHE WAS REALLY MOMS AND SHE WAS ALWAYS AFTER THE GREAT CAB CALLOWAY. BUT YOU NEVER SAW HER WH A YOUNG MAN. YOU SAW HER WH A YOUNG GIRL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLER NTU, "SHE WAS THE FIRST PLETE—I DON'T KNOW, WE NEVER LLED MOMS A 'HOMOSEXUAL.' THAT WORD NEVER F HER. WE NEVER LLED HER 'GAY.' WE LLED HER 'MR. MOMS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY MAY HAVE VERY WELL BEEN BISEXUAL, AS SHE DID HAVE AFFAIRS WH MEN AND HAD FOUR MORE CHILDREN ADDN TO THE ON SHE GAVE UP FOR ADOPTN AS A TEENAGER. STILL, GOLDBERG ATTRIBUT THE NONCHALANCE ABOUT MOMS' SEXUALY TO THE TIME PERD WHEN WAS "NOBODY'S BS" AND THE WAY MOMS WAS TREATED AS THE ONLY WOMAN THE MALE-DOMATED WORLD OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I THK THAT SHE WAS A WOMAN AMONG MEN WHO WAS EQUAL TO THOSE MEN AND THEY TREATED HER LIKE A MAN," GOLDBERG EXPLAS. "AND I THK THAT IS WHAT HELPED GIVE HER THE LONGEVY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY NTUED TO BE A POPULAR DRAW AMONG AIN AMERIN DIENC THROUGHOUT THE '30S, '40S, AND '50S, BUT WHEN SHE FALLY MA HER WAY ONTO TELEVISN THE '60S, SHE BEGAN TO APPEAL TO A NEWER, YOUNGER, AND WHER DIENCE. TLY, SHE HAD HER GREATT SUCCS AS A EDIAN HER TWILIGHT YEARS.WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG PHOTO ARCHIVTHE MUSIC SCENE 1969-70 - "SHOW COVERAGE (M 7)" WHICH AIRED ONNOVEMEBR 3, 1969. (PHOTO BY WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG PHOTO ARCHIV/WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG) MOMS MABLEY;LILY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOMS MABLEY WH FELLOW PNEERG LBIAN EDIAN LILY TOML, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WANDA SYK, WHO CLEARLY OW A LOT TO MOMS MABLEY, RECENTLY STEPPED TO HER FY HOE-SHO THE THIRD SEASON FALE OF THE MARVELO MRS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN SO MANY WAYS, 'S PERFECT THAT AN OUT, BLACK, STAND-UP EDIAN WOULD HONOR THE WOMAN WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR HER, BRIDGG THE GAPS BETWEEN VVILLE, THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, AND TODAY, AND PROVG THAT JOK ABOUT OLD MEN NEVER GO OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}BLACK HISTORY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
WHOOPI GOLDBERG Q&A: ‘NOBODY WANTED ME BUT THE GAY COMMUNY’

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

"We never lled Moms a homosexual. That word never f her. We never lled her gay. We lled her Mr. Moms." * was moms mabley gay *

Add Miller, "We never lled Moms a homosexual.

We never lled her gay. 's Howard Theatre, told the Washgton Bla a 2012 terview that Mabley socialized wh a circle of lbian and gay iends Washgton when she performed at the Howard the 1940s. On one ocsn durg that perd, followg her show at the Howard, Mabley anized a "gay" party at a nearby nightclub that was raid by police, acrdg to Powers.

” She add, “We never lled Moms a homosexual.

HARLEM RENAISSANCE AT 100: MOMS MABLEY, OUT AND OUTSTANDG STAND-UPTHE TRAILBLAZG EDIAN WAS KNOWN AS "MR. MOMS" OFF-STAGE, WHERE SHE WOULD DRS SUS AND ENJOY THE PANY OF YOUNG {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEFEBARY 20, 2020/10:55 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3434PX;WIDTH:5328PX;}PHOTOQUT/GETTY IMAGPORTRA OF AMERIN EDIENNE 'MOMS' MABLEY (BORN LORETTA MARY AIKEN, 1894 - 1975) AS SHE RECL ON A PILE OF PILLOWS SI AN OVERSIZED PICTURE AME, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 1968. (PHOTO BY PHOTOQUT/GETTY IMAG)BY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEFEBARY 20, 2020 / 10:55 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HARLEM RENAISSANCE AT 100: MOMS MABLEY, OUT AND OUTSTANDG STAND-UP","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-02-20T15:55:13.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-02-20T15:55:13.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","KEYWORDS":"BLACK HISTORY MONTH","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, WHICH FLOURISHED DURG THE 1920S, WAS A CULTURAL, ARTISTIC, AND POLIL MOVEMENT—MANY OF WHOSE PARTICIPANTS WERE BRILLIANT QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. EVERYDAY THIS WEEK WE’RE HONORG THEIR NTRIBUTNS HONOR OF THIS VAL MOVEMENT’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. PREVLY: ANGELA WELD GRIMKé, LBIAN POET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF MOMS MABLEY'S MOST POPULAR AND LONGT NNG BS WAS HER AVERSN TO OLD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE A'T NOTH' AN OLD MAN N DO FOR ME BUT BRG ME A MSAGE OM A YOUNG ONE," WENT ONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ANYTIME YOU SEE ME WH MY ARMS AROUND AN OLD MAN, I'M HOLDG HIM FOR THE POLICE," WENT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DON'T WANT NOTH' OLD BUT SOME OLD MONEY," ETC., ETC., ETC. BUT WHILE THE CHARACTER OF MOMS MABLEY WAS A UGAR CHASG AFTER THE LIK OF LEGENDARY BAND LEAR CAB CALLOWAY, THE WOMAN BEHD THE PERSONA WAS OPENLY GAY WHO FED A PROLIFIC REER THAT SPANNED THE MAJORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY, OFTEN HERALD PRS AND PUBLICY MATERIALS AS "THE FUNNIT WOMAN THE WORLD."MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY IMAGUNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: PHOTO OF MOMS MABLEY PHOTO BY MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIV/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A RARE GLAMOUR SHOT OF MOMS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LORETTA MARY AIKEN WAS BORN 1894 NORTH CAROLA, ONE OF 16 CHILDREN TO JAM AIKEN AND MARY SMH. BY THE TIME SHE WAS 14, BOTH OF HER PARENTS HAD BEEN KILLED, SHE HAD BEEN RAPED TWICE, AND SHE HAD GIVEN UP HER TWO RULTG CHILDREN FOR ADOPTN. FACG A LIFE THAT PROMISED MORE SUFFERG, AND SPURRED ON BY HER GRANDMOTHER, LORETTA MAY RAN AWAY TO CLEVELAND, OH, AND JOED THE FAMED VVILLE DUO, BUTTERBEANS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADOPTG THE NAME JACKIE MABLEY—A FORMER, ABIVE BOYIEND—MABLEY BEGAN CULTIVATG THE "MOMS" PERSONA BASED ON HER GRANDMOTHER, EARNG THE MATERNAL MONIKER FOR THE WAY SHE DOTED ON OTHER EDIANS ON THE CHL CIRCU OF THEATERS THAT WELED AND TERED TO BLACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY ARRIVED NEW YORK CY AROUND 1921, DURG THE NASCENT STAG OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY H {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN MOMS GOT TO HARLEM, WOW, SHE PERFORMED ALL OF THE GREAT PLAC THAT THERE WERE HARLEM—CONNIE'S INN, COTTON CLUB," WHOOPI GOLDBERG SAYS HER 2013 DOCUMENTARY, WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRENTS MOMS MABLEY. "SHE WAS ON THE BILL WH CAB CALLOWAY AND LOUIS ARMSTRONG, AND THEY WERE VERY TIGHT. SHE'D MEET ZORA NEALE HURSTON. THEY'D WRE A MIL TOGETHER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INED, MABLEY AND HURSTON LLABORATED ON THE 1931 BROADWAY SHOW FAST AND FUR: A COLORED REVUE 37 SCEN, WH MABLEY PLAYG THE LEAD ROLE S SHORT N. THIS, HOWEVER, JT GO TO SHOW HOW EE BLACK CREATIVY RAN THROUGH THE STREETS OF HARLEM THE '20S AND '30S. ALONG WH CREATIVY, SEXUALY WAS ALSO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACRDG TO SOME SOURC, MOMS MABLEY "ME OUT" AS A LBIAN WHEN SHE WAS 27, THOUGH HER DIENC WERE CERTALY KEPT THE DARK. WHILE SHE DRSED AS A SIMPLE, MOTHER-LIKE FIGURE FOR HER ACT, FOR HER EVERYDAY LIFE MABLEY FAVORED SMART SUG—SILK SHIRTS, TI, AND FEDORAS—AS SHE DONNED HER FILM BUT, 1933'S THE EMPEROR JON WH PL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN GOLDBERG'S DOCUMENTARY, NORMA MILLER, A DANCER KNOWN AS THE "QUEEN OF SWG," REUNTS SHARG A DRSG ROOM WH MOMS—AND HER GIRLIEND—FOR TWO WEEKS, AND HOW THE EDIAN'S SEXUALY WAS AN OPEN SECRET THAT NO ONE REALLY SEEMED TO QUTN OR RE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"SHE WAS MOMS ON STAGE BUT SHE WALKED OFF THAT STAGE, SHE WAS 'MR. MOMS.' AND THERE WAS NO QUTN ABOUT ," MILLER SAYS. "AND HAD THE GREATT INTY FOR TWO THGS. 'CSE ONSTAGE SHE WAS REALLY MOMS AND SHE WAS ALWAYS AFTER THE GREAT CAB CALLOWAY. BUT YOU NEVER SAW HER WH A YOUNG MAN. YOU SAW HER WH A YOUNG GIRL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLER NTU, "SHE WAS THE FIRST PLETE—I DON'T KNOW, WE NEVER LLED MOMS A 'HOMOSEXUAL.' THAT WORD NEVER F HER. WE NEVER LLED HER 'GAY.' WE LLED HER 'MR. MOMS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY MAY HAVE VERY WELL BEEN BISEXUAL, AS SHE DID HAVE AFFAIRS WH MEN AND HAD FOUR MORE CHILDREN ADDN TO THE ON SHE GAVE UP FOR ADOPTN AS A TEENAGER. STILL, GOLDBERG ATTRIBUT THE NONCHALANCE ABOUT MOMS' SEXUALY TO THE TIME PERD WHEN WAS "NOBODY'S BS" AND THE WAY MOMS WAS TREATED AS THE ONLY WOMAN THE MALE-DOMATED WORLD OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I THK THAT SHE WAS A WOMAN AMONG MEN WHO WAS EQUAL TO THOSE MEN AND THEY TREATED HER LIKE A MAN," GOLDBERG EXPLAS. "AND I THK THAT IS WHAT HELPED GIVE HER THE LONGEVY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MABLEY NTUED TO BE A POPULAR DRAW AMONG AIN AMERIN DIENC THROUGHOUT THE '30S, '40S, AND '50S, BUT WHEN SHE FALLY MA HER WAY ONTO TELEVISN THE '60S, SHE BEGAN TO APPEAL TO A NEWER, YOUNGER, AND WHER DIENCE. TLY, SHE HAD HER GREATT SUCCS AS A EDIAN HER TWILIGHT YEARS.WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG PHOTO ARCHIVTHE MUSIC SCENE 1969-70 - "SHOW COVERAGE (M 7)" WHICH AIRED ONNOVEMEBR 3, 1969. (PHOTO BY WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG PHOTO ARCHIV/WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG) MOMS MABLEY;LILY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOMS MABLEY WH FELLOW PNEERG LBIAN EDIAN LILY TOML, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WANDA SYK, WHO CLEARLY OW A LOT TO MOMS MABLEY, RECENTLY STEPPED TO HER FY HOE-SHO THE THIRD SEASON FALE OF THE MARVELO MRS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN SO MANY WAYS, 'S PERFECT THAT AN OUT, BLACK, STAND-UP EDIAN WOULD HONOR THE WOMAN WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR HER, BRIDGG THE GAPS BETWEEN VVILLE, THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, AND TODAY, AND PROVG THAT JOK ABOUT OLD MEN NEVER GO OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}BLACK HISTORY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Moms Mabley was…to be blunt...a goddamn Amerin Instutn. Gay, black and all kds of polil, she was smashg boundari left and right. * was moms mabley gay *

’s Howard Theatre, told the Washgton Bla a 2012 terview that Mabley socialized wh a circle of lbian and gay iends Washgton when she performed at the Howard the 1940s.

On one ocsn durg that perd, followg her show at the Howard, Mabley anized a “gay” party at a nearby nightclub that was raid by police, acrdg to Powers. Is ‘cisgenr gay man’ an oxymoron? But while the character of Moms Mabley was a ugar chasg after the lik of legendary band lear Cab Calloway, the woman behd the persona was openly gay who fed a prolific reer that spanned the majory of the 20th century, often herald prs and publicy materials as "the funnit woman the world.

"Miller ntu, "She was the first plete—I don't know, we never lled Moms a 'homosexual. We never lled her 'gay.