Honoring Black History Month: Diahann Carroll

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For me Diahann Carroll is the personification of elegance, class, and beauty. I have always admired her grace on the screen and in real life. For these reasons, she inspires me. Diahann Carroll is an actress, singer, author, and entrepreneur that has created an impressive career for herself in television, film, theater, and as a music artist. Carroll has appeared in films that includes Carmen Jones, Claudine, Paris Blues,  Porgy and Bess, Hurry Sundown, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, and Eve’s Bayou. Carroll has performed in several musicals that include House of Flowers , No Strings , Same Time, Next Year, Agnes of God  and Love Letters . She won a Tony Award for her Broadway role in the musical No Strings in 1962.

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Although Carroll has done alot throughout her career, she is often remembered for her television roles.  In 1968 she starred in the sitcom Julia, making her the first African American woman to star in her own TV series. Her role in the show was also a rarity and pivotal because it was the  first time an Africa American woman lead was playing a role that was in a non-servant and non-stereotypical role in American TV history. She would go on to win a Golden Globe in 1968 for her leading role in the series and was nominated for an Emmy in 1969.The series lasted for 3 seasons. She later moved onto her most well known role as the glamorous , Dominique Deveraux in the 1980’s soap opera, Dynasty. The popular soap opera lasted from 1981 to 1989. She also gained attention for her reoccurring guest appearance role as Marion Gilbert, Whitney Gilbert’s mother in the popular African American sitcom, A Different World (a spinoff to The Cosbys). Carroll continues to makes her mark in television and the theater today. She has proven that a woman can continue to stride and make her mark, no matter the obstacles. She is a legend and is always an inspiration to me.