Black Girl Magic: Dr. Katherine Dunham

 

 

This post is a continuation of the series dedicated to Black History topics, which resumes with a discussion of Dr. Katherine Dunham.  I will start by saying that this blog post will not and cannot cover the full extent and breadth of her achievements, and readers are encouraged to read through the listed references (at the bottom of this post) to gain a full appreciation of her works and accomplishments.  I do not think any one source can do justice to Katherine Dunham, who is rightly identified as an institution herself, but this post will highlight many of her most notable successes.

 

Katherine Mary Dunham was born in 1909 in Chicago to a Black father and a French-Canadian of Indigenous descent mother.  She grew up in northern Illinois, where she was introduced to the arts and later anthropology when she attended a lecture at the University of Chicago.  It was here that she was inspired to study the field, focusing her research on the anthropology of dance.  Throughout her educational career, to which she earned a Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate in anthropology, she studied anthropology and dance, using these opportunities to not only learn dance techniques of various African diasporas but also the motivations and meanings behind those dances. 

 

Dunham used her anthropological and dance knowledge to form the first African American dance company in Chicago, which led to greater opportunities not only for herself but the African American dancers and associated crew members.  Her company performed at the Chicago World’s Fair, as well as toured across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere globally.  Dunham also opened the first African American dance school in Chicago, which later led to the opening of a dance school in New York City.  It was here where she trained some of Hollywood’s most elite performers, including Eartha Kitt, Marlon Brando, Julie Belafonte, and James Dean.  Dunham went on to choreograph various dances and stage productions, all derived from the African diaspora dances she learned throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.  These were choreographed for stage productions and Hollywood produced films.  She is credited with using dance to elevate the status of Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Latinos, as well as exposing white audiences to African diaspora cultures.

 

Aside from being a world-renowned dancer Dunham used her fame to speak out against human rights injustices.  While touring with her dance company, which employed a large number of African American dancers and crew members, she refused to perform at venues that discriminated against Blacks.  At one venue she announced that their performance was a one time deal due to the treatment of Black audience members by the management.  These advocacy interventions continued even after desegregation occurred as Dunham went on a hunger strike in the early 1990s to protest the treatment of Haitian refugees in the United States.  She was in her 80s at this time.

 

Dunham is also known for authoring nine books in anthropology, as well as a series of articles published in popular magazines and scholarly publications.  She was a widely invited speaker at anthropology associations across the United States.  She is also credited with forming anthropology of dance programs at both Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Edwardsville.  It was at the latter institution that she focused on using the arts to encourage local youths away from deviance and gang lifestyles.  Her work earned her many accolades, honorary doctorates, and awards.

 

Dunham passed away in 2006 at the age of 96, leaving behind a magnificent legacy in both dance and anthropology.  She will be forever known for her achievements, as well as her passion for racial equality and equity for African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Afro-Latinos both domestically and abroad.   

 

References

Cooper, Lily. "Who is Katherine Dunham?" 15 July 2019. Grand Canyon University. Electronic. 9 December 2020.

Library of Congress. Katherine Dunham Timeline (Library of Congress). No Date. Electronic. 9 December 2020.

Unknown. KDCAH - Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities. 2011. Electronic. 9 December 2020.

—. The History Makers. 2020. Electronic. 9 December 2020.