Gladys Bentley, a Gender Nonconforming American Blues Icon | Episode 104

Portrait of Gladys Bentley

Portrait of Gladys Bentley

Gladys Bentley was a badass, gender nonconforming musician who knocked audiences dead in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and later toured across the country. While at the end of her life conservative American politics forced her to reinvent herself as a more conventional, cisgender performer, you likely will still recognize her for her stark-white suits, top hats, incredible voice, and progressive lyrics. She is one of the great American musicians and we're lucky to have this bad bitch as part of our musical legacy.

INTRO - 08:12 : Hannah and Deanna have a laugh at the recent failed Trump rally in Tulsa.

09:15 - 45:30: Deanna, inspired by last weeks episode on the Combahee River Collective, recounts the intersectional story of our person of the week, Gladys Bentley.

LINKS:

Hear Gladys sing: https://youtu.be/pIVgbyLfJhk

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