#harlems

[fyblackwomenart]

"Girl in Pink Dress" by Laura Wheeler Waring 1927

[staticsnowfall]

michaela mabinty deprince (1995-2024)

🩰˚✧₊⁎

today, september 13th, 2024, the ballet world lost an extraordinary dancer and woman.

michaela mabinty deprince was born on january 6th, 1995, as mabinty bangura, in sierra-leone. she was orphaned, her parents passing to due to both direct and indirect causes of the civil war in her home country. she was demonized by her caretakers for her vitiligo, being called a “devil’s child”, and suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse. in 1999, deprince was adopted by an american couple along with another girl, and they were taken to new jersey, united states of america.

her hopes of becoming a ballerina had been planted when she found a ballerina on a magazine cover in her home country. she didn’t know of ballet at the time, but treasured the picture and dreamed of dancing. this dream blossomed into truth when she moved to the states, being put into ballet lessons soon after her arrival. deprince was a four-time participant in youth america grand prix, one of the largest ballet competitions in the united states. she was awarded a scholarship to study at the jaqueline kennedy onassis school of ballet, the associate school of american ballet theatre.

despite facing racial discrimination and other hardships in and out of the industry, deprince persisted in her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. in 2012, at the age of 16, she became the youngest member of dance theatre of harlem, and the next year, she joined the junior company of the dutch national ballet. she soon rose through the ranks, joining the main company and attaining the rank of soloist. she was the first dancer of african origin to ever join the company, and a shining advocate and role model for black women in ballet.

her other accomplishments include being an ambassador for war child holland, a dutch organization working to improve the wellbeing and resilience of children directly affected by war. she visited uganda and lebanon through the organization. she also appeared in beyoncé’s 2016 music video for ‘freedom’.

she will dance among all the stars in the sky. rest in peace beautiful michaela mabinty, you are already so missed. ♡

[iridessence]

Lloyd Yearwood, Photograph of a drag club in Harlem, 1960s

[hardshellsoftinterior]

[that-butch-archivist]

"Ira Jeffries (far right), with her girlfriend, Snowbaby, and her mother, Bonita (standing), celebrating Ira's sixteenth birthday in a Harlem club" from the Lesbian Herstory Archives. Captioned: "I'm the butch but I'm not allowed to dress as I please yet."

source: The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader, edited by Joan Nestle

[zanephillips]

Ashlee Brian as Malik Harlem 1.01 "Pilot"

[yearningforunity]

Harlem, Manhattan (1970/1971).

Photo: Jack Garofalo.

[thefugitivesaint]

Sogata, 'Origin of Species', ''The Tatler'', Vol. 111, #1446, 1929 Source

Sogata was the pseudonym of an unnamed black artist who crafted unique and innovative interior designs most notably the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Unfortunately, there's not a great deal of detail regarding who this artist actually was and why they suddenly disappeared around 1938 (or so).

[zoeyhorse]

Trixie learns how to throw it back

[roses-in-hollywood]

“I’m the star! I’m the big shot around here! Nobody tells me what to do!”

Francine Everett in Dirty Gertie from Harlem USA (1946)

[agelessphotography]

Sonny Rollins with Benny Golson and Thelonious Monk, Harlem, Art Kane, 1958

[culthermag]

A very wavy 16 Year Old Teyana Taylor shoe shopping in Harlem [ 2007 ] — [ x ]

[blacklacerabbit]

Cab Calloway circa 1933 ✨🤍

[iridessence]

A girl act from the Harlem in Havana revue, 1940s, photographed by Garbo photography studio in Chicago.

[possible-streetwear]

KELIS

[eroticlamb]

Two Women in Harlem, New York, July 1970 ♡ Photographed by Jack Garofalo