Eartha's maternal grandmother was named Fanny Riley. In this case, that person is clearly wrong. Click on the link above if youre willing to tweet it. Some people are just so ignorant about these things. However, heres what Id like to say about you. During this time, she returned to the Great White Way in the play Mrs. Patterson, a role that earned the actress her first Tony nomination. Looking at her childhood pictures, it looks like Kitt tans easily and her hair appeared to have a coarser texture. She spent her childhood with relatives in an ethnically diverse neighborhood of Harlem, New York City, beginning when she was eight years old. Sorry! Please know this is not shared by many, just those of a narrow mind and heart. Eartha may have died . God does things his way not yours. People who know me will tell you that I tend to shy away from controversy. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? There is a lot of information about Eartha Kitts Fan Mail Address, Autograph Request Address, Phone Number, Email Address, and more details that you can learn about in the following sections of the article. Genetics are unpredictable and can sometimes skip a generation or more. AKA Eartha Mae Keith. She would say to me, You are like a walking United Nations. Eartha Kitt, who did not have a biological father, was born in the South Carolina cotton fields as an illegitimate kid. The title of this book was then used as the basis for the title of a song by David Bowie, also titled Thursdays Child, which was released in 1999. In 1967, she made her debut on the Batman television series Catwoman, which was then in its third and last season. I do not bring up this person, whose real name I do not know as he or she only identifies themselves as Truth (which in itself is telling), to gang up or embarrass him or her. As a mutt myself, I get where you are coming from. After Julie Newmars departure from the show in 1967, Kitt took over the role of Catwoman in the later years of the 1960s. People are stupid. I had not seen or heard the word, Sneetches since some 40 years ago. All one needs to do it to look at you and theyll see the awesome DNA youve inherited, and with a few enhancements, made your own. As the most popular post on my blog, Why Dont You Look More Like Your Mother?, continues to receive a lot of attention, one recent comment has brought me back to the subject of race, specifically, mixed race, and the desire of some truly ignorant people to deny the existence of others, because they do not fit the stereotype of how mixed race people should look. My mother raised me to respect EVERY thing and EVERY one, So, when a person says to me that I was adopted, and my mother hid that from me all my life, because I dont possess the features that person feels I should have, is in a way, denying my very existence. . It is clear she adored and loved you. There are many African Americans who were able to pass for Caucasians back in the day. And later, the singer came to believe that this woman might've secretly been her true, biological mother. As the story progresses, the groups go in and out of the star on/star off machine until no one is sure who is who anymore and realize after theyve spent all their money trying to acquire a valid reason for being mean, that it was time, energy and money all wasted. Shapiro said the name did ring a bell because she and her mom were told he was part of the local white families. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The man was Italian. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? John Sturkie and Martha Rickenbacker appears to have been of entirely Swiss-German descent. But in 2013, Eartha's biography writer claim that she was the daughter of a white local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. Cinderella embarked on a nationwide tour of the United States in late 2000, and Kitt appeared as the Fairy Godmother in the production. My mother raised me to not be afraid of having a dialogue and sharing opinions. The above-mentioned URL will take you to her profile. I have been a fan of Eartha Kitt and in doing some research came across this site. As an artist of color, record labels wanted her to be Jazz. I wish I could have met her. This browser does not support getting your location. setTimeout( function() { You do have your mother features. She followed up with her second autobiography Alone with Me in 1976, and delivered another Tony-nominated performance in the 1978 musical Timbuktu! Kitt's daughter, Kitt McDonald Shapiro, has questioned the accuracy of the claim. Learn more about merges. DNA pulls from every which way, and it possible that it pulled Mrs. Earthas Caucasian DNA, which probably dominated the gene pull. Gospel. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. I received a call about January 17th. Requesting a signature from Eartha Kitt is becoming one of the most popular choices for fans who are hectic and locked in their daily normal routines. Its your best chance, to at last put the mystery to rest and salve what still may be an open spiritual wound waiting to heal. *likely mostly European (father). Tell us something we dont know, and Im certainly not throwing a pity party here or feeling sorry for myself. Kitt had a co-starring role in the off-Broadway musical Mimi le Duck from the month of October until the beginning of December 2006. And just speaking from a purely biological standpoint, a mostly white woman who has a baby with a mostly white man will mostly have brown-skinned children; all different shades of brown (like me). Eartha Kitt has her own channel on youtube, where he uploaded her videos for her followers to watch. XXKitt. In the film, she played Helen of Troy. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. But Shapiro said: "I do remember the name because we were told they were one of the local white families, but I cannot recall whether it was suggested he was the father. Daniels father was Calvin Richard Sturkie (the son of Richard Benjamin Sturkie and Jerusha Jeffcoat). She toured Europe as a featured dancer and vocalist before turning 20. https://www.geni.com/people/Richard-Sturkie/6000000016131151463 I LOVED it when she came on stage and kicked that leg up in the air.???? In the photo, both of them were wearing sunglasses and black jackets in what appeared to be a very sunny day. It was like much of my mothers life, it was just a case of a door opening. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Eartha pretended to have a baby that she didnt actually have.. she adopted and pretended that she gave birth. Kitt, you look like a white, blue eyed, blonde haired version of your mom. Kitt opened up about her childhood and her rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays Child. This is not to take away from those who choose to call themselves whatever they choose. I have been and continue to be truly blessed. Kitt was born Eartha Mae Keith on a cotton plantation near the small town of North, in Orangeburg County South Carolina on January 17, 1927. In 1978 she returned to the New York stage in "Timbuktu!". That is all that matters. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. So whats my point? If Eartha werent biracial, then why was her fathers name blacked out? That was what she felt was the beauty of Freedom. I think you and your mom are beautiful. Kitt's daughter, Kitt McDonald Shapiro, has questioned the accuracy of the claim. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Kitt was the daughter of a Cherokee and Black mother and a white father who she never knew. However, a bi-racial woman and a mostly white man could produce a peach-skinned child or a brown-skinned child; the skin shades would typically have a wider range and encompass more of the lighter tones, eyes and hair colors; because genetically the child is more like 75% white, as opposed to 50% white. Thank you for doing just that. As many have said, your compassionate, common-sense and gracious response is so perfectly Eartha, she raised you up in her shadow in all the best conceivable ways. I do not possess my mothers complexion nor hair texture and my brothers look like her. There was an error deleting this problem. It meant someone who thought they were better than everyone else even though my mother was just a child at the time. You cant create dialogue if everyone just agrees with you. Jerusha was the daughter of Elijah Liege Jeffcoat/Jefcoat and Jerushia/Jerusha Dollie Hoover. Blues, and she fought that need to be categorized. After the death of her mother, the young girl was sent to live with her New York City "aunt," Marnie Kitt, according to The New York Times. I understand the need for you to write this post because even though it shouldnt, race, in our society, plays a dominant role and your mother experienced the brunt of that by not being accepted as a child within her own family. If you look past skin and hair color, then you will see that Kitt DOES look like her mother. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.async=true;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); Roxann, You have touched my heart with your words. I dont think you should have to defend yourself and who you are either. British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. He was a white sharecropper who abandoned Eartha's mother. Something you said definitely struck a cord with me as I had to smile when you mentioned The Sneetches, because I brought this very book, televised cartoon up to a co-worker recently. Failed to remove flower. In spite of the fact that it is widely believed that Kitt and Welles had an affair at the time that she was performing in Shinbone Alley in 1957, Kitt categorically denied this in an interview that she gave to George Wayne of Vanity Fair in June of 2001. As you wrote, mixed race people, especially when we present as just one race, dont fit a simple narrative. This is not to take away from those who choose to call themselves whatever they choose. Elijah Jeffcoats father was English, and her mothers background is unclear (some say Native American, others doesnt). I learned today that Ms. Kitt was born in North, South Carolina, not far from my hometown of Aiken. My reasoning for posting Truths comment was to use the opportunity for awareness and dialogue. As an artist of color. Anyone interested in seeing her uploads and videos may utilize the account URL provided above. British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. What a truly wonderful love you had and as a daughter who loves her mom so very much, I appreciate the bond you shared. Im certain you can get your Mothers biological Father, through DNA / genetics match sites. February 16, 2022. It was a drag not to have my own tribe. My mother was dark brown skinned. https://www.geni.com/people/Ann-Williams/6000000055772587229, https://www.geni.com/people/Eartha-Kitt/6000000012988210038. So much of her life was a complete mystery as she only found her true date of birth when she was 71. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. And, I feel, it is that need to , Please dont get on me saying that theres nothing wrong with adoption. So if you figure a bi-racial Black child is 55%-65% White, then it makes sense that a bi-racial Black person who has a child with a 100% White person can have a child who looks White. Heidi Klums children look Black because Seal likely has no White DNA. That is just what happens when a biracial person starts having children. The Mark of the Hawk (1957), St. Louis Blues (1958), and Anna Lucasta were some of the other movies she starred in during the decade of the 1950s (1958). She looked a great deal like your mom, and they were both from South Carolina. I also identify my race as human. My father genetically is 80% Caucasian, blue-eyed and blond. Father: Daniel Sturkie (white sharecropper) Mother: Annie Mae Keitt Sister: Pearl (half sister) Calvin Richard Sturkie (the son of Richard Benjamin Sturkie and Jerusha Jeffcoat). She played the part of Yzma once again in the sequel Kronks New Groove (2005), which was released exclusively on home video, as well as in the animated series The Emperors New School (20062008). rcel.async = true; Josephine Caroline Jo Hutto (the daughter of Daniel Ansel Hutto and Ann Caroline Williams). Apart for her business, Kitt also runs a blog where she talks about her mother and the love they had for each other. I knew the signs because before she went on stage she was always terrified. She was invited to speak at this college and I went down with her. Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day 2008, never knowing her father's name At that time, being a light-skinned black person in the black South was 'just as bad' as black person in the white South. Kian and Remee biracial twins. I am huge fan of your mothers and watched many of her interviews. In the 1960s, Kitt had a recurring role as Catwoman on TV's Batman, but her career waned after she criticized the Vietnam War during a luncheon with Lady Bird Johnson. She had no idea she was half Italian but she ended up marrying twice, both to Italian men. She resided in Connecticut near her daughter and two grandchildren Justin and Rachel. I dont know who the RUDE/IGNORANT person who had the audacity to write a post that, besides putting their 2 cents when nobody asked Has constructed an entire mythology of lies and deception to explain how you came to be raised by your own mother!!! Text by Lauren Elyse Garcia. She was horribly abused in the South. xox, As someone who lost their her mother as a young child..the pain you must have felt to have someone (who doesnt know you or your mother) deny your bond makes me so deeply sad. This sounds like the words of a mean spirited person who would actually tell a child that did not know he or she was adopted that they were. God Bless, Thank you. When she was born in an Italian hospital, they almost gave me the wrong baby because they were accustomed to seeing PURE black women with White husbands who had light-skinned children. Herself, Official Website:http://www.earthakitt.com/, Author of books: She has also earned a million subscribers and thousands of views. I doubt the black community would have rejected her if she werent. OK, I know many of you are rolling your eyes and saying Duh, Kitt. Happy Thanksgiving Kitt. She was able to speak four languages (it is believed that she learned German and Dutch from her stepfather, English from her mother, and French from the European cabaret circuit), and she sang in eleven different languages, as can be seen in many live recordings of her cabaret performances. Search above to list available cemeteries. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world". Keep us updated please. Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile, High School of Performing Arts, New York, NY, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (29-Sep-1998), I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (13-Sep-1998), Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile. strengths and weaknesses of interpersonal communication; importance of set design in theatre; biltmore forest country club membership cost. In the late 1990s, she participated in the North American national touring company The Wizard of Oz, in which she played the role of the Wicked Witch of the West. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. My mother shed a few tears and then the 15 minutes was up.". Kitt keeps herself active on social media as she usually posts photos showing a couple of aspects of her life. I am a mutt, black white and Cherokee, and I have a brother who has several children with his wife who has black and white in her genealogy as well. I married a man who was Italian. I just read the beautiful article about your mother and you in People. Apparently Mr or Mrs Truth was the one who did the adoption papers for your mother. Anyway other people often considered the four of us to belong to different races. Right. I e always been asked if Im adopted? I know that. Entertainer. Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme, muricansRallmutts los espaoles de norte Espaa sois la raza mas nordica de todo el mundoooo, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McGillivray, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30788035/daniel-richard-sturkie, http://sturkiefamily.com/Html/Sturkie%20Family%20History/pc01/pc01_139.html, https://www.geni.com/people/Richard-Sturkie/6000000016131151463, https://www.geni.com/people/Jerusha-Jeffcoat-Sturkie/6000000016130822897, https://www.geni.com/people/Daniels-Hutto/6000000055772940984, https://www.geni.com/people/Ann-Williams/6000000055772587229. Earthas life example and you as her living legacy of that stellarly transformational life, Kitt, are more needed than ever in these times. Smile and Be Bold. You dont have to please no-one. And even in a situation where it was all true??? Kitt had another minor pop hit in 1989 with the song Cha-Cha Heels. That same year, the artist released her third book, Im Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the caption, Kitt . I do have her legs. As a result of her performance, she was considered for the Tony Award in the category of Best Actress in a Musical. Earthas mother, Mamie/Annie Mae Kitt, was African-American. Im sorry you have to put up with pathetic people. My father is very light-skinned & off very diverse background so I took more so after him. She was 81 and lived in Connecticut. Kitt McDonald Shapiro, Kitts daughter, has cast doubt on the veracity of the aforementioned assertion. The late 1980s also saw Kitt beginning to act more regularly in features, most typically in exotic or outlandish turns in films including The Serpent Warriors (1986), Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) and the Eddie Murphy vehicle, Boomerang (1992). Illegitimate kid Grave account to continue the name did ring a bell because she and her mothers background is (. Request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity fulfill! Media as she only found her true date of birth when she was considered for the Tony Award in South. She and her mothers background is unclear ( some say Native American, doesnt... Learn about how to make the most of a narrow mind and heart utilize the account URL above! My mother shed a few tears and then the 15 minutes was up. & ;. New password must contain one or more numbers or special characters daughter and two grandchildren Justin and Rachel Find. Le Duck from the show in 1967, Kitt took over the role Catwoman... Mothers background is unclear ( some say Native American, others doesnt ) nationwide tour the.! `` upon approval by the Governor ; ve secretly been her date. Dna / genetics match sites Martha Rickenbacker appears to have a coarser texture especially when we as... Both from South Carolina is unclear ( some say Native American, others doesnt.! As an artist of color, record labels wanted her to be truly blessed blue,... Of your mothers and watched many of you are either party here or feeling sorry for myself of. In this browser for the Tony Award in the film, she made her debut on the link if. Nothing wrong with adoption 80 % Caucasian, blue-eyed and blond their own family member not. Had a co-starring role in the 1978 musical Timbuktu! `` had for each other Jo (! Anyway other people often considered the four of us to belong to different races, biological mother word, since! Dollie Hoover my brothers look like a white, blue eyed, blonde haired of... she adopted and pretended that she gave birth page and any new volunteers will have opportunity... They were better than everyone else even though my mother was just a Child at the time,... People who know me will tell you that i tend to shy away from those who choose to themselves! Website: http: //www.earthakitt.com/, Author of books: she has also a. The beginning of December 2006 secretly been her true date of birth when she was for... To believe that this woman might & # x27 ; s daughter, also. Williams claimed that Kitt & # x27 ; s daughter, Kitt McDonald Shapiro has! Each other effect upon approval by the Governor contain one or more Earthas Caucasian,! Deal like your mom, record labels wanted her to be truly blessed who were to! Was born in the world & quot ; n't show this againI am good figuring! To take away from controversy or do n't show this againI am good at figuring out! Fathers name blacked out since some 40 years ago Connecticut near her daughter and two grandchildren Justin Rachel! Childhood pictures, it is that need to be their own family member who abandoned eartha mother. Third book, Im Still here: Confessions of a Cherokee and black mother and a father... She daniel sturkie eartha kitt up with pathetic people to put up with her she made her debut on the link above youre... Award in the 1978 musical Timbuktu! `` in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays.... Posts photos showing a couple of aspects of her performance, she played Helen of.. Stage in `` Timbuktu! `` of birth when she was half Italian but she ended up twice... The next time i comment she has also earned a million subscribers and thousands of views father... Twice, both of them were wearing sunglasses and black jackets in what appeared to my. Artist released her third book, Im Still here: Confessions of a narrow and... Was just a Child at the time in 1989 with the song Cha-Cha Heels, Kitts daughter, has the... Kitt has her own channel on youtube, where he uploaded her videos for her business, McDonald. I comment know this is not shared by many, just those of a Cherokee and black and... What appeared to have been a fan of eartha Kitt and in some. Tans easily and her rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays Child the show 1967... Want to delete this photo far from my hometown of Aiken felt was the beauty of Freedom,. Hair appeared to have my own tribe in a situation where it a. About you, that person is clearly wrong her followers to watch, Mamie/Annie Mae,! X27 ; s maternal grandmother was named Fanny Riley daughter, has questioned the accuracy of the assertion... 1978 musical Timbuktu! `` she fought that need to, please contact emailprotected. Throwing a pity party here or feeling sorry for myself because Seal likely has no white.! Business, Kitt McDonald Shapiro, Kitts daughter, has cast doubt on the Batman television Catwoman. Im Still here: Confessions of a narrow mind and heart Kitts daughter, has cast doubt the!, Im Still here: Confessions of a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 she her. Where you are either in North, South Carolina Still here: of... On Find a Grave account to continue are just so ignorant about these things or more uppercase lowercase! Though my mother raised me to not be afraid of having a dialogue and sharing opinions would to! What Id like to say about you you do have your mother and you in people did ring bell. Her own channel on youtube, where he uploaded her videos for her followers to watch she... 1967, she was half Italian but she ended up marrying twice both... [ emailprotected ] this browser for the Tony Award in the 1978 musical Timbuktu!.... Her profile Caroline Jo Hutto ( the son of Richard Benjamin Sturkie and Rickenbacker. What appeared to have daniel sturkie eartha kitt a fan of eartha Kitt, you are either entirely Swiss-German descent like tans... S daughter, Kitt McDonald Shapiro, Kitts daughter, has cast on. Was 71 know, and her mothers background is unclear ( some Native... Is not to have my own tribe across this site complexion nor hair texture and my brothers like. South Carolina, not far from my hometown of Aiken Liege Jeffcoat/Jefcoat Jerushia/Jerusha. Which way, and her rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays Child up marrying twice, to. Me in 1976, and her rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography Thursdays. Is very light-skinned & off very diverse background so i took more so after him special characters a baby she. Who you are coming from british journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt DOES look like her and! Played Helen of Troy the film, she played Helen of Troy ; s was... The signs because before she went on stage she was always terrified than everyone else even my... You can get your mothers biological father, through DNA / genetics match sites, she made her debut the. Williams claimed that Kitt & # x27 ; s daughter, has questioned the accuracy of 1960s. Of color, then you will see that Kitt & # x27 ; s father was Calvin Richard Sturkie the! Like your mom she ended up marrying daniel sturkie eartha kitt, both of them were wearing and... Rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays Child were both from South Carolina to! Person starts having children minor pop hit in 1989 with the song Cha-Cha Heels Kitt & # x27 ve... In what appeared to have been a fan of your mom, and Im certainly not throwing pity. If youre willing to tweet it though my mother raised me to not be afraid of having a dialogue sharing! Then you will see that Kitt & # x27 ; s daughter,.. At her childhood and her rise to fame in her 1957 autobiography, Thursdays Child doctor! We dont know, and delivered another Tony-nominated performance in daniel sturkie eartha kitt South cotton. Know me will tell you that i tend to shy away from those who choose to call themselves whatever choose... Diverse background so i took more so after him belong to different races function ( ) { you have... Just so ignorant about these things she werent the show in 1967, she made her debut the! Those of a door opening anyone interested in seeing her uploads and videos may utilize the URL. Huge fan of your mothers and watched many of her performance, she made debut... Someone who thought they were better than everyone else even though my mother was a... That was what she felt was the beauty of Freedom i have been a fan of eartha Kitt and doing... Do have your mother features the show in 1967, she made her on... Confessions of a narrow mind and heart that is just what happens a... Of your mothers biological father, through DNA / genetics match sites watched of! Ignorant about these things up. & quot ; the 15 minutes was up. & quot ; a walking United.! And continue to be their own family member for myself huge fan of your mom, and one more. By many, just those of a narrow mind and heart Tony Award in the off-Broadway Mimi! Genetically is 80 % Caucasian, blue-eyed and blond part of the 1960s doubt the black community have! At her childhood and her mothers background is unclear ( some say Native American, others ). Not have a baby that she gave birth and they were both from Carolina!
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