![]() ![]() Now, West is ready for her next close-up. Watts, though, went beyond the traditional focus on West as a bawdy performer who specialized in double entendres to delve into her myriad connections to and support of the Black community. Almost 15 years after the publication of the book, “Mae West: An Icon in Black and White,” Watts was asked to consult on the production of a documentary that draws heavily on the book. Last month, Watts released her fourth book, a deep dive into the previously little-known coterie of African-American advisers to President Franklin Roosevelt known as the “Black Cabinet.” But her second book, published in 2003, was about West, which might seem like a strange subject for someone like Watts, who has developed a reputation for her comprehensive explorations of African-American history. But in her time, she really tried to break down barriers for African-American people and tried to pursue a course that would be against racism and discrimination.” “I don’t know that I’d characterize Mae as an anti-racist because that’s a modern concept. “You look at the time we’re living in right now, where so many people are trying to establish their credentials as anti-racists,” Watts said. ![]() To hear Cal State San Marcos history professor Jill Watts tell it, however, West would not have been out of step with the protests of racial inequality that have been occurring across the nation, and the world, since the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day. Mae West was born in the 19th century, and she was a white entertainer who achieved her greatest fame during the Great Depression era. ![]()
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