Hazel Scott

 Hazel Scott is an inspirational woman. She was not only the first black women to host a television show but also stood up to Hollywood when she saw mistreatment.

 

Born June 11, 1920, in Trinidad, Scott was a musical prodigy. She learned piano at a young age. She mostly learned through listening to the different notes on the piano. Her parents split during Hazel’s childhood, and she lived with her grandmother. Her mother and her became very close through their shared interest in music. Her mother opened many doors for Scott’s music career. Scott began to be taught by many big-name musical artists.

 

She then auditions for the school Julliard School of Music at the age of 8. They don’t normally let anyone younger than 16 into the school but they deemed Scott a musical genius with how good she plays the piano. She began to play professionally at the age of 13. She ends up joining her mother’s jazz band. The people love her. Hazel then becomes a headliner in multiple jazz events. She even goes onto Broadway.

 

After being on Broadway, she signs with a major movie studio. She becomes a movie star, but it came with challenges. She was faced with many racial issues. Hazel would refuse to play any racial roles. She turned down several roles as a singing maid. She would only play sophisticated roles. This began to break the tight casting of black people. She would stand against prejudice in every sense. She became one of the first performers to not perform in front of a segregated audience. She still was highly wanted actress/musician. Her worth began to grow the more popular she became.

 

Hazel Scott moved back to New York and fell in love with Adam Clayton Powell. Scandals began to grow with these two lovebirds. Since their love bloomed from an affair. They had a son and got married days after Powell’s divorce was finalized.

 

The summer of the 1950s, The Hazel Scott show began. This show catered to her love of music. She would play several genres of music for 15 minutes three days out the week. The show only grew in ratings. The people loved her and the show. It abruptly ended after being named in the Red Pamphlets. The Red Scare ended Scott’s career almost overnight. Scott denied these rumors, but the damage was already done. She no longer had her show.

 

Later Scott and Powell separated, and Scott went to Paris. Where she spent these rest of her years.

 

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/hazel-scott