Every Christmas, we have jammed out to the song “Santa Baby” whether it’s the original or a cover, yet many of us know nothing about the beautiful Eartha Mae Kitt. As we go into February, we will be celebrating Black History Month and showing all the achievements the Black community has made while going through many hardships. This month is meant to show off all things that the black community has given the world – whether it is movies, culture, fashion, music, etc. I am here to showcase one of those things it has given us.
In 1953, Kitt gave us the hit song “Santa Baby.” The song was written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer and sung by Kitt, helping to boost her career along with her other hit songs “C’est Si Bon” and “I Want to Be Evil.” The song became a hit very quickly, even winning a Gold record with over 500,000 sales.
In her earlier years, Kitt had it very rough, but that didn’t stop her from becoming a very successful artist. She was conceived by rape and was born on a cotton plantation. Her mother, who was of African American and Cherokee Native American descent, gave her away before she was even 10, which led her to be raised by relatives who mistreated her. She ended up in a part of Harlem that was very diverse but that didn’t stop people from picking on her. Around the age of 15, she was enrolled in Katherine Dunham’s Dance Troupe, which led her to tour the United States, Mexico, South America, and Europe.
Eventually, she became #89 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll. Not only has she created great in music, but she was also Catwomen in the third and fourth seasons of “Batman” in 1966. She inspired many young women.
Another amazing fact about her is that, in 1968, she was exiled from the US due to an anti-war statement she told Lady Bird Johnson, but she was allowed back in in 1978 by Jimmy Carter. Unfortunately, on December 25, 2008, she passed away due to colon cancer, but she will always be remembered as this magical woman with a beautiful voice.
We celebrate the amazing black men and women who have helped us in every which way this month. Many have given us inspiration for own projects, so remember that as this month goes on.