He dance and  sang across color barriers for civil rights

Growing the Voices of Our Future

The Westside Gazette Newspaper in honored of feature these editorial contribution made by the local students

Layla Davidson, 13

By Layla Davidson

   Sammy Davis Jr., was a popular actor, comedian, singer and dancer. After going through many racial injustices Davis used his fame for political means.

During the 1960s, he became active in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in the 1963 March on Washington and refusing to perform at racially segregated nightclubs.

Davis also challenged interracial marriage by marrying Swedish actress May Britt at a time when interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 states. President John F. Kennedy, requested that the couple would not appear at his inauguration so they wouldn’t anger white Southerners.

On May 16, 1990, Sammy Davis Jr. passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 64. Before his death, he was honored by a bunch of his friends at a February television tribute.

 

About Carma Henry 24604 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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