HR0609 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0609 LRB093 15444 HSS 41758 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Etta Moten Barnett of Chicago on January 2, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Barnett was a trailblazing singer and actress who conquered Hollywood and Broadway before becoming a graceful leader in Chicago's African-American community for decades; and

WHEREAS, She was born November 5, 1901, in Weimer, Texas, she was the only child of the Rev. Freeman F. Moten and Ida Mae Norman, both college graduates; she was 5 when, while singing with a cousin, she realized she had a beautiful voice; her mother decorated a pink-and-white box for her to stand on, and she joined the church choir; and

WHEREAS, The daughter of a Methodist minister in Texas, she had plans for college that were derailed when she married one of her high school teachers; when the marriage fell apart, her parent's took care of her three young daughters so she could attend the University of Kansas; after graduating at age 30 with a degree in voice and drama, she moved to New York City, where she landed a spot singing with the Eva Jessye Choir; and

WHEREAS, In 1934, she married Claude Barnett, head of the Associated Negro Press; he preceded her in death in 1967; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Barnett rose to prominence in the 1930s with the film "Gold Diggers of 1933" in which Ms. Barnett sang the Depression-era tune "My Forgotten Man"; she later sang the song for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, making her the first African-American artist to perform at the White House; and

WHEREAS, Although her role in "Gold Diggers of 1933" as a widowed housewife was ordinary on its face, it was extraordinary at the time because black actors had been relegated to roles as domestic servants; and

WHEREAS, She was hailed by the press as "The New Negro Woman"; theaters in black communities gave her top billing on marquees, even though her name didn't even appear in the movie's credits; and

WHEREAS, She went on to star on Broadway, travel the world, and play key roles in civic groups; and

WHEREAS, The first film where her name appeared in the credits was 1933's "Flying Down to Rio," which also marked the first pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on the silver screen; she played a Brazilian entertainer and sang "The Carioca," which received an Oscar nomination for best song; and

WHEREAS, The role that made Ms. Barnett a bona fide star, however, didn't come until 1942, when she played "Bess" in the Broadway revival of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess"; it was a role Mr. Gershwin had long envisioned for Ms. Barnett, though it didn't fit her she was a contralto, Bess a soprano; but she trained her voice for the role and played the part for a multiyear run; the change to the higher range took its toll, though, and her voice was never the same; and

WHEREAS, Her stature as a civic leader rose after she retired; she held prominent roles with groups including the National Council of Negro Women, the Chicago Lyric Opera, the Field Museum, and the DuSable Museum; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Etta Moten Barnett will be deeply felt by many, especially her daughter, Sue Ish; her five grandchildren; and her three great-granchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Etta Moten Barnett along with all who knew and loved her and extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Etta Moten Barnett as an expression of our deepest sympathy.