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Ethel Waters

Musician and actress Ethel Waters rose from the depths of poverty to become a major figure in American entertainment, where she achieved numerous firsts as a Black woman and left behind a legacy warranting special recognition from the Library of Congress and her own postage stamp. Born on October 31, 1896, to a teenage rape victim, Waters grew up poor and neglected, but was able to capitalize on an opportunity that arose after she was coaxed into singing during an event at a nightclub. Her voice earned her a paying gig at a venue in Baltimore, which launched her into a whirlwind ...