This paper reflects Dorothy Dandridge the first African American actress to achieve a leading-role status. Mrs. Dandridge also had a deeply troubled life, marked by the scars of a miserable childhood, a string of failed personal relationships, numerous career setbacks, and ongoing struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. Racism was also one of the demons with which she had to deal with. The terms race, ethnicity and culture have no generally agreed upon definitions. There’s a growing interest in the dealings between race, ethnicity and culture and perhaps as a result of the psychiatric and psychological studies are being conducted to identify a possible link between mental disorders, personality and moral development (Fenton). One must remember all the changes that mark our lives make up a process called development, which is the series of age-related changes that happen over the course of a life span. Many factors influence development, including genes, parental upbringing, parents educational and economic backgrounds, and life experiences. Even historical events over which one has no control can influence our development.
Many forms of behavior can be better understood if one recognizes them as merely variations of basic human nature and personality. Because of this, it is necessary to have a general theory of human nature, personality and behavior before one try to examine any specific variation. Dorothy Dandridge responded very strongly to the emotional tone and atmosphere around her, and can be dominated by her fluctuating and unpredictable moods. Dandridge often appears irrational to others because she could not always explain the reason or source of her feelings. Her feelings and emotions were something of a mystery .It was often difficult for her to share what she was feeling with others. She frequently withdrawal from the world and needed a healing, peaceful environment in order to blossom and come out of her own world.
Dorothy Dandridge
References: http://www.uga.edu/~womanist/1995/warren.html. http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/bogle-dandridge.html. http://www.erces.com/journal/articles/archives/v01/v01_05.htm