Eartha Kitt was never afraid to use her distinctive voice. Born on a South Carolina cotton plantation, Eartha Mae Keith grew to record the standards, “Let’s Do It,” and “C’est Si Bon.” She was fluent in French, spoke four other languages, and sang in 11. She recorded, sang in nightclubs, and appeared in films, television, and Broadway.
Kitt suffered a serious setback in 1968, however, when, at a White House luncheon, she raised her voice against the Vietnam War. When asked about the war by Lady Bird Johnson, Kitt replied, “You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. There are so many things burning the people of this country, particularly mothers. They feel they are going to raise sons … and send them off to war. The children of America aren’t rebelling for no reason.” Her comments caused the First Lady to burst into tears, and derailed Kitt’s career.
Kitt’s membership in the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and her open criticism of the Vietnam War, with its connection to poverty and racial unrest, was just a small part of her passionate activism. She established the Kittsville Youth Foundation, a non-profit for underprivileged youths in the Watts area of Los Angeles. She spoke at a House Subcommittee on Education in support of the DC youth group, “Rebels With A Cause,” praising their work to clean up streets and establish safe recreation areas. Kitt later became a vocal advocate for LGBT rights and publicly supported same-sex marriage, which she considered a civil right.
Like many politically active public figures of her time, Kitt came under government surveillance. After The New York Times discovered her CIA file, she allowed the paper to print portions, stating, “I have nothing to be afraid of and I have nothing to hide.”
This episode of “Soundtrack to the Struggle” was co-written by Hollis Monroe and Ron Adkins. Produced by Ron Adkins. Hosted by Hollis Monroe.
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