I thought it was high time we studied some Skinema History and talked about a frequently overlooked part of skinema: early Black nudity. Black actresses in general had to go through A LOT in Hollywood to earn mainstream success. There were several Black actresses who were trailblazers in cinema. Nina Mae McKinney, Lena Horne, Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel, and Dorothy Dandridge (who did strip down to her skivvies in 1954's Carmen Jones) all made history in their own right.
But what about those who went nude? You might not even be able to name a nude Black babe prior to the 1970s. Well, let me educate you. Take notes, fellas.
Josephine Baker
I would be absolutely remiss if I did not pay all respects to the one and only Josephine Baker. What can I say about Josephine Baker that hasn't already been said? The American dancer and showgirl moves to Paris to live a free life as a flapper, dancer, and actress. She became incredibly famous and that could be partially due to her topless dance moves.
Not only is she one of the earliest famous Black performers to break into the mainstream, but she also belongs to the unique and titillating world of pre-code nudity. She was openly bisexual, flaunting her body, and she was rewarded for all of it. She paved the way for It Girls of all races for years to come!
Donna Stone
Busty babe Donna Stone only worked on three films in the late '60s, but she made her mark on skinema. The voluptuous vixen showed off her massive mams, curvy hips, and hairy bush in A Thousand Pleasures and The Ultimate Degenerate. She was definitely the titular degenerate when she was banged fully naked with her legs spread and her bush showing!
In A Thousand Pleasures, she gives and receives some pleasures and even gives her guy a dreamy nude massage. This scene gave all of us many pleasures!
Marcia McBroom
Marcia McBroom stood out in Russ Meyer's NC-17 classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls as one of few Black beauties in the cast. She flashed her fun bags in a dressing room scene that had us all wanting to play with this doll. The fashion model and actress became a favorite in 70s films - even appearing in mainstream movies like Jesus Christ Superstar. Well, her breasts had us all praising this goddess.
You might be pleasantly surprised to hear that Marcia has made her career as an academic. She studied anthropology and has gone on to teach pop culture history courses. Imagine having Marcia McBroom as your professor. I'd be hot for teacher for sure!
Jeannie Bell
While Jeannie Bell was going nude in on camera an era where Black women were taking off their clothes for exploitation films, Jeannie Bell is also notable for being the second Black model to be a Playboy centerfold. She was Miss October in 1969 and she went on to make the cover of Playboy in 1970. The first Black centerfold was Darine Stern and the second was Jennifer Jackson. This means that Jeannie Bell is also the first Black cover model. Now that's historic!
Diahann Carroll
While Diahann only barely bore a boob in Claudine, she deserves praise because she was the first Black woman to win a Tony Award. So with that knowledge, her nude scene is notable. It's not every day a respected Broadway actress shows a tit! The best part? She was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars for this role.
Pam Grier
Perhaps the queen of early Black nudity who also broke the mold for female action stars regardless of race is definitely Pam Grier. Literally, any babe starring in an action movie owes it all to Grier who knew her way around ass-kicking with titular roles in Coffy, Friday Foster, and Foxy Brown.
She had naked fist-fights in sexy prison girl movies and she maintained her role as an icon for decades, even starring in Tarantino's Jackie Brown. Is anyone cooler and hotter than Pam Grier? She's truly one of the greats.
