Florence's sister Maude was a great Tap
dancer known as "Hardfoot Maude" because she could
hit the floor with such force.
Florence Mills was one of
the first big stars of the African American Stage after Bert
Williams and James Weldon Johnson says "she had no
superior in any place or race." She would get her big break
in 1921 when she replaced the star (Gertrude Helen Saunders)
in the 'Shufflin' Along' Stage musical. She sang and introduced
the public to the Baltimore
Buzz dance which stunned the show's audiences but it was
her singing and delicate voice that was the most spellbinding.
Her fame helped jump start the Harlem Renaissance and helped
end the male domination in vaudeville. While with the Tennessee
Ten, she met Ulysses "Slowkid" Thompson, who was an
acrobatic, tap, and "rubberlegs" dancer. They soon
became romantically involved, got married and were together
until her death.
Florence was and ardent crusader against the
racial disgraces that were abundant at the time, Florence was
an ardent activist and promoter for equal rights. She even turned
down Florence Ziegfeld to opt for an all Black Musical Revue.
There is not much in the way of photo's, Films etc. of Florence
mainly because she was the queen of the Stage and not Film.
Mills had trouble with pelvic tuberculosis but died of a sudden
appendicitis. The
Florence Mills House, a National Historic Landmark, (which
is reported as incorrect, not the actual house) is located
at 220 West 135th St. in New York City, NY. Also had a US Postage
stamp honoring her.
Ballrooms
