Gladys Bentley: Breaking All the Rules

The video explores the life of Gladys Bentley, a pioneering LGBTQ+ Blues performer in the 1920s. It discusses the Great Migration and Harlem Renaissance, which set the stage for Bentley's career. Bentley, known for her cross-dressing performances, gained fame in Harlem speakeasies. Despite her success, she faced societal pressures, especially during the Lavender Scare, leading her to alter her public persona. The video concludes by reflecting on the reasons performers might change their personas.

What major historical movement is associated with Gladys Bentley's relocation to New York?

• The Women's Suffrage Movement

• The Industrial Revolution

• The Great Migration

• The Civil Rights Movement

How did Gladys Bentley distinguish herself from other performers during the Prohibition era?

• By wearing elaborate headdresses

• By avoiding public performances

• By performing in a tuxedo and altering song lyrics

• By singing classical music

What was a significant consequence of the Lavender Scare for the LGBTQ+ community?

• More opportunities in entertainment

• A rise in LGBTQ+ political leaders

• Pressure to conceal their identities

• Increased public acceptance

What did Gladys Bentley do in response to societal pressures after Prohibition?

• She continued performing in menswear

• She moved to Europe

• She used hormone treatments and married a man

• She retired from music

What ongoing debate surrounds Gladys Bentley's later life choices?

• Whether she was the first female Blues singer

• Whether her reinvention was genuine or strategic

• Whether she was a political activist

• Whether she influenced modern pop music