Florence+Mills

Florence Mills =﻿ =



Florence Mills parents were born into slavery in Amherst County, Virginia. There was an economic depression in the tobacco industry so they had to move. They moved to Washington were they settled in a middle-class neighborhood where Florence was born. When they were forced out they had moved to the poorest neighborhood.

“Baby Florence” was known mostly for her singing, dancing and comedy acting during her life time, which was from January 25, 1896-November 1, 1927. When Mills was little she preformed small skits at local theaters where she won prizes and got more and more recognized. The British ambassador invited her to entertain him and his guests. When she turned 14 her and her sisters formed an on-road singing and dancing act called the "Mills Sisters". That did many things for her career. She formed a Panama Trio with Tony Jackson when she moved from Chicago to Vaudeville. Florence performed at many white clubs. And when she moved on from that group she joined the Tennessee Ten. Mills went to Britain to dance and sing at an All White Club. Many were very angry because of the color of her skin. Others didn't mind, her performances were never forgotten and wonderful to a lot of people.

Lew Leslie (white promoter) hired Mills and took her too many shows, basically making her more famous. She got to play in a lot of musicals on Broadway including //Sons of Ham// and the one and only //Shuffle Along//.

On the set of //Shuffle Along// Florence became ill with Paralytics a joint disease. She died a few days after her surgery. Many people showed up to her funeral, including only 5,000 let in and 150,000 lining the streets. She died at the age of 32. Florence Mills had a lot of impact during the Harlem Renaissance. People say she was the most popular, liked African American entertainer in the 1920’s.

More Florence Mills Information

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Cited Work: Prince Alexander, Clemont "Florence Mills" Encyclopedia of Harlem Renaissance. 2003. Print. Gale "Florence Mills" //Biography in Context. Vol.22 Detroit, Gale.// 1999. DISCUS, w eb. Gale "Florence Mills: Notable Black American Women" //Biography in Context, Gale.// 1992. DISCUS, web.