When I was a little girl around 8 or 9, I saw a magazine with an absolutely beautiful woman of color in it. I went to my mother and said, "Mom, who is this? Who is Dorothy Dandrige?" She responded, "Oh, she was the brown Marilyn Monroe." My eyes were filled with astonishment at the fact that she was a sexpot whose beauty and sexuality rivaled that of one of the most well-known actresses today.

Whenever I see a picture of Dorothy or watch her in "Carmen Jones", the words that cross my mind are "beauty", "glamorous", "sensual", "independent", "desirable". Dorothy exhibited all of that and more. She was truly a celebrity before her time. I wish that she were alive today to see what her triumphs have done for people of color in the entertainment industry today. I would have loved to have met this siren to tell her what an inspiration she is to me and many others.

A true beauty and goddess. Too soon taken from us.