African American actress Fredi Washington was turned down for many black roles because her skin was too fair. But she refused to play the role of a white woman, telling the Chicago Defender, “No matter how white I look, on the inside I feel black.” She was so convincing in her role as a black girl passing for white in the 1934 film Imitation of Life, that she was widely accused of denying her black heritage. In reality, Washington embraced her roots and went on to become an activist for African Americans in the performing arts. She even helped found the Negro Actors Guild of America, which advocated for black actors.
