Ethel Waters was a trailblazer in television. She became the first black woman to star in a television show with her performance in "The Ethel Waters Show" in 1939, a one-night special that aired on NBC. Although it was not a full series, it marked a historic moment as one of the first times a black actress headlined a television broadcast. Her role in breaking barriers in both TV and film set the stage for future generations of black actors in the entertainment industry. #BIgoneHollywood 📺 : h

17K views · 384 reactions | Ethel Waters broke barriers as a jazz and blues singer, performer, and actress. #BlackHistoryMonth | IMDb | Facebook

Take a moment today to celebrate the groundbreaking work of Ethel Waters. This phenomenal artist lent her talent to music and the screen across multiple genres. Starting in vaudville and a popular performer in the Harlem Renaissance, for decades her songs sat at the top of the charts, and she was the first Black woman to integrate Broadway, star on her own TV show, and be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Red Table Talk is what it is thanks to Ethel's impact. 👏🏽❣️ | Red Table Talk

8.3M views · 15K reactions | Ethel Waters became one of the first black actresses on TV. Why isn't she more of an icon? | Timeline | Facebook