During Black History Month, I always like to highlight men and women of color who have made contributions to society that we don’t always hear about, or that we didn’t learn about in a song! I’m referencing the song “Black Man” from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 Iconic album, “Songs in the Key of Life.” And Bernadine Anderson is one of those people. She was the first Black and first Black female makeup artist to work in the film industry. For past Black History Month posts, you can read up on some other notable “Black firsts” HERE. And since makeup and gowns go hand-in-hand, you may also want to check out this post HERE.
A Little Personal History
It’s hard to believe that sometime not so long ago, in my lifetime, Black people were not allowed to do makeup on white movie sets. Considering this and other people and situations like this, is always a serious reminder to just how old I am, Ha! I remember being 12 or 13…
And I was so taken with makeup and glamour, and specifically drawn to the covers of Seventeen magazine in the grocery store. Mainly because the magazine was for girls closer to my age than other publications. I couldn’t wait to get into those pages to learn how to be beautiful. It didn’t bother me that the front cover featured someone white. I’d attended a very diverse magnet school most of my elementary years, so I was well-accustomed to being around people of all ethnicities. But after a while I was concerned with the inside of the magazine. I soon realized this publication was not ever going to feature girls that looked like me at least not in the near future. The pages were filled with beautiful images of white girls. Even at that pre-teen age, that really ummm, how can I put it… made me feel some kinda way. So I decided I was going to make my own teen magazine. I gathered pictures from the Ebony and Jet magazines my parents subscribed to, (they were not too thrilled to see their magazines go missing or found all cut up), along with articles of interest from the beauty section of the ever-popular at the time, Right On! magazine. I cut and pasted my way to creating my own little beauty magazine. Produced on regular lined writing paper, bound with yarn tied in bows, (of course), I would proudly flip through it’s pages often. I never bought another Seventeen magazine, but I’d soon discover Essence magazine. Though for an older group of women, it provided me with all the articles, pictures and ads I wanted and needed to feed my obsession with all things makeup and beauty. I abandoned my then unnecessary Editor-At-Large interests for more glamorous aspirations. At the same time Bernadine Anderson had just come through her own personal struggle.
Black Beauty & Make-up
I’ve loved makeup since my early pre-teen days. As the years passed, and I of course got older, I’d learn of a few well-known Black makeup artists like Reggie Wells, Pat McGrath, Derrick Rutledge, and Sam Fine. Bernadine Anderson paved the way for all of them.
Bernadine Anderson… HERstory
Bernadine Anderson found it very difficult to find makeup work in film during the late 60’s, quoted as saying, “they just wouldn’t let minorities in. It was a very hard industry to break no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t break it.“ Adamant about pursuing her passion, she filed a class action lawsuit, that lead to her receiving a 3-year apprenticeship at Warner Brother’s Studios, the very last one they would ever offer.
Upon completion of her apprenticeship, she began her career making up stunt doubles, triples and sometimes quadruples, making them look identical to the actor. Her brightest career moment came after meeting one highly successful and popular actress in the early 70’s by the name of Jane Fonda. Ms. Fonda requested Ms. Anderson for makeup, and the two forged a working relationship that lasted for 8 years.
When the Oscar Award-winning actress decided to take a break, Bernadine went on to work on such films as Coming to America, Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn, Bad Company, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Another 48 Hrs, Harlem Nights, Police Academy 6, and popular TV shows Amen and Head of the Class.
Let’s Wrap Up
I’m sure there are many Black makeup artists that have been around for decades, making their mark on the industry and beautifying lives one face at a time. Unfortunately, it can be a little challenging to find them, even in this advanced age of googling and the internet. As a girl whose been enthralled with makeup most of my life, I was thrilled to find the little bits and pieces of information about Ms. Anderson. I can only imagine the stories she has to tell about race and gender challenges in the film industry at that time. And while she was working on white actors and actresses sometimes, I also can’t imagine the skincare and makeup product challenges she had to overcome for applications on darker skin; making do and creating alternative solutions on the fly. Thank goodness none of this is an issue anymore, at least not the product part. I mean, Rihanna’s Fenty line features 40 foundation shades! Without this trailblazer, forging a path for herself and ultimately, countless others some 50 years ago, who knows where Black makeup artistry would be today.
