Zelma watson george biography
Zelma watson george biography
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Zelma Watson George
Opera singer
Zelma Watson George | |
|---|---|
Zelma Watson George in , photo by Judith Sedwick | |
| Born | ()December 8, Hearne, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, () (aged&#;90) Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S. |
| Other&#;names | zelmaa |
Zelma Watson George (December 8, – July 3, ) was an African-American philanthropist who was famous for being an alternate in the United Nations General Assembly and, as a headliner in Gian Carlo Menotti's opera The Medium, the first African American to play a role that was typically played by a white actress.
Early life
Zelma Watson was born to Samuel E.J. and Lena (Thomas) Watson in Hearne, Texas on December 8, [1] Her mother was a coordinator of religious activities at Tennessee State College in Nashville, Tennessee.[2] Her father was a Baptist minister, which caused them to move frequently.
In the family moved to Topeka, Kansas from Dallas, Texas because the white citizens of Dallas did not approve of Sa