Grace, beauty, talent, dignity and style are just a few of the words that describe the phenomenal woman who was Lena Horne.  In a career that spanned over 75 years Ms. Horne did more than just entertain; she paved the way for African Americans in the entertainment industry and was the first African American to have a talent contract with a major motion picture studio, MGM.

Lena Horne got her start in the fall of 1933 at the age of sixteen as part of the chorus line of the Cotton Club in New York.   She later became a movie star and political activist.  She marched on Washington, refused to perform for segregated audiences and would not allow MGM to market her as a Latina.  It is believed that because of her activism she was blacklisted in Hollywood and denied feature roles.  Despite attempts to derail her career Ms. Horne’s stardom rose as she continued to perform for adoring fans around the world.

Music Legend Quincy Jones described her as a ”pioneering groundbreaker.”   We at Flaimahmy Magazine describe her as “Legendary Fly-Mommy.”   We are honored to have been touched by such a phenomenal woman.

Lena Mary Calhoun Horne, born June 30, 1917, passed Sunday May 9, 2010 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.