Dorothy Dandridge free essay sample

This paper reflects Dorothy Dandridge the first African American actress to achieve a leading-role status. Mrs. Dandridge also had a deeply troubled life, marked by the scars of a miserable childhood, a string of failed personal relationships, numerous career setbacks, and ongoing struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. Racism was also one of the demons with which she had to deal with. The terms race, ethnicity and culture have no generally agreed upon definitions. There’s a growing interest in the dealings between race, ethnicity and culture and perhaps as a result of the psychiatric and psychological studies are being conducted to identify a possible link between mental disorders, personality and moral development (Fenton). One must remember all the changes that mark our lives make up a process called development, which is the series of age-related changes that happen over the course of a life span. Many factors influence development, including genes, parental upbringing, parents educational and economic backgrounds, and life experiences. Even historical events over which one has no control can influence our development. Many forms of behavior can be better understood if one recognizes them as merely variations of basic human nature and personality. Because of this, it is necessary to have a general theory of human nature, personality and behavior before one try to examine any specific variation. Dorothy Dandridge responded very strongly to the emotional tone and atmosphere around her, and can be dominated by her fluctuating and unpredictable moods. Dandridge often appears irrational to others because she could not always explain the reason or source of her feelings. Her feelings and emotions were something of a mystery . It was often difficult for her to share what she was feeling with others. She frequently withdrawal from the world and needed a healing, peaceful environment in order to blossom and come out of her own world. Dorothy Dandridge was a woman ruined by disastrous attempts to overcome racial barriers in movies and in her personal life, She successfully manage a prominent career and its successive fortunes, endure heartache and disappointment to one day find true love and security, and to overcome her own internal, self-destructive tendencies. Many people do not realize that depression is a disease, it’s a real medical disorder where changes occur in the brain, and they have medicine that helps correct these imbalances. Depression has been described as a whole-body illness because it doesn’t only affect the person’s mood but can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Depression is an illness not a state of mind or a weakness. Dandridge often believe she must do something or be something other than what she is in order to receive approval and acceptance from others. She was very sensitive to criticism and often felt left out or neglected, and though appeared cool or distant, Dandridge actually cared very much about being included. Dorothy Dandridge the little girl who would grow up to be one of her eras most beautiful women, and one of the most famous African American actress in the 20th century. Dorothy came into the world at the heart of a heated domestic discord that in its own quiet unstated way would trouble and haunt her for the next forty years. Even before she was born, Dorothy Dandridge was at the center of a domestic storm. Her mother Ruby, whom was an actress; was a strong-willed and outspoken woman whom left her husband Cyril Dandridge when she was five months pregnant with Dorothy. As a woman always searching for answers, Dorothy would often wonder how different it all might have turned out had she grownup with the father whom she had never really known. Dorothy wonder what direction her life might have taken had her mother Ruby never ventured to Cleveland and stayed instead on the wide plains of Kansas (nytimes). Through the mist of all the turmoil Dorothy married Harold Nicholas. The youngest brother in the famous Nicholas Brothers act in 1942. After Dorothy found out the hard way Harold was not an ideal husband. Harold carried on affairs with other women and did not spend a lot of time at home. In 1943 Dorothy gave birth to a daughter named Harolyn. Dorothy soon discovered that her daughter had brain damage and eventually had to put her in someone elses care. As Dorothy film career and marriage failed, Dandridge began drinking heavily and taking antidepressants. Dandridge soon suffered a nervous breakdown. On September 8, 1965, she was found dead in her Hollywood home, an apparent suicide from a drug overdose of the antidepressant Tofranil in 1965. One might say growing up in a domestic abuse family, and being raised by a single mother. You will probably end up doing exactly what you see your mother do. I guess you can say like mother like daughter. Dorothy life mirrored her mother. Ruby her mother was an actress and she left her husband. Dorothy did the same thing. She ended her life by committing suicide. African-American women have a triple jeopardy status, which places them at risk for developing depression (Boykin, 1985; Carrington, 1980; Taylor, 1992). One whom live in a majority-dominated society that frequently devalues our ethnicity, culture, and gender. In addition, one may find themselves at the lower spectrum of the American political and economic continuum. Often one is involved in multiple roles as one attempt to survive economically and advance ourselves, and our families through mainstream society. All these factors intensify the amount of stress within lives, which can wear down one’s self-esteem, social support systems, and health.