Carol Channing, a famous actress played in Gentlemen prefer Blondes and Hello Dolly. Channing is an African-American who never disclosed this fact until she wrote about this fact in her book, Just Lucky, I Guess, that her father was an African American who passed by adapting to living in two worlds, one black and one white.
Her father learned to portray himself one way in public that was different from who he was at home by changing his speaking mannerism. Channing herself, was famous for her mannerism, which more than likely was art imitating life. How fitting.
Channing decided to race herself "white" to take advantage of "raced white privilege". Channing was nominated for many awards and won a Tony Award. Channing taught us that as a society we are not colorblind. Looking at a person color we assume ethnic background, when in fact we are simply guessing based on skin color.
Here is a picture of Carol Channing, an African-American raced white, like many African-Americans who chose to take advantage of white privilege based on skin color. This practice continues today.
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