Woman of the Week

Bessie Smith known as the 'Empress of The Blues' was always a favourite. . . . this may go some way as to understanding why

Smith also felt no fear when it came to confronting the racism so prevalent in the South.  Once, when performing a tent show in a Southern town, members of the Ku Klux Klan, in full Klan regalia, surrounded the tent, threatening to pull it down and trap everyone inside. Smith stormed out and confronted them, shouting, “You had better pick up them sheets and run!”  The men took to their heels. Smith went back to performing, as if confronting the KKK were all in a day’s work.