Diahann Carroll, Dynasty Diva
By Tya Moore (Justtyabrand)
On this past Friday the world began to mourn and reflect after the announcement of the death of the incomparable Diahann Carroll who passed away at the age of 85. There are many people that we think of as staples in black culture. Diahann Carroll is one of those staples. Diahann was a soap opera star, movie star and television star. At an early stage in her career, Diahann set the bar for black women to be portrayed as something other than subservient and obedient humans. In 1968, Diahann was the first black actress to play a non-subservient role on television on the TV Show, Julia. Diahann played a widow raising her son alone while working as a nurse. During that era, most black actresses were depicted as maids or stay at home wives. In 1976, Diahann was the host of her very own Variety Show, The Diahann Carroll Show. It was a temporary replacement for the Carol Burnett show. Although the show only aired four episodes, it aired at a time where it was not common for Black women to host variety shows putting Diahann in position to set the bar even higher for Black women.
Diahann paved the way for black actresses in soap operas with her role in 1984 as Dominique Devereaux on the predominately white casted soap opera, Dynasty and the spin-off, The Colbys. Once again Diahann portrayed a non-subservient role as a Black actress. Simply put Dominique was a Diva who socially and economically was on the same level as all of her counterparts on the show. Try Dominique if you dare. I personally did not watch Dynasty consistently, but I do remember the show being watched in my home and even at a young age thinking this Black woman is beautiful and takes no stuff.
One of Diahann’s classic movie roles was in 1974 as Claudine in the classic romance Claudine with actor, James Earl Jones as her love interest. Diahann played an unwed mother of six children working and on welfare who falls in love with a garbage man with his own set of problems. This movie highlighted issues in the seventies, poverty, black women working as maids to make ends meet and shouldering full parental possibility while attempting to keep their sanity. The movie depicted the government mandating that unwed mothers were not permitted to work or have a fathers or men in the home in order to receive benefits. Social Workers would come to the home without warning to inspect the home for men and extra appliances or gifts as proof of employment. The chemistry between Diahann and James is one that paved the way for black romance in film forever.
Diahann’s versatility as an actress and the way she embodied all of the roles that she portrayed is unmatched. We all remember her as Eleanor in the movie, The Five Heartbeats as the doting and supporting wife who was fashionable, kind and firm. The scene at Jimmy’s funeral where she slaps Big Red for disrespectfully being at her husband’s funeral and extending an inappropriate invitation to spend time with him is a scene that will never be forgotten. Diahann’s role as Marian Gilbert on the Black TV Sitcom, A Different World as Whitley Gilbert’s mother is legendary. Marian was an uppity, rich southern belle who felt that her daughter’s goal in life should be to have a man take care of her financially. Every single scene with Marian you could find her sharply dressed from head to toe and throwing some form of shade being in the most colorful way. The scenes with Diahann and legend, Patti Labelle throwing jabs at each other or holding internal mother competitions were classic television moments. Although Diahann was not a steady cast member, there is not a soul that watched A Different World that could ever forget Marian Gilbert. In my opinion, the most versatile role that Diahann played was in the movie Eve’s Bayou, she played a voodoo witch that cast spells on the people in the bayou for a fee. The white makeup, disheveled hair and that gothic tone was a completely different look and role for Diahann. It was after this movie that I came to the realization that Diahann could play in any role and look beautiful doing it.
Diahann was an icon, a fashionista, trailblazer, soap opera goddess, television and movie star. Her legendary roles will never be forgotten and her memory will live on through those roles. Diahann portrayed a maid, a villain, a voodoo priestess, a southern belle flawlessly. It is because of actresses like Diahann that we now have more than ever Black actresses in non-subservient roles. Diahann’s death is a great loss in our culture and we should continue to honor her and carry on her legacy by being fearless and relentless when it comes to the portrayal of Black women and versatility in entertainment. Diahnn Carroll embodies what NoirTV represents the portrayal of Black queens in entertainment. Diahann was always flawlessly beautiful and immaculately dressed and possessed a regal elegance in everything that she did and said. At a time when Hollywood tried to put black actresses in a box Diahann took the lid off. We salute you queen. Rest in Peace Diahann Carroll, Dynasty Diva.
Noir TV 