The incredible Eartha Kitt as the diabolical Catwoman. Can we talk for a minute about how badass Earth Kitt was? Not only was Eartha Kitt responsible for the best portrayal of Catwomen to ever be put on film, but she stood up to the Johnson White House and gave zero fucks. In 1968, Kitt was invited to a luncheon at the White House. During the question and answer session, when asked about the Vietnam War, Kitt had this to say:
“The children of America are not rebelling for no reason. They are not hippies for no reason at all. We don’t have what we have on Sunset Blvd. for no reason. They are rebelling against something. There are so many things burning the people of this country, particularly mothers. They feel they are going to raise sons — and I know what it’s like, and you have children of your own, Mrs. Johnson — we raise children and send them to war.”
Reportedly, Mrs. Johnson left the room in tears. When asked about the incident later, Kitt still was not apologetic:
Sadly, Kitt’s career suffered a considerable setback because of her remarks. Fuck yes Eartha Kitt.
She was also a member of the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, through which she advocated an intersectional criticism of war, citing the connection to class and race struggles.
She founded and established a non-profit called Kittsville for underprivileged young people in LA, supported and was involved with a group of youth activists dedicated to creating recreational spaces, cleaning up the streets, and advocating for their own educations that called themselves “The Rebels With a Cause”. She never took control or power from the kids, just supported them, even speaking with them before the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Again showing her understanding of intersectional struggle, she was a major advocate for lgbt rights because they are civil rights. Up until the end of her life she advocated for marriage equality and equal protection under anti-discrimination laws, amongst other causes within the lgbt community.
“ We’re all rejected people, we know what it is to be refused, we know what it is to be oppressed, depressed, and then, accused, and I am very much cognizant of that feeling. Nothing in the world is more painful than rejection. I am a rejected, oppressed person, and so I understand them, as best as I can, even though I am a heterosexual.”
That quote right there is so powerful. She doesn’t claim being a black woman means she understands what it’s like to be gay, but she does say she understands oppression and can empathize. She understands “as best [she] can”. Eartha Kitt was a supreme badass.
