Eartha Kitt: Biography, Ethnicity, Blacklist, and Catwoman

Eartha Kitt was never easy to categorize. Born into poverty on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, she turned a mixed‑race heritage and a voice that seemed to come from nowhere into a career that spanned six decades. This article traces how those same qualities made her an icon, a target of Cold War politics, and a legend who still baffles listeners today.

Born: January 17, 1927 ·
Died: December 25, 2008 ·
Occupation: Singer, actress, songwriter ·
Known for: Catwoman, “Santa Baby” ·
Ethnicity: African‑American and Cherokee ·
Cause of death: Colorectal cancer

Among the seven facts in our snapshot, one pattern stands out: Eartha Kitt’s identity was shaped as much by what she chose as by what she couldn’t control.

What was Eartha Kitt’s ethnicity?

African‑American and Cherokee roots

• Kitt herself described her heritage: “I was born of white man and a black woman who was part Cherokee” (according to The HistoryMakers oral history archive).
• She was ostracized as a child because of her mixed‑race appearance (The HistoryMakers).

Mother’s background and birth circumstances

• Her mother was a sharecropper on a cotton plantation in South Carolina (Britannica).
• Kitt never knew her white father; according to her autobiography, she was the product of rape (BLACK GIRL LOST… blog, based on Kitt’s memoirs).

The implication: Kitt’s ethnicity wasn’t just a biographical note – it was a career asset that also made her a target.

Why was Eartha Kitt blacklisted and exiled?

The 1968 White House luncheon incident

• At a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson, Kitt criticized the Vietnam War, saying “you send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed” (Britannica).
• Lady Bird Johnson reportedly wept; the fallout was immediate (Wikipedia).

Aftermath and career impact

• Kitt was blacklisted by the U.S. entertainment industry and could not find work in America (The HistoryMakers).
• She moved to Europe, where she performed and lived for much of the 1970s (Wikipedia).

Return to the United States

• Kitt gradually returned to U.S. work in the 1980s, but the blacklist had already altered the trajectory of her career (Britannica).

What this means: Kitt’s exile was not a rumor; it was a documented consequence of exercising free speech during the Cold War.

Why did Eartha Kitt have an accent?

Multilingual training

• Kitt spoke English, French, and German fluently (Britannica).
• She trained with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe, which exposed her to international vocal styles (Studocu timeline from Northeastern University).

Deliberate artistic choice

• Kitt cultivated her accent to project sophistication and continental allure (Wikipedia).
• She described it as “the sound of a woman who has traveled” (source not available in research notes).

Unique vocal quality

• Her speaking voice was sultry and slightly pitched, often called a “purr” – a characteristic she deliberately honed (The HistoryMakers).

The pattern: Kitt’s accent was a constructed tool, not an accident – one that made her instantly recognizable but also fed the stereotype of the “exotic” Black woman.

What was Eartha Kitt’s most famous song?

“Santa Baby” (1953)

• Released in 1953 and became her signature hit (Britannica).
• The song’s playful, breathy delivery defined her musical style (Studocu).

“I Want to Be Evil” and other hits

• She also recorded “C’est si bon” and “I Want to Be Evil” (Wikipedia).
• Her album Down to Eartha (1955) showcased her sultry vocal range (Studocu).

Career as a recording artist

• She recorded over 20 albums and was nominated for an NME Award as Favorite US Female Singer in 1955 (Studocu).

The trade‑off: “Santa Baby” made her a household name, but it also pigeonholed her as a novelty act – a label she fought against for decades.

Why was Eartha Kitt screaming when she died?

Misinformation about death

• Rumors circulated that Kitt let out a loud scream at the moment of her death (Britannica).
• No medical or eyewitness reports substantiate the claim (Wikipedia).

Actual cause of death

• Kitt died of colorectal cancer on December 25, 2008, at age 81 (Britannica).
• Her death was peaceful and surrounded by family, according to her daughter Kitt Shapiro (Studocu).

Media exaggeration

• The myth likely stems from Kitt’s dramatic onstage persona and her role as Catwoman (Wikipedia).

Why this matters: The myth reveals how Kitt’s persona – her stare, her purr, her scream – continues to overshadow the facts of her life.

“I was born of white man and a black woman who was part Cherokee.”

— Eartha Kitt, as quoted by The HistoryMakers

“You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed.”

— Eartha Kitt, addressing Lady Bird Johnson in 1968, via Britannica

“Her mother was a sharecropper on a cotton plantation, and she never knew her father.”

— Britannica on Kitt’s early life

“[Kitt’s] legacy is that she never stopped being herself, even when it cost her everything.”

— Kitt Shapiro, daughter, as reported by Studocu

For today’s entertainers, the decision to speak out on political issues carries a different risk than it did in 1968 – but the trade‑off between authenticity and marketability remains unchanged. Eartha Kitt’s story is a reminder that some careers are built not despite the controversy, but because of it.

Related reading: **Vera Farmiga: Biography of Ukrainian-American Actress**

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