Women's History Month: Mamie Smith

On February 14, 1920, Mamie Smith stepped into the spotlight to replace the ailing Sophia Tucker, recording two tracks, “That Thing Called Love” and “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,” under the record label Okeh. Her success was such that not only was she invited to record another song on August 10 of that same year, but other record companies also decided to seek out other Black voices to bring them to the public. Blues, in Mamie Smith's voice, could be heard through the windows of all the Black neighborhoods. 

Mamie Smith was born on May 26, 1891, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to gaining recognition, she performed as a cabaret singer in Harlem. During the 1920s, she traveled throughout the United States with her group Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds. She died in 1946, at the age of 55, penniless, unable to recover from the ravages of the Great Depression. She was buried in Frederick Douglass Memorial Park. Her grave remained unmarked until 2013. 

Those who sing… who do they sing for? 

The world we inhabit isn't solely crafted by the hands of the white man. People of color have boldly pushed boundaries, carving out vital spaces for us to thrive. Yet, many of their struggles remain obscured by history. There is much history we have forgotten, but there is much more we haven’t been told. Let us remember —and remind each other— of the countless women who have paved the way for better narratives, rights, and their exercise. As we continue on our unwavering journey, let's be guided by the voices of those Black women who, beyond marching alongside us in this shared world, have forged other worlds where we can find refuge.