Gladys Alberta Bentley (August 12, 1907 – January 18, 1960) was an American blues singer, pianist, and entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance.
Her career skyrocketed when she appeared at Harry Hansberry's Clam House in New York in the 1920s, as a black, lesbian, cross-dressing performer. She headlined in the early 1930s at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up by a chorus line of drag queens. She dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tail coat and top hat), played piano, and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep, growling voice while flirting with women in the audience.
On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies with the repeal of Prohibition, she relocated to southern California, where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player" and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". She was frequently harassed for wearing men's clothing. She tried to continue her musical career but did not achieve as much success as she had had in the past. Bentley was openly lesbian early in her career, but during the McCarthy Era she started wearing dresses and married, claiming to have been cured by taking female hormones.
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Some of their strengths
Gladys Bentley has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Confident, Practical, Optimistic, Extroverted, Passionate, Sophisticated, and Kind.
Bold and Confident
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Gladys Bentley is someone who is a bold, confident, energetic, and optimistic person, who is able to combine personal warmth and charisma with intelligence. A person who defines themself by their friends and what groups they belong to.
Soulful and Intuitive
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Gladys Bentley well know them as someone who can be graceful, romantic, and reserved, like gentle rain.
Methodical and Exacting
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Gladys Bentley as someone who is careful, methodical, and a perfectionist.
A person who forms successful business partnerships, who appreciates the variety the world has to offer, who takes a frugal approach to life and tends to be a workaholic, and who engages in things that let them express their opinion.
Inquisitive and Progressive
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Gladys Bentley is someone who is an eternal student who is always interested in learning new things, and who has a desire to shake things up and change things.
They are also someone who is confident and creative, and who has a love for starting new projects, inventing new things, and giving back to the community.
Creative and Leadership-oriented
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Gladys Bentley tends to be someone who is a natural leader, with determination, motivational powers, and who takes obligations seriously. Who has charisma, a sense of humor, and who tends to attract attention.
Some of Gladys Bentley's challenges
While Gladys Bentley has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Gladys Bentley can be Arrogant, Sensitive, Status-seeking, Difficult, Perfectionist, Hesitant, and Narcissistic.
Arrogant and Status-seeking
One of Gladys Bentley's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as arrogant and status-seeking.
Sensitive and Critical
Gladys Bentley is someone who can be insecure, critical, and pessimistic, who can have difficulty relaxing, can be possessive and jealous, and who can have difficulty listening to others' opinions and perspectives and make hasty decisions.
Domineering and Stubborn
Finally, Gladys Bentley also can be too rebellious, not respond to criticism well, and be too emotional and extreme about things.
