Bert Williams (1874 – 1922) was a very funny fellow. An African-American comedian, Williams achieved unprecedented status in his life performing in the great theaters of Europe; he was adored by many of the crowned heads of that continent and yet despite it all, he never received acceptance in his own country. Like many African-Americans at the time, Williams simply came to accept the myopic views of race as it was understood by the majority of his countrymen, and he reluctantly learned to do without the approval he craved so much. Bert Williams once remarked:
“Being a Negro is not a bad thing, it’s just terribly inconvenient.”
