Heard on the news this morning that Hattie McDaniel, who made a pretty good name – and a pretty good living – for herself playing mostly domestic help (which being translated means “a maid”) has recently been honored with a US postage stamp. The news anchorette this morning mentioned that McDaniel had sometimes been criticized for her acquiescence to playing “stereotypical” characters that somehow demeaned African-American women. Hattie’s typical response to all that is priceless…
I’d rather play a maid than be a maid!
Great quote from one of my favorite actors.