I don’t mean to sound cliché but growing up in the 70’s and 80’s there were very few Brown, Dark, Black female figures on screen. Many of the melinated actresses and singers took a seat for the European looking women that society constructed as beautiful but then there was Irene Cara, fondly known as CoCo, one of the divas of the movie “Sparkle” and writer/singer of “Flashdance” score; know your history folks. The Black Latina Beauty with the pristine brown complexion and the voice of fire, made many of us little black girls feel beautiful. I remember being mesmerized by her talents in “Fame” as she glistened like me.
Her untimely passing today at 63 has me sadden as chips of my childhood break away. But just like the song that she made into a classic states, “remember my name . . . Fame”. We will always remember this beautiful artist that defined Black Girl Magic before we knew what it was. Rest In Peace Chica Irene Cara Escalera. God Bless.