Lena Horne, 1917-2010

Legendary singer and actress Lena Horne has died at the age of 92. Looking back on her life at the age of 80, Horne herself voiced the most moving epitaph:

“My identity is very clear to me now. I am a black woman. I’m free. I no longer have to be a ‘credit.’ I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody; I don’t have to be a first to anybody. I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.”