Blues singer and Harlem Renaissance performer Gladys Bentley is born in Philadelphia.
At a Glance
- Date
- 12 August 1907
- Location
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Key people
- Gladys Bentley
- Category
- Arts & Literature
- Source
- Biographical records · Smithsonian NMAAHC
What It Meant Then
An openly gender-nonconforming star, she was among the most successful Black entertainers of the 1920s and '30s.
What It Means Now
Bentley is increasingly recognized in histories of Black and LGBTQ culture.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Gladys Bentley Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/gladys-bentley-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Gladys Bentley Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/gladys-bentley-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Gladys Bentley Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/gladys-bentley-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.