I have yet to run across the progressive African Americans that made it to the World’s Fair in history books (I’m still in my early stages). However, Ethel Worthington, the Great Aunt of artistic genius, Kenneth Worthington,was the first black woman to display art at the Columbia Exposition. This artist and photographer made fine China. She did everything from start to finish – fired it; glazed it; and painted it. That’s talent!
Here is Ms. Ethel featured on the front page of the Pullman Porter’s Review in October of 1916. She went on to sell and display art work at Chicago Marshall Fields Store on State Street in Chicago.
Great find! Too bad you had to go digging for it. It should have already been “common knowledge.” She sounds like an amazing person.
I know. It's disappointing to have to do so much work to find information on historical people, places and events. However, I'm happy to be a bearer of good and interesting news.