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Congressman Charles Rangel paid tribute to the life of African American modeling pioneer Dorthea Toweles Church on Thursday with the following statement in the Congressional Record. Church was recently memorialized in Harlem after passing away in July 2006 at the age of 83.
Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize, honor, and pay tribute to the significant, groundbreaking achievements of the talented Dorothea Towles Church, who overcame the many obstacles placed in her way to become the first successful black fashion model.
Church was the seventh of eight children, born on July 26, 1922 in Texarkana, Texas. She began her college education at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, majoring in biology. However, after moving to Los Angeles to live with her wealthy uncle after the death of her mother, she transferred to the University of Southern California and received a master's degree in education. While present in Los Angeles, she began to generate an interest in acting but was discouraged by the lack of black actors in the entertainment industry. Instead, she became a model for black magazines and fashion shows in the area.
Dorothea Church's unprecedented success came at the young age of twenty-seven when she was vacationing in Paris to listen to her sister, Lois Towles, sing with Fisk University. Church's great beauty and striking presence were extraordinary. Her beauty and talent were indisputable and she made a breakthrough in the most famous and prestigious fashion market in the world when she was signed by Christian Dior as a high-fashion model. For the first time in her life, Church was not impacted by racial intolerance. Church once stated, "If you're beautiful, [the French] don't care what color you are."
Even though many racial barriers were overcome, Church still had to deal with the innate prejudices that many people had towards African-Americans. Church had been forbidden to model and display high fashioned pictures in predominantly black magazines. The industry's excuse was that it was meaningless to display such photographs because the black community was not interested in the clothing. Or perhaps they didn't believe the black community could afford such clothing. Either way, Church used her power and prestige and was able to open the door for other aspiring black models by extending her appearances in the white fashion magazines to appear in a newly founded black owned Ebony magazine.
Dorothea Towles Church, the gorgeous and influential fashion model, couture designer, and black activist, bridged a divide between the races in high-fashion that appeared to be insurmountable. Church was an inspiration to all African-Americans who ever had an impossible dream. After her death from heart and kidney disease on July 7, 2006, there has been a renewed appreciation of Church's triumphs and accomplishments. She was, and continues to be a perpetual role model who brought pride to her people and community and who continues to serve as an important role model to young women with dreams today.
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