IN THE SPOTLIGHT
blacks on television were rare.
Carroll was a guest on the show nine times, and it bolstered her career, much as it did for Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, Louis Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, Richard Pryor and many more.
Carroll’s daughter, Suzanne Kay, is co-producing the not-yet-completed film with Sullivan’s granddaughter, Margo Speciale, and Carroll joined the filmmakers on a panel Saturday at the 5th annual March on Washington Film Festival to discuss it.
On the panel, Carroll seemed overcome with a mother’s pride. She kissed her daughter on the cheek and declared the work she is doing on the film, “just wonderful.”
Later, from her hotel suite, Carroll again made clear that she was here because she wants to help her daughter. “I’m just mom. This is her work and I must respect it,” she said with determination. In other words: Carroll did not want to steal Kay’s spotlight.
Carroll was slated to play the role of Mama in a 2014 Broadway revival of “Raisin in the Sun” but dropped out because the rehearsal and performance schedule was too wearying. “I had to get clear that I’m entitled to have a period of time when I can say, ‘I don’t think I want to do that,’” she said. “I hope no one feels that I’m being [difficult] but I do know that I’ve been working my whole life.”
She is content now to support her daughter’s work — though she intends, as always, to look fabulous while doing it.