Piecing together the life and career of my grandfather, Dotts Johnson: Interview with Luvada A. Harrison

Abstract

This is an interview with Luvada A. Harrison, the granddaughter of Dotts Johnson (1913–86), who was the African American actor and jazz singer cast to portray one of the lead roles in Roberto Rossellini’s , one of the most influential films in the history of cinema. Although Rossellini’s film has been thoroughly studied, very little is known about Dotts, not only in Italy but also in the United States. This interview seeks to shed more light on the life and career of Hylan Dotts Johnson, an under-recognized African American actor who was also an accomplished singer and composer.