Devastating Facts About Diahann Carroll, The Barrier-Smashing Actress
Diahann Carroll was a groundbreaking figure in the world of entertainment. As a Black performer, she faced prejudice and backlash from all sides, but she never let it completely snuff out her love of the craft.
However, her personal relationships always haunted her in the background, making it hard for her to enjoy her own success.
Not even Dominique Deveraux could hold a candle to Diahann Carroll's harrowing real-life full of obstacles, complicated relationships, and jealous lovers.
1. She Started From The Bottom
Born on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York City, Diahann Carroll didn’t always have the confidence she practically oozed later in life.
You see, her family was quite poor, but her mom and dad were absolutely enamored with the upper crust of African-American society.
They wanted to move up in the world, but tragically, this led to one of the most heartbreaking memories from Carroll’s childhood.
2. Her Parents Abandoned Her
When Carroll was just a toddler, her parents abandoned her, leaving her in North Carolina with her aunt. In a cold and calculating move, both her parents crunched the numbers and realized they couldn’t afford to take care of Carroll.
They decided to leave their child behind and spend a year getting ahead financially. The event completely scarred young Diahann Carroll, leaving her haunted with feelings of abandonment for the rest of her life.
Carroll's parents did eventually come back for her, and the little family soon moved to Harlem. There, her parents’ drive to succeed in life soon influenced little Carroll in a big way.
3. She Was A “Princess”
Although Harlem, in Carroll’s words, was a “scrappy neighborhood,” she found herself being treated like a princess by her parents. They encouraged her to join in on school plays and take piano lessons, shaping their girl to be “respectable”
despite her background. Her mom spent hours making sure young Carroll only dressed in the finest of clothes.
Above all, they wanted to give Carroll every chance to rise above her station, but, in an ironic twist, it caused her to experience plenty of childhood horrors.
4. Kids Bullied Her
At school, the way Carroll carried herself caused some of the kids to be downright vicious to her. A gang of girls at school took a special interest in Carroll, and once stalked her all the way home, only leaving when Carroll’s mom called the authorities. Then, the next day, things took a terrifying turn. The girls rushed Carroll and began to rip out clumps of her curly hair.
The horrible event had one small, silver lining though. A guidance counselor recommended that Carroll switch schools, and it changed her life forever.
