Many years ago I read Lena Horne's book Stormy Weather. It was a good read. Some things that really stood out was how Lena had two children but her ex took their son and they were separated most of his life while Lena took Gail.
Her son Teddy died at age 29 of kidney failure. When he died his wife abandoned their four kids. Lena did not claim them. Instead they had a caretaker that exploited the situation for obnoxious amounts of money. Still, Lena didn't claim them.
Lena refused to believe her son's daughter Samidah was his therefore she would send gifts to the kids but exclude her. Reports state the kids would return the gifts when Samidah wasn't included. However Lena did secretly pay for Samidah to attend private school or college.
Lena was the doting mother to her daughter Gail. In the book Stormy Weather her personal assistant, can't remember his name, HATED how Lena would give her checkbook to Gail and allow her to write out any amount she felt she deserved as a gift to herself. Eventually they fell out b/c of this and he quit. Gail NEVER worked a day in her life. She literally lived off her mom and married well. At one point she wanted to write a book, The Calhoun's and Lena obliged b/c Gail needed money. Gail has lived her life as a lazy socialite but it gets better. Gail had two daughters with her white husband. These are really the ONLY grandchildren Lena really claimed. Someone who attended her funeral said these were the only grandchildren listed on program as well. Because Gail was in NY with Lena she pretty much got EVERYTHING while her son's children got NADA.
Lena and Gail ^^^
Gail went on to raise her daughters as white women and they do NOT claim black pretty much as all.
Her daughter Amy is staunch republican and the other daughter Jenny is a screenwriter.
Supposedly Lena was upset at their lack of drive (I guess so when everything is handed to you) but what about Gail's lack of drive. I hear all she does is have lunch in fancy Manhattan restaurants and hotels every day.
Amy Lumet
Jenny Lumet
Jenny's son is an actor Jake Cannavale.
Her son's kids are doing well according to this blogger. They are the only "black" ones left but barely anyone knows they exist and they seem content and low key. The link at the bottom has a lot more info about the family dynamics.
https://thisblksistaspage.wordpress....of-lena-horne/
What's strange is how Lena was lauded as a civil rights icon (and supposedly HATED white people and only married her second husband b/c of his connects and what he could do for her career)
BUT didn't believe Samidah was her granddaughter b/c she supposedly didn't look like others...light/bright.
When Lena Horne's estate put items up for auction this was who was in attendance:
Members of Lena Horne's family, including her daughter
Gail Lumet Buckley and granddaughters Jenny and Amy Lumet, were in attendance.
Teddy's children are never included & I'm sure they didn't get a percentage of the $300,000 raised.
This is just a little unknown tea. Lena has six grandchildren but most publications only list two and great-grandson Jake. A few list Teddy's kids. Lena was perfectly fine with these kids not being acknowledged. What Grandmother wouldn't claim her grandkids after their father died and mom abandoned them????
It seems Gail's children are living just fine with sporadic employment & off Lena's money but Teddy's kids all work and are involved in their community's (per blogger above). Yes, she may be a legend but like everyone else had a lot of shyt with her too! She only claimed Amy and Jenny and Jenny's son Jake. She was just as whitewashed as our other so called "legends."