May Britt, the blonde Swedish actress who in her Hollywood heyday starred in War and Peace, The Young Lions and The Blue Angel but found her career ended when she married entertainer Sammy Davis Jnr has died at 91. At that time nearly half of American states banned interracial marriage, which were not legalised nationwide until a 1967 Supreme Court decision.
Even J.F.K was alarmed at their presence at a 1963 White House reception because he feared a political backlash if he was viewed as endorsing their union. Encouraged to help the Democrat by Frank Sinatra, Davis had delayed his marriage until after the 1960 presidential election in case public disapproval of the nuptials cost Kennedy votes and offend Deep South congressmen which would complicate his legislative ambitions.
Earlier Davis had pursued a relationship with a popular white actress, Kim Novak. When Columbia Pictures mogul Harry Cohn found out, he allegedly hired mobsters to threaten Davis on the basis that dating a black man would be toxic to the career of one of his most bankable screen sirens. To protect himself, Davis married a black dancer, Loray White, in 1958; they divorced later that year.
Davis and Britt announced their engagement in London, and were targeted with racist abuse from far-right supporters of Oswald Mosley. On their return to the US, theatres where Davis performed were subjected to bomb threats, and the American Nazi Party picketed a nightclub in Washington. The couple received death threats and hired armed bodyguards. “May was almost like a prisoner in a mink-lined cell,” a friend recalled.
When they got engaged, the studio immediately cancelled Britt’s contract, assuming she was no use in the box office married to a black man. She responded “I loved Sammy and I had the chance to marry the man I loved.” The marriage did not last a decade and both remarried but their daughter said that for her father Sammy, Britt was “the love of his life”.
She was born 22 March 1934 in Stockholm, Sweden, no birth time, with a vibrant and courageous Sun Mars in Aries and a Gemini Moon. Her upbeat Jupiter in Libra was in an Air Grand Trine to Saturn in Aquarius trine her Moon, giving her a coolly sophisticated appearance. Her Jupiter was opposition a rebellious Uranus and in a confident square to Pluto.
Sammy Davis Jnr, 8 December 1925 1.20 pm New York, who died of throat cancer in 1990, had a Sagittarius Sun and Mercury which was square a 12th house Uranus opposition a Virgo Moon so lively, highly-strung and keen to be liberated from restrictions. His musical Neptune in his performing 5th house was on the focal point of a yod inconjunct Uranus sextile a successful 10th house Jupiter in Capricorn. He was a convention-breaker and fortunate in his career but an 8th house Mars Saturn in Scorpio square his Neptune hinted at the deep seated injustices he had to suffer which unsurprisingly embittered him .
Chariklo, the star of eternal suffering was opposition his Sun. Sirius, the star that shines brightest was conjunct his Pluto. His Chiron was in his 1st leaving him with identity and self-esteem problems.
May’s Jupiter fell in his 7th house for a supportive relationship with her trailblazing Uranus in his 1st house conjunct his Chiron. Both has Venus in Aquarius which would help.
Their relationship chart had an affectionate composite Sun Venus conjunction; with an adventurous Jupiter trine Uranus trine Sun Mercury. Though a more ominous composite Mercury Mars opposition Pluto hinted at problems which would tear them apart.
It should be noted that
Sinatra was the best man at
Sammy and May’s wedding.
That was unheard-of in 1960.
FS’ article in Ebony magazine,
“The Way I Feel About Race”
which was published in July
1958 is incredibly far sighted
for the time.
It is well worth reading.
Frank was a Sagittarian,
a sign known for their
prophetic insights.
It has been forgotten that the
Rat Pack played benefits, for
Martin Luther King Jnr
in the early 1960s.
Frank made sure Sammy was
protected from the very worst
of the racist abuse, indeed he
had two secretaries employed,
one to deal with the racist
letters he received in the post.
At least, May lived to see that
repellent mind-set disappear
into the mists of history.
He cheated on her a lot, apparently.
Numerologically, those born on 4 numbered dates and 28th as date, have unconventional partners.
Uranus is lord of 4 number and north node,outsider in Hinduism.
It’s said that they look unconventional as couple though I haven’t found all such but they do have unconventional,break conventions and usually shock world by partner choice.