The Peridot visits Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Chadwick Boseman stars in his final film appearance, along side Viola Davis in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, produced by Denzel Washington. The Netflix film also features a supporting case of Glynn Turman, Coleman Domingo, and Michael Potts.

“Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey, born Gertrude Pridgett on April 26, 1886 in Columbus, Georgia, “lived in this house after 1935 during retirement in her native city. In 1904 she introduced ‘blues’ as part of her traveling act. For 30 years her performances contributed to the growing popularity of this truly American music form. A pioneer female recording artist, she made 94 blues records for Paramount before 1928, at least 47 were her own compositions. Managing her own band, she encouraged younger musicians including Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, and  Bessie Smith (The Historic Chattahoochee Commission).”

August Wilson’s 1982 play is set in 1920s Chicago and deals with issues of art, race, religion, and the historic exploitation of Black recording artist by white producers. The play’s title comes from Ma Rainey’s song of the same name, which refers to the Black Bottom dance. Rainey serves as a titular character. 

Watch Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis as Ma Rainey and Chadwick Boseman as Levee now streaming on Netflix.