Eartha & Kitt
Mother-daughter relationships can be very special and Kitt Shapiro’s relationship with Eartha Kitt was unique and powerful in so many different ways. In Eartha & Kitt (Pegasus Books), Shapiro talks about her mother’s life and their incredibly tight bond, sharing stories and lessons she learned growing up a light-skinned blonde girl with her single, Black, famous mom.
Kitt (center) and me (2nd from right) with host committee for a Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County fundraising event — an organization that provides arts education for kids in Bridgeport, CT.
Born in the late 1920s and a cotton picker from the south, Eartha did not have the luxury of loving parents, education and guidance. She was abandoned and abused, yet she developed a strong sense of self with principles and inner strength — and a love for her daughter that truly saved her, gave her purpose and allowed her to live an incredible life filled with success and accomplishments. From activism to entertainment, Eartha had strong opinions on how things should be, and she made the effort to set the example. Equality for all, respect for elders, good manners, clear diction, healthy eating, and following rules … she lived her life mindfully and expected her daughter, Kitt, to do so as well. They traveled the world together from the time Kitt was a baby and were inseparable — something that continued for Eartha’s lifetime.
Kitt generously shares her exceptional and loving relationship with her mom with us; from experiencing an unconventional childhood to the end of Eartha’s life, through Kitt’s stories we see the impact her relationship with her mom had on her own confidence, career path and parenting. There is a lot of food for thought within this memoir that touches on race, personality traits, child-rearing and more. I enjoyed all the adventures in California, NYC, South Africa, Vienna and around the world, and the valuable lessons Eartha taught Kitt.
The love, respect and admiration of her incredibly strong and talented mother shine through in Eartha & Kitt and in Kitt herself.
If you are ever in Westport, CT, stop by Kitt’s store, West, to shop and say hi! Also, visit Simply Eartha for merchandise and more information on both Kitt and Eartha.
As most mothers and daughters can attest, our relationship was also at times conflicted. As a teenager and young adult, I often felt my mother loved me too much, that she held on too tight. As I matured, I came to appreciate and understand my mother’s immense devotion and the tremendous gift her love has given me. It now fills my heart and soul since the loss of her physical presence.
Christmas Day 2008, my mother lost her battle with colon cancer and these years without her have been an evolution for me. I have had to adjust to no longer being someone’s daughter. I have cried; been angry; felt lost and alone. But, I have also been able to laugh, rejoice and feel gratitude for how blessed I was to have had such an incredible woman for a mother.
My mother was a real, complex, and at times, flawed, human being. She taught me to be true to myself; to live honestly and with respect for everything and everybody. To possess calm in place of panic and to remember that humor is one of life’s most precious gifts.
It is now my turn to build on that beautiful, solid foundation my mother gave me. I have embarked on a new chapter on my journey. I still cry sometimes, and feel scared, but I hold tight to the knowledge that my mother’s love and spirit fill all that surrounds me. So it is her shadow that I now embrace and carry with me in my heart as I move forward on this new, unfolding path.
I have introduced a lifestyle brand called Simply Eartha as a tribute to her. I have taken her image, her writing and her wisdom and created designs that I hope will continue to inspire her fans, both old and new. May they touch your heart, as they do mine.
From my mother and me, Eartha and Kitt, to you.
Remember ~Treasure ~Love
