Singer Nat King Cole suffered campaign of racist abuse at hands of his white neighbours when he first moved to exclusive Hollywood area

  • Cole became the first black person to live in well off Hancock Park area
  • But his arrival in 1948 sparked protest from other residents
  • A campaign group tried to block his house purchase and buy his home 
  • Racist protesters then killed his dog and burned the word 'n*****' into lawn

By Amanda Williams

Published: 04:09 EST, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 10:14 EST, 18 May 2014


Legendary singer Nat King Cole, America's first black television star, suffered a campaign of racist abuse at the hands of his white Hollywood neighbours, a new documentary has revealed.

The singer was subject to months of protests against his family when they moved to the exclusive Hancock Park area of Los Angeles - culminating in his dog being poisoned and his lawn being defaced with the word 'n*****'.

Cole became the first black person to live in the well off suburb, which has been home to the likes of Howard Hughes, Katherine Hepburn and Mae West.

Legendary singer Nat King Cole, America's first black television star, suffered a campaign of racist abuse at the hands of his white Hollywood neighbours, a new documentary has revealed

Legendary singer Nat King Cole, America's first black television star, suffered a campaign of racist abuse at the hands of his white Hollywood neighbours, a new documentary has revealed

But his arrival in 1948 sparked protest from other residents - starting with a legal battle by the Hancock Park Property Owners Association to try to prevent him from buying the house.

The association's efforts failed and the jazz pianist continued with the purchase. The group then tried to buy the house from him.

 

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The Independent reports that a previously unpublished covenant for the property states that the home was for whites only and not for 'any person whose blood is not entirely that of the Caucasian race' - with the only exception being for servants.

The same year that Cole and his family moved to Hancock Park a US Supreme Court ruling banned racially restrictive property covenants.

The singer was subject to months of protests against he and his family when he moved to the exclusive Hancock Park area of Los Angeles - culminating in his dog being poisoned and his lawn being defaced with the word 'n*****'

The singer was subject to months of protests against he and his family when he moved to the exclusive Hancock Park area of Los Angeles - culminating in his dog being poisoned and his lawn being defaced with the word 'n*****'

In one of her last interviews before her death in 2012, his widow Mrs Cole said: 'They really just didn't want any undesirable people in there. I don't know how they had the guts to say it'

In one of her last interviews before her death in 2012, his widow Mrs Cole said: 'They really just didn't want any undesirable people in there. I don't know how they had the guts to say it'

The documentary, which will be shown on BBC Four this week, features interviews from the crooner's family and friends - including his late wife Maria, and fellow entertainer Harry Belafonte. 

Mr Belafonte said: 'It was not an easy time for him or his family; nobody wanted him.'

In one of her last interviews before her death in 2012, his widow Mrs Cole said: 'They really just didn't want any undesirable people in there. I don't know how they had the guts to say it.'

His daughter's also revealed that the family's lawn was defaced, with the word n***** burned onto the lawn.

Daughter, Timolin, said their dog was also killed.

'Somebody threw poisoned meat over the wall and it [killed] him.'

Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark, directed and produced by Jon Brewer, details his life through a series of interviews and his private journals, up until his death to lung cancer in February 1965.

Nat King Cole's daughter Natalie, Casey and Timolin and director Jon Brewer attend the screening of 'Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark'

Nat King Cole's daughter Natalie, Casey and Timolin and director Jon Brewer attend the screening of 'Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark'

Jon was given exclusive access to the star’s archive which up until now has never be seen – in the process a new unheard track by the artist was also discovered.

A synopsis of the film documentary reads: ‘Imagine what it would feel like to be the only black television star in Hollywood at a time when the Klu Klux Klan acted out violently against black persons, when America groaned under the weight of segregation and prejudice.

‘Imagine being in possession of a natural talent so great, unique and disarming that these issues were seemingly swept to one side to allow you to perform and be acknowledged for this gift, yet behind closed doors they were trying to think of a way to package you as something you were not: white. ‘

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Abusing people over something that they have no choice over is just not logical. Interesting fact, everyone in the human race is least 99.9% biochemical similar to one another.

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Lovely man,lovely voice,old news.

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Many say this was many years ago, but sadly, this still goes on today. If he had the same talent, but had white skin, no doubt, he would have been welcomed with open arms, and his neighbours would have been proud to say who they lived next door to, and the dog would not have been cruelly poisoned. Sadly, his skin colour said otherwise.

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Why is everyone surprised? This was the world we lived in back then.

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USA is a very racist country. Just look at some of the films that Traffic, white chicks. All very racist. At leadt southpark take the mick out of them

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How disgusting of a person do you have to be to go after and kill someone you hates dog?

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I am still made that they took off the funniest show on TV: Amos and Andy with George "Kingfish" Stevens, Andy Brown and a great cast. This show is still the funniest show. But the NAACP protested and they took it off. Such a shame. We still watch this show on DVD and people who never saw it love it.

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those were different times, doesn't make it right, but ya'll are trying to think in todays terms. the thing i think should be remembered is the great things he did then and the fact that he's music is still loved today and will be forever. so who out lasted who and will be remembered for ever. i don't care how many laws you pass you will never legislate away how one person feels about another. anyone that thinks so is not living in reality. another thing that gets me is most people think there is only one race of people that are racist, they don't care to live in reality either.

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This is difficult/painful to read. The hate is overwhelming!

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Why would someone act like this? What goes on in their brain to hate someone so badly because they have different coloured skin. I literally don't understand it.

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