Picture of Bette Davis

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Bette Davis pictured with Hattie McDaniel, co-star and longtime friend. Along with Lena Horne and Ethel Waters, Davis toured as the performing troupe for black servicemen with McDaniel, who was the Chairman of the Negro Division of the Hollywood Victory Committee. Bette, who also happened to be the Chairman of the Victory and co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen, fought to keep her club racially integrated.

Such a decision sparked immense controversy - remember: this was the 1940s! - and this meant that white women would be able to dance with black men. John Garfield (partner), Davis, and a few other volunteers refused to back down, stating that they would quit. The group won. There was still partial segregation present in the club, however, an inevitable side-effect that regulars to the Canteen reported even after the policy was imposed.