Mabinty Bagura was born in Sierra Leone. Her father was killed by anti-government militia when she was 3. Since women did not have the right to custody of their children, she and her mother had to live with her abusive paternal uncle. He fed them so poorly her mother literally starved to death. The uncle then placed Mabinty in an orphanage. She was befriended by a teacher whom she came to love as surrogate mother. One day soldiers dragged them both away. Her teacher was repeatedly raped while she, then age 5, was forced to watch. The teacher was pregnant. Soldiers bet on whether the fetus was boy or girl. To settle the bet they cut open her abdomen, took out the fetus and left the teacher to bleed out on the ground. Mabinty was stabbed, leaving scars, and told the same fate would await her if she talked. One day an American magazine landed in the camp. On the cover was a photo of a ballerina in full costume and pointe shoes. It was very strange to Mabinty but beautiful and there was so little beauty in her life, she kept the cover. At the orphanage, the 27 girls were rated 1-27 by order of how "pretty" they were. She was #27. She got the worst food and clothing. Her one friend was #26, a girl who by chance had same first name. When adoption agencies worked to place the girls, the staff found adoptive homes for 26 but not her, saying she was too ugly for anyone to want. The other girls got "adoption books" with photos of their new families and homes so they could see in advance. She read #26's book as she had none of her own. When Mrs. Elaine DePrince arrived, Sierra Leone officials told her there was some confusion; they had her as adopting a girl named Mabinty but there were two girls by that name. Although she had only intended one child, on impulse she said "I'll take both". To distinguish the two girls she added American names to their African names, Michaela and Mia. Michaela spoke little English. But she showed the faded magazine to her new mother who told her when they get to America she can take ballet class. Many little girls study ballet and hope to become ballerinas. To say odds are one in a million is no exaggeration. For Michaela there were other obstacles; two schools would not admit her because they said no one wants to see a Black ballerina. She was finally admitted to a local school along with Mia and showed extraordinary talent. Every ballet company on the planet stages Nutcracker over the holidays. The lead is danced by a girl from about age 12-14. The best student in her class. By that age Michaela was the best in her class but did not get the role because "no one will pay to see a Black girl dance". (Mia was one of the 999,999 other ballet students.) She eventually received a scholarship to the elite ballet school associated with American Ballet Theater. She then joined Ballet Theater of Harlem, rising through the ranks, becoming their youngest ever principal dancer. She later joined Netherlands Dance theater and then Boston Ballet. She performed both classical and modern ballets. Madonna made her account of her early life, Taking Flight, into a film. She was featured in Beyonce's video Lemonade, because if there was anyone to whom life gave lemons it was Michaela DePrince. She also took part in humanitarian work as ambassador for War Child, an organization helping young war refugees, and worked to increase diversity in ballet. For example, manufacturers tint tights and pointe shoes to match white women's skin tones. She joined with other black ballerinas to push for accessories that matched their skin. Michaela died suddenly of unknown causes on September 12. She was 29 years old.
What an inspirational story. So sad to see someone so talented and dedicated to her art die so young.
Thanks for the article. Wikipedia says: She grew up as an orphan after her uncle brought her to an orphanage during the civil war. Her adoptive parents were told that her father was shot and killed by the Revolutionary United Front when she was three years old and that her mother starved to death soon after. Since it was soon after, it sounds like the mother was starving in a horrible civil war before her "mean" brother-in-law, also barely surviving and avoiding being executed like other men, was forced by law to protect the mother. His "meanness" might by propaganda from the winning side because he sided with their enemies, like his executed brother. derided as a "devil's child" because of vitiligo, a skin condition causing depigmentation So the "ugliness" wasn't imaginary, it was a disease, later gone. she fled to a refugee camp after her orphanage was bombed...she and another girl were adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince Not that it matters, but to clarify, Elaine adopted her from the camp, not the school. With 9 adopted children, the white American couple qualified for foster care money. That's how Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann made a good salary. As of September 15, the cause of her death has not been determined. The article has other interesting/sad things. Michaela DePrince - Wikipedia
