“Boop Oop A Doop!” is the famous saying we all have heard! Betty Boop is a popular cartoon character introduced to the world by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930. Betty Boop is best known for her curvaceous figure, signature vocals, and unashamed sexuality. Betty Boop has gone on to be one of the most known iconic animated figures in the world. While there has been controversy around this lovable character throughout the years, one thing that is unfortunately not that well known about the big-eyed sex symbol and strong feminist was inspired by a real-life African American jazz singer and entertainer from Harlem named Esther Lee Jones. Her stage name was "Baby Esther", unfortunately, when her character became the first and most famous sex symbol in animation. Some say she was whitewashed, some say something equally as bad took place: being based off a white woman who earned her career by being inspired by black artists and pretending she created it, with being met in the middle by most having no idea where the original inspiration came from.
