Emma Harris facts for kids

Emma Richardovna Harris-Mizikina (born Emma Elizabeth Matthews; October 9, 1871 – after 1940) was an American-born Russian actress, singer, and dancer. She was also a cabaret performer and writer. Emma became famous for her amazing performances and unique style. She spent many years living and working in Russia, becoming a well-known artist there.

Early Life and New Beginnings

Emma Harris was born in Augusta, Georgia, on October 7, 1871. Her parents, Sarah Green and Richard Matthews, were poor and had moved from a plantation after the American Civil War (1865). They hoped to find a better life in the city. Her mother worked as a washerwoman, and her father worked in a cotton mill. Emma had two younger siblings, Thomas and Josephine.

By 1880, her family lived in a tenement building. Emma started attending Edmund Asa Ware High School, which was the first public high school for African-Americans in Georgia. Later, she moved to Norfolk, Virginia, to live with her aunt and continue her studies. After her aunt passed away, Emma moved to New York in 1892. She found work as a chambermaid.

On December 23, 1896, Emma married Joseph B. Harris. They settled in Brooklyn, hoping to start a family. Emma also helped several of her relatives move north from the South. After a sad family event, Emma decided to focus on her singing. Because her religious parents did not approve of her becoming an entertainer, she sang in the Trinity Baptist Church Choir for a while.

Joining the Louisiana Amazon Guards (1901–1904)

In April 1901, Emma saw an advertisement in the New York Herald. A German theater manager, Paula Kohn-Wöllner, was looking for seven African-American women who could sing and dance for a tour in Germany. Emma applied and was accepted. Kohn-Wöllner wanted to create a new theater group to tour Europe.

The group was called the "Louisiana Amazon Guard." It included Emma, Olga Burgoyne, Fannie Wise, Florence Collins, Alverta Burley, and S.T. Jubrey. Another girl, Corette Hardy, was a backup. On April 10, the six women got their first passports. Two weeks later, they sailed to Germany on the S.S. Deutschland.

By April 21, the troupe arrived in Leipzig, Germany. They performed successfully in June and July in places like Kiel and Carlsbad. In August, they entertained audiences in Hungary. September brought a month-long show in Vienna, and October was spent in Copenhagen for a short tour of Scandinavia.

In November, the troupe performed in Sweden. Their manager, Ms. Kohn-Wöllner, gave interviews to newspapers, talking about their plans for a band and future shows. The troupe returned to Germany in December, performing in Berlin and preparing for another year of touring.

In 1902, the group started the year in Magdeburg before moving to France. They planned to perform at the famous Folie-Bergere cabaret in Paris, but it didn't happen. They returned to Germany, performing in various cities like Braunswich and Halle. In May, Fannie Wise and S.T. Jubrey left the group and went back to the United States. Corette Hardy and Fannie Smith joined as their replacements. The troupe then toured Switzerland and returned to Germany, performing in Munich, Leipzig, and Dresden.

After almost two years of touring, the entire troupe left their German manager in Dresden. They accused Kohn-Wöllner of not paying them fairly. Ollie Burgoyne became their new manager, and the group, now called the "Five Louisianas," moved to Berlin. They performed there and in other German cities before the group changed again. In March 1903, Ollie Burgoyne and Florence Collins went to London to join another show.

The four remaining women continued performing in Germany for three more months. Then, they traveled to the Russian Empire. After getting passports in Berlin, they went to Saint Petersburg in July 1903. They performed for two months at the Krestovskiy Garden Amusement Park. In September, the troupe opened in Moscow at Aumont's French Theater, calling themselves the "4 Ebony Belles." This theater was a lively entertainment spot. After their stage performance, the women were asked to entertain private parties.

In the winter of 1903, the Louisiana Amazon Guard (Ebony Belles) broke up. Alverta Burley married another entertainer. Emma convinced Coretté Hardy and Fannie Smith to stay in Russia with her. They formed the "Harris Trio." For the next six months, they performed in Saint-Petersburg and Moscow. In March 1904, the trio went to Helsinki, Finland, performing at the Hotell Fennia. In the summer of 1904, the Harris Trio joined with other performers to form the "Creole Troupe," touring major Russian cities.

On January 22, 1905, while at a party in Saint-Petersburg, the women saw protests happening outside the Tsar's palace. The trio quickly returned to Moscow and continued working at the Aumont Theater. In February, while performing in Vyatka, the trio decided to split up, and Corette and Fannie went to Poland.

The Black Nightingale (1905–1913)

Now a solo artist, Emma Harris returned to Helsinki in March 1905. She performed for two weeks at the Princess Restaurant and then in Tampere. Soon after, she went back to Saint Petersburg and Moscow. There, she met Baranov, a scientist and museum curator.

Even though there was a revolution happening in Russia, Emma went on a long tour across Siberia. Baranov traveled with her, acting as her manager. He presented her as "Galima Oriedo: The Black Nightingale," a singing African performer. Emma later found out that Baranov was not honest and was causing her trouble. She faced difficulties and was briefly held by authorities due to false accusations. An intervention from the American consulate in Moscow helped her get released.

On September 2, the Russo-Japanese War ended. Emma earned money by teaching English in Kazan and then took a train to Moscow. She realized she couldn't rely on help from America and decided to stay in Russia.

In early 1906, an American businessman, Harry Leans, offered to fund Emma's first solo tour across Russia. Emma decided to keep the "Black Nightingale" persona. She sang in German, French, Polish, and Russian, specializing in Russian romance songs, which were very popular. She also played the flute and ocarina and could imitate sounds with her voice. She quickly became a popular singer and dancer in Moscow and St. Petersburg. During her tour, Emma learned that her first husband, Joseph, had passed away in Brooklyn.

Around 1907-1908, Emma became a popular performer in Moscow, often working with Edgar H. Jones, another African-American entertainer. Many African-American performers found success in Russia during this time.

In the summer of 1910, Emma performed in Constantinople (now Istanbul), starting a long tour in Turkey. She was invited to perform at the Imperial Seraglio, a palace. She learned exotic belly dances, which she performed every night. She even performed for the 12-year-old Shah of Persia.

In January 1911, Emma returned from the Ottoman Empire for a tour across the Caucasus region. In Tbilisi, Georgia, she performed at the Modern Theater. The next month, she was at the Illusion Theater with a boxer named Bomburo. In the summer of 1911, in Tbilisi, Emma met Alexander Ivanovich Mizikin, a 28-year-old Russian man. Soon after, Alexander became her manager and then her husband. Emma changed her name to Emma Richardsovna Mizikina. With Alexander's help, her stage act changed from an American dancer to an exotic North-African dancer.

On January 6, 1912, Emma performed in Rostov on Don as a famous Algerian Arab performer. By spring, she was in Braslav, Belarus, showing her musical talents and dances. That summer, the couple moved to Kharkov, Ukraine, a quiet city. They lived in an apartment in a working-class area. Despite this, Emma tried to live an elegant lifestyle, employing several servants.

In August, her old friend, Edgar Jones, visited her during his Ukrainian tour. Edgar passed away shortly after and was buried in the Troitskaya Cemetery. Emma helped with his burial and sent his belongings to his family. The next month, Russia faced political unrest, and the Prime Minister was shot.

The Romanov Tercentenary began in 1913, celebrating 300 years of the Romanov family. Emma spent the year touring various Ukrainian regions. By May 1913, with Emma's earnings, Alexander bought a popular cinema called Zerkalo Zhizni.

In July, she arrived in Voronezh. She thrilled audiences at the Fantasy Gardens and the Petrovsky Yacht Club. Newspapers praised her act, which started with her playing the flute and ocarina, then imitating the sounds with her voice. After singing Russian romance songs, she performed her exotic, snake-like Algerian dances, which audiences loved. In early October, Emma was in Odessa, performing at the North Hotel.

During her time there, Emma helped a young woman named Ophelia Gindra, who had run away from home. Emma helped Gindra get a singing job at the hotel. After Emma's performances ended, she and Gindra were at the train station to return to Kharkov. Emma faced a misunderstanding involving Gindra's belongings. Her apartment was searched, and she was briefly questioned by authorities in Odessa. She was quickly cleared of all accusations and allowed to return home.

On November 14, a Kharkov newspaper announced Emma's performance at the Zerkalo Zhizni Theater. It mentioned her beautiful voice and unique performances.

Film Career and Russian Revolution (1914–1917)

On February 4, 1914, the electricity went out at the Zerkalo Zhizni Cinema, causing a commotion. Alexander calmed the crowd and promised free films the next day. In May, Emma performed at her usual spot, the Kommerchesky Garden Club.

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, which led to the start of World War I. In July, Emma visited Moscow. She might have visited Frederick B. Thomas, who now owned the Aquarium Garden Theater, a popular amusement park. The park was set to host a boxing tournament with American Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, but it was canceled due to the war.

On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia. As Russia prepared for war, Jack Johnson and his wife left for Paris. Emma returned to Kharkov and began selling her properties.

On September 1, the Tsar renamed St. Petersburg to Petrograd. Russian high society enjoyed what would be their last grand social season before the war's full impact. There was a desire to have fun despite the growing tension. In October, the Ottoman Empire attacked Russia. Petrograd indulged in parties before alcohol was banned in November for the rest of the war. Emma performed at popular places, watching people dance and drink.

Two months after the war began, Turkish warships attacked Russian coastal cities, including Odessa. Because of this, Emma and Alexander moved to Moscow. Emma bought a comfortable apartment in the city center.

Feeling lonely without her husband and unable to tour due to the war, Emma decided to start a film career. She wrote a story with directors Sigmund Veselovsky and Parkomenko. Emma traveled to Yaroslavl to star in her first film, Satan's Woman. Released on May 15, the film was a long adventure-drama. Emma became very popular after the film's success.

Later that year, the Kinolent Film Office released a comedy film called Feet Up!, starring Emma and Tikhomirov.

By early 1917, Emma started attending political meetings in Moscow. During a public demonstration in January 1917, she saw armed police fire into the crowd. On February 6, she renewed her American passport, hoping to travel to neutral Scandinavia.

After the February Revolution, Russia was in a difficult situation. Emma's artistic career was interrupted. Like many Americans living in Russia, she thought about returning to America. The war and revolution had made touring impossible, and many Russian entertainment places were closing. Many African-American performers who returned to America from Europe found it hard to find work and ended up in domestic jobs. By May, Moscow was adapting to the new political situation. The city's police were disarmed, and there was a rise in crime. Emma's home was also affected, and many valuables, including her American passport, were stolen.

By the end of the week, many buildings in Moscow were damaged by fighting. On November 20, a new government group declared victory. On November 29, Emma used her connections to prepare a large Thanksgiving meal for the American Consul and the remaining American staff in Moscow.

Emma needed to leave Russia soon. The new government made it difficult for people to leave Moscow without special permits. Train travel was also very difficult. Emma joined the Red Cross as a nurse, working on a hospital train that traveled south into Ukraine.

Russian Civil War (1918–1925)

When Emma returned to Moscow, on March 3, 1918, the new Soviet Union signed a peace treaty and left World War I. Ten days later, German and Austrian troops marched into Ukraine, making the region dangerous. Moscow was declared the new capital of Soviet Russia. Emma attended a rally where Vladimir Lenin gave a powerful speech. He spoke about equality for all people, especially those who had been treated unfairly. The crowd cheered and lifted Emma onto their shoulders.

Around this time, Emma bought a large house in Moscow. However, health conditions in Moscow worsened, with diseases like cholera and typhoid spreading. Moscow also faced starvation, and food was rationed. Emma used her connections to the city's underground networks to find food and supplies. These connections also helped her protect her home when the new secret police began taking property from wealthy citizens. It was unusual that Emma, an African-American actress, was able to keep her large home in Moscow during this time.

That summer, Emma found herself without work. The Soviet government began taking control of all theaters and cabarets. The old system of education and culture was also changing.

In 1919, Emma was sent to Simbirsk with a group from the People's Commissariat of Education. Her main job was to be an interpreter and English teacher for Soviet officials. Simbirsk was a city on the front lines of the Russian Civil War, and it was in ruins.

During her time in Simbirsk, Emma became involved with military officers who were against the new Soviet government. In the summer of 1919, she returned to Moscow and continued to help these officers, using her home as a hiding and meeting place. On September 24, the secret police raided Emma's home and arrested her and the soldiers. They were taken to the Lubyanka Prison. While the soldiers were executed, Emma was released on November 19. The official told her that she was released because she was African-American and advised her to find useful work and stay out of trouble.

In 1921, Emma's business of helping Americans find places to stay grew. She arranged for railway information bureaus to send all visiting Americans to her establishment.

That summer, after the Civil War ended, a severe famine hit the Volga region. In September, when the American Relief Association arrived in the Soviet Union to help with the famine, Emma organized a laundry service for their workers in Moscow. Her husband, Alexander, delivered and picked up the laundry. During this time, Emma reunited with her old friend, Coretté Alefred, who had returned to Russia.

In late 1922, American journalist Samuel Spewack visited Emma's home in Moscow. He was surprised to see that despite the revolution, war, and famine, Emma still had her valuable rugs, jewelry, silks, and silverware. Emma spoke fluent Russian and talked about her past as an exotic dancer. She also expressed her wish to return to the United States. Her husband, Alexander, also wanted to go to America to write film stories for Hollywood.

Soviet Worker (1926–1933)

In 1926, Emma's career as an actress ended. She began working as a textile worker at the Proletarsky Trud Silk Mill. This change also marked the end of her fifteen-year marriage with Alexander Mizikin, who moved out. The Soviets took control of her large mansion, giving Emma two rooms on the first floor and converting the rest into apartments for ten Russian families.

Even though her boarding house was gone, Emma continued to offer hospitality to visiting Americans. She would find ingredients and cook home-cooked meals for them. However, some early African-American visitors were cautious around Emma. She was classified by the Soviets as a "declassé bourgeoisie" (someone who had lost their former social status). She was bitter about her situation and often criticized the Soviet government, praising the old system. She often said, "I'm like a cat with nine lives, honey. I always landed on my feet... These Bolsheviks ain't gonna kill me."

In late 1928, an American communist named James Pierce arrived in the Soviet Union. He became very close with Emma, and her apartment became a regular meeting place for American visitors on Saturday evenings. Emma would serve home-cooked meals and play jazz on her piano, singing melodiously.

During the 1930s, Emma became a lead speaker for the International Red Aid. She traveled across Russia, giving powerful speeches against racism, singing spirituals, and writing poems for Soviet newspapers.

On June 26, 1932, Emma, Coretti Arle-Titz, and others welcomed twenty-two African-American artists to the Soviet Union. They were invited to make a film about the difficult working conditions of African-American laborers in the American South. The film was based on a poem protesting American racism. Emma was very excited to see them. She entertained her new colleagues at the Hotel Metropol and at her home. She washed their laundry and cooked supper. Emma was known for having some of the best food in Moscow, even though she only had a regular worker's ration card. She knew where to find extra ingredients and drinks. Langston Hughes, a famous writer, visited her and wondered why she stayed in her noisy neighborhood. Emma replied that she hadn't seen any "rooms for rent" signs, but added that if anything went wrong with the government, she would leave immediately.

In early July, Emma spoke at an anti-racism rally. Her face was lit by floodlights, and her voice was amplified by loudspeakers as she sang spirituals and gave a powerful speech in Russian. After the film project didn't work out, Emma found a job as a saleswoman at a Torgsin shop. She was often seen leaving with bags full of cooking ingredients and vodka.

In early 1933, Emma worked as a chief correspondent. Despite her many years in Russia, she still felt a strong connection to her American roots and often felt nostalgic. As she got older, her desire to see America grew stronger. When the United States finally recognized the Soviet Union that summer, the American consulate helped arrange her return to New York. In August, after an interview where she expressed her wish to visit the US, Emma was allowed to travel to Latvia to get an American passport. She then boarded the S.S Milwaukee from Hamburg, returning to New York after 32 years.

Later Life (1934–1940)

Emma was invited to several events in New York City to speak about her experiences in Russia. In February 1934, she was hospitalized and placed in a nursing home due to her declining health. In December 1937, she told a journalist that she wanted to return to the Soviet Union and was saving money for it. Unfortunately, she was unable to go back. By 1940, she had moved to Brooklyn, living with her nephew, Richard Matthews, and his family. She remained there, hoping to return to Russia after the war, until her death.

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