The Pulse of Entertainment: First Black Rockette Jennifer Jones Publishes Memoir ‘Becoming Spectacular...'
Highlighting the 100th Anniversary of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes
by Dr. Eunice Moseley
(August 22, 2025) - "I wondered who that was," said dancer Jennifer
Jones. "I was watching the news...they said Radio City Music Hall Rockettes hire
first black dancer since 1925."
Jones didn't know that when she accepted the job to dance with the Radio City Music
Hall Rockettes for a Super Bowl performance that she was making history as the first black Rockette since 1925.
"During
my 10-year tenure I learned about their history," Jennifer told me when I asked if she was aware of the magnitude of
who the Rockettes were and the role her dancing with them was taking on at the time.
Jones told me that when she started to dance
with them some of the Rockettes did not welcome her but of those that did, they taught her how to be a Rockette dancer.
"I (also)
leaned into my love of dance," she pointed out. "People from around the country would say, ‘Thank you for
breaking the color barrier.' Some would say, "I will never come again.' I started to see more black families bringing
their families. They (Radio City Music Hall Rockettes) were losing money at the time. No one was coming to their Christmas
show."
"I don't know why they picked me," Jennifer told me when I asked. "The line was full of beautiful
ladies. At the call back there was another black person. I did know who she was. She was a Broadway performer. My parents
loved Broadway shows and took me to see The Wiz five times! Stephany Mills inspired me in The Wiz. I was waiting backstage
for her for an autograph. That (experience meeting Stephany Mills) left such a mark in my life...and my parents always said
to me that I could do anything I want."
Jennifer Jones said that the other black dancer at the call-back was very well known,
but for some reason they called her a couple months after that call back to ask her to perform with the Rockettes at the Super
Bowl that year.
"A
couple months later I got a call, and they asked if I could do the Super Bowl (XXII) half time show (it was in 1988 in San
Diego). I got so nervous, I said, ‘Can I call you back?'," she laughed as she recalled that day for me.
Jones said
she had to take the time to ask herself if she was good enough.
"I took the job," she pointed out. "But she didn't tell
me I was the first black woman!"
To inspire others Jennifer Jones has published
a children's book titled "On The Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette" (Harper Collins).
It is currently part of the Library of Congress's Children's Books Collection representing her home-state of New Jersey.
Jennifer
recently released her memoir titled "Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience" (Harper Collins-Amistad). The
release of this memoir is to match the 100th anniversary of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, which went 62 years without
a black woman in the dance lineup. www.RocketteJenn.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant
at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999,
is into its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday,
November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free
entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent
Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in
prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@thepulseofentertainment.com.
