what race is betty boop

The race of Betty Boop has been a topic of controversy and debate. Initially, Betty Boop was shown in cartoons as an African American woman. However, the character was later transformed into a white woman and remained so until her character was finally retired. PBS has confirmed that Betty Boop was actually inspired by a real-life African American jazz singer and entertainer from Harlem named Esther Jones, whose stage name was "Baby Esther". Baby Esther had a popular cabaret act at the infamous Cotton Club in Harlem, New York, where she sang with a unique vocal style that featured “boop-boop-a-doops” and other similar scat sounds. That very same style was heavily imitated by the Betty Boop animated character. However, it is important to note that Betty Boop was not based on any one specific person, but rather inspired by a popular performing style.