Bette Braxton

Bette Braxton was born in Evanston, Illinois, where her father worked as a painter and handyman. Her mother suffered from tuberculosis and had to remain in a TB ward, and after one particularly harsh winter when her father froze his feet, the family decided to move to California in 1945. They were part of the Great Migration of Black families moving to California during WWII. Many of those families, including Bette’s, initially settled into homes that had been abandoned by interned Japanese families. Eventually, Bette’s family moved to Jefferson and 4th Avenue, one of three Black families to live in the neighborhood at the time. Bette concentrated in photography and studio art at Dorsey High School and continued her artistic studies at Los Angeles City College. She met her husband, Frank Braxton, while he was also an art student. Frank was given a job at Warner Brothers through a connection with Benny Washam, an animator there, becoming the first Black animator for the studio. He went on to work as an animator at Disney. Frank was also involved with the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles. It was while he was working on producing a PSLA play at the Ivar Theater that the Braxton’s met and spent time with Roberta Flack. Bette had worked her way through real estate and was employed by a Black company who managed Titles. While she continued to work in Titles, Bette began to work as Roberta Flack’s road manager in Los Angeles. She went on to work full time as a road manager and producer for “Spotlight on the Black Woman” and other shows, working with some of the most notable performers of the time. Bette and Frank had two children, Alita and Scott. Bette advises young people to remember that no matter where we come from, we all bleed the same.