DESCRIPTION:
Betty Boop was originally based on a black woman known as Esther Jones (Baby Esther) who was a nightclub singer in Harlem who used to scat sing in her cabaret act in the 1920s. Her "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" idea was stolen by Helen Kane (Helen Clare Schroeder). Helen Kane became a famous star after she swiped/imitated Baby Esther the original Betty Boop. Betty Boop was created in 1930 and started imitating Kane. Kane who originally stole her "Boop" idea decided to take the Fleischer Studios who created the cartoon character to court, only to lose. In court it was proven that Helen Kane was not original and that Baby Esther had originated "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" long before her and was the original, originator of the unique baby scat singing style. Esther was later impersonated by 5 Baby Esther impersonators who'd played Betty Boop in the cartoons. Like Martin Luther King Jr., Esther is now a vital part of Black History Month.

Links:
http://madamenoire.com/466037/betty-boop-inspired-by-a-black-woman/
http://madamenoire.com/481003/historical-figures-you-didnt-know-were-black/
https://hellobeautiful.com/2742315/betty-boop-was-black/
https://www.littlethings.com/real-betty-boop-baby-esther/
https://blackthen.com/esther-jones-real-betty-boop/
www.sinuousmag.com/2014/09/photo-not-esther-jones-betty-boop-not-black/
harlemworldmag.com/the-amazing-story-of-harlems-esther-jones-videos/