I was very sad to read the news about the passing away of Irene Cara. She always seemed like a cool woman to me who secured her place in film and music history at a very young age.

Maya Cade wrote about Irene Cara on her Substack contextualising Cara’s career and challenges within Black cinema and the music industry. I strongly recommend you read it.

If you ask a Black girl of a certain generation who made them believe they could do anything, Irene Cara would likely be listed after their family members. In Irene Cara, Black girls had a songstress, a pioneer, a prototype, a role model, and an idol.
Irene Cara's impact is unquantifiable. One cannot measure how many Black girls saw "Fame" and believed their dreams were possible because of Irene Cara's Coco. One cannot begin to count the ways Black girls began to fight for their place in the world because Irene Cara's career let them know their hopes could be a reality. One cannot describe what Irene Cara's Grammy and Oscar wins meant to Black girls who also came for nothing.

To celebrate and remenber Irene Cara, I’ve compiled a small selection of videos below, some that were shared by people I follow on Twitter.

I'm gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
I'm gonna live forever
Baby, remember my name

RIP Irene Cara (March 18, 1959- November 25, 2022)

An 8 year old Irene Cara.