BET Awards 2021 Features Tribute to Betty Boop

 The Black Entertainment Television award show had award winning actress Taraji P. Henson give homage to Baby Esther Jones and Betty Boop. Most of the homage was to Esther Jones, as most people are aware that Esther's "scatting" was a contribution to the whole "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" phase in alternative form. Esther is said to have inspired the creation of that "scatting" technique that was coined by a plump Caucasian 1920s singer who indirectly used Esther's routine but not the exact same words, that singer later went on to inspire the creation of Betty Boop and the rest is history. 

 In this award show it was a tribute to Black Women. The great Josephine Baker is also referenced in the Betty Boop segment. Jo Baker and Esther Jones were more alike than Betty Boop and Esther, they were actually rivals in Paris at one point.

When people draw Betty Boop as a Black woman or reference her Black History with Cab Calloway, they are more or less likely referencing Esther Jones.

However Esther Jones had no ties to Betty Boop. And Betty Boop was always a Caucasian Jewish girl prior to being an anthropomorphic French poodle, Betty was never Black. But these homages of Betty painted Black or as a Black Woman are more or less likely to Esther Jones who has always been associated with the Betty Boop story. Esther however never claimed the "Boop" or "Doop" and retired from show business and by 1937 was married. No longer known under the name Jones.

It would turn out that Taraji is a fan of Betty Boop.

As a child Taraji says she had a big head and big eyes. Her cousins used to tease her by calling her Betty Boop. She cried until she found out Betty Boop was sexy.