Misty Copeland on being Black in ballet, breaking barriers, and becoming a superstar

Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre’s first Black principal dancer, joins Margaret Hoover to discuss her career, her new memoir, and her relationship with her mentor, Raven Wilkinson.

As Copeland details in The Wind at My Back, Wilkinson was a trailblazing Black ballerina who performed in the U.S. and Europe in the mid-20th century, but she has often been overlooked by history after her career was cut short by racism.

Copeland recalls the lessons she learned from her mentor, reflects on how ballet has changed, and explains why she gives Wilkinson credit for her biggest successes–like starring in ABT’s “Swan Lake.”

She also talks about her own confrontations with racism in the dance world, her hopes for the future of ballet, and when she plans to return to the stage.

Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.