Pearl Primus, (born November 29, 1919, Port of Spain, Trinidad died October 29, 1994, New Rochelle, New York, U.S.), American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and teacher whose performance work drew on the African American experience and on her research in Africa and the Caribbean. Primus’s family moved to New York City when she was two years of age. Intending to become a physician, Primus received a degree in biology and premedical sciences from Hunter College (1940) in New York City. While taking health education courses at New York University, Primus sought employment at a laboratory but was deterred by racial discrimination. She