Final answer:
Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey was a vaudeville/classic blues artist, prominent during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance and known for her openness about her sexuality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey was b. a vaudeville/classic blues artist. Known as the 'Mother of the Blues', Rainey was one of the earliest African American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues artists to record. During the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, a period known for its flourishing of African American arts and culture, Rainey was significant not only for her musical contributions but also for her openness about her sexuality at a time when it was particularly challenging to do so.