Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was an extraordinary dancer and entertainer, known as the "Black Pearl" and "Creole Goddess," who left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry. Born Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the daughter of Carrie McDonald, who raised her single-handedly. Her estate claimed vaudeville drummer Eddie Carson as her father, but he had little involvement in her life.

From a young age, Josephine Baker showed her talent for dancing. After dropping out of school, she joined a touring vaudeville show at the age of 15, where she was discovered by the famous revue producer, Florenz Ziegfeld. This opportunity catapulted her into the entertainment world, and she soon became a sensation on Broadway and in Paris.

Baker's role in the 1925 French show, La Revue Nègre, brought her international fame. She became famous for her Danse banane costume, in which she wore a skirt made of rubber bananas. Her performances of the Charleston and other provocative dances quickly made her a star in the Parisian nightlife.

In addition to her entertainment success, Josephine Baker was also a civil rights activist. She openly spoke out against racial inequality and fought for the rights of Black people in America. During World War II, she served as a spy for the French Resistance and was awarded the Croix de guerre and the Medal of Resistance for her bravery.

Josephine Baker was also a loving wife and parent. She was married and divorced four times and adopted a total of 12 children of various races, whom she referred to as her "Rainbow Tribe." She believed that people of different races could live together harmoniously and wanted to prove that to the world.

Alongside her success on stage, Josephine Baker was linked to many famous figures in the industry. She once worked with Ernest Hemingway, who wrote about her in his memoir, A Moveable Feast. She was also friends with artists such as Pablo Picasso, Langston Hughes, and Josephine's contemporary, Cab Calloway.

Josephine Baker was a motivated, tenacious, and confident woman who used her talent and platform to speak out against injustice and create a better world for her children and others. Though she passed away in 1975, her impact on the entertainment world and the civil rights movement will never be forgotten.