Josephine Baker
(3 June 1906 – 12 Apr. 1975)
Black History Month Spotlight …
Latarua Perry
The Banana Dance, 1936
Josephine & Chiquita the Cheetah(pet)
Chevalier of Legeion d’Honneur, WW2, 1945
Josephine and her twelve adopted children, “The Rainbow Tribe”
Josephine Baker earns the spotlight this Black Histort Month for being the first black woman to achieve international stardom in the 1920’s. Baker dropped out of school at the age of 13 and lived as a street child in the slums of St. Louis, sleeping in cardboard shelters, and scavenging for food in garbage cans. Her street performances attracted lots of good attention, she was recruited to tour the country with the Vaudeville Circuit. Those natural talents spread to Broadway in New York City and jazz dance later on in Paris (new residence). Her dance style was a mix of comedy and exotic creative images that were influenced by the Harlem Renaissance. Although she wasn’t the greatest dancer nor singer in Paris at that time, her onstage charisma connected to the audience instantly! Not content with being a world-famous dancer, Josephine also became an actress, a singer, an author, a cabaret club owner, and even a Red Cross nurse and a spy for the French Resistance during World War II. Simply put… Josephine Baker was a pioneer who lived life on her own terms and pushed all boundaries.
“I’m not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach and a head. Just think about that.”- Josephine Baker