Josephine Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josephine Baker
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Baker in 1940
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| Born |
Freda Josephine McDonald
June 3, 1906 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | April 12, 1975 (aged 68) Paris, France
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| Resting place | Monaco Cemetery |
| Citizenship |
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| Occupation | Performer, singer, dancer, actress, civil rights activist, French Resistance agent |
| Years active | 1921–1975 |
| Spouse(s) |
Willie Wells
(m. 1919; div. 1919)William Baker
(m. 1921; div. 1925)Jean Lion
(m. 1937; div. 1940)Jo Bouillon
(m. 1947; div. 1961) |
| Partner(s) | Robert Brady (1973–1975) |
| Children | 12; Jean-Claude Baker presented himself as her foster son (contested by the Baker children) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
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Freda Josephine Baker (born McDonald; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), also known as Joséphine Baker, was a famous American and French dancer, singer, and actress. She spent most of her career in Europe, especially in France. Josephine Baker was the first Black woman to star in a major movie.
Early in her career, Baker became one of the most celebrated performers at the Folies Bergère in Paris. Her 1927 show caused a sensation. Her unique costume, made of artificial bananas, became a famous symbol of the Jazz Age. Artists and thinkers of her time called her names like "Black Venus" and "Black Pearl." Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she later became a French citizen in 1937. She adopted 12 children from different backgrounds, calling them her "Rainbow Tribe."
During World War II, Baker bravely helped the French Resistance. She also worked with British and American intelligence agencies. After the war, she received several honors for her courage. These included the Resistance Medal and the Légion d'honneur. Baker famously sang, "I have two loves: my country and Paris." She refused to perform for segregated audiences in the United States. She also made important contributions to the civil rights movement. On November 30, 2021, Baker was honored at the Panthéon in Paris. She was the first Black woman to receive one of France's highest honors.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Carrie, was of African American and Native American heritage. Josephine's early life was difficult. She grew up in a low-income area of St. Louis. She was often poorly dressed and hungry.
Her mother married Arthur Martin, and they had more children. Josephine started working at just eight years old. She worked as a live-in helper for white families. One employer treated her very badly.
In 1917, at age 11, Josephine witnessed terrible racial violence in East St. Louis. She later spoke about seeing homes burn and families fleeing. This experience deeply affected her.
By age 12, she had left school. At 13, she worked as a waitress. She also danced on street corners to earn money. Josephine married Willie Wells at 13, but the marriage lasted less than a year. She later married William Howard Baker in 1921, at age 15. She kept his last name for her stage career. Soon after, she left for New York City to pursue her dream of becoming an entertainer.
Rising to Stardom
Early Career in America
Josephine was determined to perform. She joined the St. Louis Chorus vaudeville act. At 13, she moved to New York City during the Harlem Renaissance. She performed at the Plantation Club. She then joined the chorus line of the successful Broadway show "Shuffle Along" (1921).
In "Shuffle Along," Josephine was a dancer at the end of the line. She added funny moves to her routine. This made her stand out and audiences loved her. She stayed with the Broadway production until it closed in 1923. Next, she performed in "The Chocolate Dandies" in 1924.
Paris and International Fame
In 1925, Baker sailed to Paris. She opened in La Revue nègre at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. She performed the Danse Sauvage in a unique feather skirt. She was 19 and became an instant success. She was famous for her energetic dancing and daring costumes.
After a successful tour of Europe, she returned to France in 1926. She became a star at the Folies Bergère. In a 1926 show, she wore her famous banana skirt. This became one of her most iconic looks.
Her success came during a time when people were interested in non-Western art. Baker often performed with her pet cheetah, Chiquita. Chiquita sometimes ran into the orchestra pit, adding excitement to the show.
Josephine Baker became the most successful American entertainer in France. Famous artists like Ernest Hemingway and Picasso admired her. She also endorsed products like hair gel and cosmetics.
In 1929, Baker visited Yugoslavia. She performed in Belgrade and Zagreb. She even included a local Pirot kilim in her act. She donated some show money to children in Serbia.
Her manager and partner, Giuseppe "Pepito" Abatino, helped shape her career. In 1930, Baker began singing professionally. Her most famous song was "J'ai deux amours" (1931). It means "I have two loves, my country and Paris." She also starred in four films, which were popular in Europe.
Baker worked hard to improve her singing. She took the lead in an opera, La créole, in 1934. Singer Shirley Bassey called her "la grande diva magnifique."
Despite her fame in France, Baker did not find the same success in America. Her 1936 Broadway show, "Ziegfeld Follies", was not well-received. Critics were harsh. Heartbroken, she returned to Europe. This experience led her to become a French citizen in 1937.
Baker also opened her own cabarets called "Chez Josephine." She married French industrialist Jean Lion in 1937. She faced prejudice in some parts of Europe. This motivated her to join the fight against injustice.
World War II Heroism
In September 1939, France declared war on Germany. Baker was recruited by the French military intelligence agency. She became an "honorable correspondent." Baker worked with Jacques Abtey, a French counterintelligence leader.
She used her fame to gather information. She socialized with German officials at parties and embassies. She charmingly listened and reported what she heard to Abtey. She even had a pilot's license and flew missions. She collected details on German troop movements and airfields.
Baker was confident her celebrity status would protect her. She wrote secret notes on her hands and arms. She also used invisible ink on her sheet music. This allowed her to smuggle important information across borders.
When Germany invaded France in 1940, Baker moved to her home, the Château des Milandes. She used her château to shelter resistance fighters and Jewish refugees. She provided them with documents and money. Her estate also became a center for French Resistance activities. It had a radio transmitter and stored weapons. As an entertainer, Baker had a good reason to travel around Europe. She carried secret information to England.
In 1941, she traveled to North Africa. She continued to help the Resistance from Morocco. She toured to entertain British, French, and American soldiers. After the war, Baker received many honors for her bravery. These included the Resistance Medal and the Croix de Guerre. General Charles de Gaulle named her a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.
Post-War Career and Activism
In 1949, Baker made a triumphant return to the Folies Bergère. Her wartime heroism gave her performances new depth. She was unafraid to tackle serious music. Her shows were a huge success. In 1951, she was invited to perform in Miami, United States. She insisted that the club desegregate its audience. After winning this public battle, she had a sold-out tour. She was honored with a parade in Harlem and named NAACP's "Woman of the Year."
However, an incident at the Stork Club in New York in 1951 caused problems. Baker spoke out against the club's policy of discouraging Black customers. A powerful journalist, Walter Winchell, then attacked her in the media. He falsely accused her of being a Communist sympathizer. This led to her work visa being canceled. She was forced to return to France. It took almost ten years for her to be allowed back into the U.S.
In 1966, Fidel Castro invited Baker to perform in Havana, Cuba. Her show broke attendance records. In her later career, Baker faced financial difficulties. But her family encouraged her to keep performing. In 1973, she performed at Carnegie Hall to a standing ovation. She continued to captivate audiences despite her age.
Champion for Civil Rights
Josephine Baker was a strong supporter of the American Civil Rights Movement. In the 1950s, she and her husband were refused hotel reservations in the U.S. because of racial discrimination. She wrote articles about segregation. She also traveled to the South, speaking about racial equality.
She famously refused to perform for segregated audiences. She even turned down a $10,000 offer from a Miami club until they agreed to her demands. Her actions helped to integrate live entertainment in places like Las Vegas Valley. After this, she received threatening calls. But she publicly stated she was not afraid.
In 1951, Baker accused the Stork Club in Manhattan of racism. Actress Grace Kelly supported Baker. She left the club with her party and vowed not to return. The two women became close friends. When Baker faced financial hardship, Princess Grace (formerly Grace Kelly) offered her help.
Baker also worked with the NAACP. On May 20, 1951, the NAACP declared "Josephine Baker Day." She received a lifetime membership from Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche. She also fought against injustice in cases like the "Save Willie McGee" rally. McGee was a Black man accused of a crime in Mississippi. Baker attended rallies and wrote letters to the governor.
In 1963, she spoke at the historic March on Washington. She stood alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. Baker was the only official female speaker. Wearing her French uniform, she introduced "Negro Women for Civil Rights." She spoke about her experiences: "I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens... But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad."
After Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, his widow, Coretta Scott King, asked Baker to lead the Civil Rights Movement. Baker thought about it for many days. She declined, saying her children were "too young to lose their mother."
Personal Life and Family
Marriages and Partnerships
Josephine Baker married several times. Her first marriage was to Willie Wells when she was 13. She later married William Howard Baker in 1921. She kept his last name for her career. In 1937, she married French industrialist Jean Lion. Her fourth marriage was to French composer and conductor Jo Bouillon in 1947. They were together for 14 years. Later, she was partners with artist Robert Brady.
The Rainbow Tribe
During her civil rights work, Baker began adopting children. She created a family she called the "Rainbow Tribe." Baker wanted to show that "children of different ethnicities and religions could still be brothers." She adopted children from various countries. She raised them in different religions to promote her vision of a united world.
Baker raised two daughters, Marianne and Stellina, and ten sons: Janot, Akio, Luis, Jari, Jean-Claude, Noël, Moïse, Brahim, Koffi, and Mara. She also became the guardian of another boy named Jean-Claude. For a time, she lived with her children and a large staff at the Château des Milandes in France. She often took her children on tours. Visitors could see the children playing happily at the château.
Later Years and Passing
In her later years, Baker became a Catholic. In 1968, she lost her château due to unpaid debts. Princess Grace of Monaco then offered her an apartment.
Baker continued to perform on stage. She appeared at the Olympia in Paris in 1968. She also performed at Carnegie Hall in 1973. In 1974, she was part of the Royal Variety Performance in London. On April 8, 1975, Baker starred in a special show in Paris. It celebrated her 50 years in entertainment. The show was a great success.
Four days later, Baker was found in a coma. She had suffered a brain hemorrhage. She passed away on April 12, 1975, at the age of 68.
Baker received a full Catholic funeral in Paris. More than 20,000 people attended. She was the only American-born woman to receive full French military honors at her funeral. She was buried at the Cimetière de Monaco.
Josephine Baker's Legacy
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Josephine Baker's impact continues to be felt today. A square in Paris, Place Joséphine Baker, is named in her honor. She is also in the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The Piscine Joséphine Baker is a swimming pool in Paris named after her.
Her sons, Jean-Claude and Jarry, opened a restaurant in New York City called Chez Josephine. It celebrates her life and work. The Château des Milandes, her former home, is now open to the public. It displays her stage outfits, including her banana skirt. It also shows family photos and her Legion of Honour medal.
Baker inspired many celebrities. Angelina Jolie cited Baker as a role model for her own multiracial family. Beyoncé performed Baker's banana dance in 2006. In 2017, Google created an animated Google Doodle to celebrate her 111th birthday.
In 2018, a documentary called Josephine Baker: The Story of an Awakening was released. It features rare footage of her life. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco. Josephine Baker also appears on French 20-cent euro coins released in March 2024.
Panthéon in Paris
In May 2021, a petition asked for Josephine Baker to be honored at the Panthéon in Paris. This is a special mausoleum for France's greatest figures. In August 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Baker would receive this honor. On November 30, 2021, a symbolic casket was placed in the Panthéon. It contained soil from places where Baker lived. She became the first Black woman to be honored in this way.
Works Inspired by Baker
Josephine Baker's life has inspired many films, TV shows, and stage productions.
- In 1991, the film The Josephine Baker Story was broadcast on HBO. Lynn Whitfield played Baker and won an Emmy Award.
- Beyoncé Knowles has portrayed Baker in various performances. She danced in a revised banana costume at the 2006 Fashion Rocks show.
- In 2006, a musical called A La Recherche de Josephine – New Orleans for Ever was produced.
- Author Sherry Jones wrote a biographical novel, "Josephine Baker's Last Dance," in 2018.
- In 1927, Alexander Calder created a wire sculpture of Baker. It is now at the Museum of Modern Art.
Film credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| 1927 | La Sirène des Tropiques (Siren of the Tropics) | Papitou | silent film | |
| 1927 | Die Frauen von Folies Bergères (The Woman from the Folies Bergères) | silent film | ||
| 1927 | La revue des revues (Parisian Pleasures) | herself | ||
| 1928 | Le pompier des Folies Bergères | unnamed | short film | |
| 1934 | Zouzou | Zouzou | ||
| 1935 | Princesse Tam Tam | Aouina | ||
| 1945 | False Alarm | Zazu Clairon | ||
| 1941 | Moulin Rouge | |||
| 1954 | An jedem Finger zehn (Ten on Every Finger) | |||
| 1955 | Carosello del varietà (Carousel of Variety) |
See also
In Spanish: Joséphine Baker para niños
