Josephine Baker

                                                                 Josephine Baker

   Josephine Baker was a American-born French singer, dancer, and actor. Josephine Baker was the first ever African American woman to star in a major movie called Siren of the Tropics. She was born June 3, 1906 and died April 12, 1975. She traveled to all sorts of places but mainly performed in Europe and France.  Josephine was born with the name Freda Josephine McDonald but soon changed her name to the French name Josephine Baker.

    During her early career, Josephine was known as a dancer. Baker’s performance in the revue Uh vent de folie in 1927 caused excitement. Her costume was only a very short skirt with fake bananas on it and a beaded necklace. She worked for the French Resistance during World War II, and during the 1950s and '60s was fighting segregation and racism in the United States. Josephine Baker spent her childhood being poor before learning to dance. At the end of the war she made history by being the first American woman to receive the Croix de Guerre (Cross of War), and the Medal of the Resistance in 1946. 

Josephine Baker was a supporter of racial equality. There were many times during her life when she stood up against racism. In the 1920s she moved to France and soon became one of Europe's most popular and highest-paid performers. Baker became famous for her dancing, but she really wanted people to live peacefully together. 

She boycotted segregated clubs and concert venues, arguing that if African-Americans could not attend her shows, she would not perform. In 1963, Baker participated in the March on Washington. For her efforts as a civil rights activist, the NAACP named May 20th “Josephine Baker Day.”  

Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer and singer. She went on to become one of the most popular music hall entertainers in France. She is also known as a civil rights activist. She protested, and she fought. 

Josephine Baker quickly became one of the most famous women in the world. Her success allowed her to be financially independent, not common for a woman of that time and especially  for a African American woman. Josephine Baker was an interesting person to research. Would you research Josephine Baker?